Can You Name the Romantic Reality TV Show From a Screenshot?
By: Lauren Lubas
5 min
Image: ABC
About This Quiz
Reality TV dating shows aren't a new thing. Even when "The Bachelor" came out in 2002, they weren't a new thing. This is especially true if you consider "The Dating Game," which first aired in 1968. Reality TV dating shows are very much like the fast food of network and basic cable television: we know they aren't real, but we keep coming back to them. Why? Because the human race loves drama, and Americans are in love with looking into people's lives. We never take into account the fact that contestants are put in situations that are incredibly far out of their comfort zones; we assume this is their personality on an everyday basis. We like it that way. We are reality TV nuts. We want to see what happens and who is going to get eliminated and who is going to fall in love ... especially if we think it's real.Â
Though we know little about the behind the scenes details of the reality TV dating shows, we often like to think we can predict the ending. The thrill we get when we play detective while we judge others is the very reason reality television, in general, has made it this far. If you are a reality TV junkie, you've probably seen just about every different dating game and romantic reality show available. Do you have what it takes to name 40 of them?
Can you name the reality dating show that involved a lot of blurred out body parts?
"Joe Millionaire"
"Married at First Sight"
"Dating Naked"
It is no surprise that "Dating Naked" only lasted from 2014-2016. The concept was fun: when you're naked, you can't hide anything. However, the lack of contestants became a problem over time, as people realized nudity wasn't the only thing that was attractive about a person.
Can you name this wildly popular reality TV dating show?
"Are You the One?"
"Celebs Go Dating"
"Love Island"
"The Bachelor"
Thought to be one of the original reality TV dating shows, "The Bachelor" was all about having several women fight over one man. Since it came out in 2002, 23 seasons of "The Bachelor" have aired, with no end in sight.
Do you recognize this reality romance that immediately followed the success of "The Bachelor"?
"Celebs Go Dating"
"The Bachelorette"
Turnabout is fair play, and with the success of "The Bachelor," it only made sense to make a romantic reality show about a woman who chooses a man. That's where "The Bachelorette" comes in.
Can you identify this romantic reality show that involved rich people?
"Coupled"
"Millionaire Matchmaker"
You can own a business getting people together. You don't even have to be a yenta to do it (although it helps). If you do decide to go this route, we recommend getting millionaire clients and making a show like "Millionaire Matchmaker" to help you make money.
Can you name this show starring a singer and record producer?
"Ushered In"
"For the Love of Ray J"
VH1 was always really good at getting celebrities to do some crazy reality TV shows. However, "For Love of Ray J" was probably the one that no one really watched. It lasted two seasons, and no one really cared about it.
This show was all about false advertising. Can you name it?
"Married by America"
"I Love New York"
"Love Connection"
"I Wanna Marry Harry"
Before Prince Harry was married, back in 2014, producers decided that it would be fun to find a look-alike and auction him off to people who really wanted to bear children who would be in line for the throne. It only lasted one season.
It took this rock star three seasons to give up, but do you remember what his show was called?
"Brett Loves You"
"Rock of Love"
If you thought that "Flavor of Love" was an intense show, why not take it a step further and have women do some mud wrestling, wet T-shirt contests and other terribly sexists things, just so they could get screen time with Bret Michaels.
Can you identify the show where parents try to break up their children's relationships?
"Paradise Island"
"Temptation Island"
"Joe Millionaire"
"Parental Control"
What do you do when you hate your child's partner? Sign him up for a dating show and hope he falls in love with someone else. It seems like the perfect way to build a relationship with your child, really.
Which romantic reality show featured a lot of clocks?
"Flavor of Love"
Now, we aren't saying these women are gold diggers, but "Flavor of Love" was a show in which female contestants fought (literally) for the chance to fall in love with ... Flavor Flav. This was a real show. We aren't kidding.
Do you know which show introduced a beautiful woman to normal guys?
"Joe Millionaire"
"Average Joe"
"Average Joe" had the same concept as every other reality dating show, except it wanted to introduce normal men to a beautiful woman. It was a shock for the first three seasons, but by season four, people were less entertained.
This romantic reality show was based on one big lie. What is it called?
"Excused"
"Momma's Boys"
"Joe Millionaire"
His name wasn't Joe, but that wasn't the lie. "Joe Millionaire" was a twist on the reality dating scene, as it lied to the women contestants involved, telling them that their gorgeous intended had inherited a bunch of money. He didn't, but the winning couple received $1 million.
Which reality show makes us all question the sanctity of marriage?
"Real Chance at Love"
"The Challenge"
"Beauty and the Geek"
"Married at First Sight"
This one is less of a romantic reality TV show and more of a social experiment. In the show, people agree to get married before they meet. The couples then decide if they want a divorce or not. Seems legit.
This show connected older women with younger men. What is it called?
"Joe Millionaire"
"Beauty and the Geek"
"The Cougar"
We all know that if the tables were turned, this reality show would be picketed. Perhaps that's why it received such poor ratings and only aired eight episodes in its one season. The premise is pretty terrible all around.
Can you name this show that helped Antonio Sabato Jr. get a girl?
"Love Games"
"The 5th Wheel"
"My Antonio"
No, he probably didn't need help in the dating scene, but it was great for ratings. So great, in fact, that they didn't even need a second season ... or an 11th episode. The show crashed and burned in 2009.
In which romantic reality show do couples who fall in love receive $250,000?
"A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila"
"Vanderpump Rules"
"Paradise Island"
"Beauty and the Geek"
That's right, the happy couple at the end of the season receives a check for $250,000. They can choose to split it or use it for their dream wedding. In the latest season, producers are adding male beauties and female geeks to the roster.
What romantic reality show stars a woman who likes to spit and hit?
"I Love L.A."
"I Love Chicago"
"I Love New York"
In the late 2000s, being crazy on basic cable was the ticket to landing your own show. So, when "Flavor of Love" contestant New York (her name, not ours), spit on another contestant, it only made sense to give her a show to help her find real love.
This romantic reality show taught girls how to date. What was it called?
"Flavor of Love"
"Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too"
In "Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too," we got to see members of "Bad Girls Club" teach each other and become nicer (kind of) in order to find someone to love and appreciate. It worked for four seasons.
Which romantic reality show included intelligent female professionals?
"Coupled"
If you think you have privacy when you're on a reality TV show, you have another thing coming. This show went so far as to share the texts sent between new couples for all the audience to see. It didn't have a very large audience, though, and the show only lasted one season.
What is the name of this show that included a love boot camp?
"Real Love"
"The Hills"
"The 5th Wheel"
"Tough Love"
Dating in the late 2000s and early '10s was not easy at all. That's why shows like "Tough Love" had to exist. In this show, a man teaches women how to play the game of love and helps them learn how to date. It was a necessary evil of the time.
What is the name of this show about second chances?
"Date My Mom"
"The X Effect"
If you were wondering if you still had a chance with your ex-partner, you would have had the perfect time on this show. Not only could you discover what they were up to, but you could also see if they were still interested in you.
Which show tricked people into admitting they were gold diggers?
"Love Games"
"Playing It Straight"
"Joe Millionaire"
"For Love or Money"
Although "For Love or Money" lasted only four seasons, it was a pretty genius way to show off who was there to get on TV and make a buck and who wanted to actually find love on a reality dating show. Spoiler Alert: they were all there for the money. Some just hid it better than others.
Do you remember this dating show that aired on MTV?
"The Hills"
"Playing It Straight"
"Love in the Wild"
"Next"
"Next" aired on MTV and showed us how to really date ... the second you get a red flag, move on. There is no point in trying to make it work. The worst part about this show is that contestants were brutal after getting shut down.
What is the name of this second chance romantic reality show?
"Bachelor in Paradise"
"Bachelor In Paradise" is a clear ratings grab that began in 2014 and still runs strong today. Previous contestants and bachelors/bachelorettes go to an island and make drama while trying to find love. It works, and it makes money. Who could complain?
This reality dating show is secluded. What is it called?
"Dating Naked"
"Love Island"
"Love Island" is a British romantic reality TV show that puts people up at a nice resort while they try to find love, because ... it's easier to find love when you don't have to pay the bill?
Do you recognize this show that included a double date and then some?
"Rock of Love"
"The 5th Wheel"
A double-blind date can go very well ... until a fifth wheel is introduced. Whenever this happened, it threw a wrench in the plans of those who were dating. "The 5th Wheel" lasted seven seasons, and made a lot of people laugh.
Do you know the name of this show in which you were eliminated during the date?
"Rock of Love"
"Blind Date"
"ElimiDate"
Generally airing after "Blind Date," "ElimiDate" was all about turning people down over and over again until you reached the one person you wanted. But beware! You only had four options from which to choose.
Do you recognize this show that puts couples to the test?
"Temptation Island"
If your relationship is on the rocks, what is the solution? Go to Maui and get separate rooms and see if your partner cheats on you. Sure, that seems like a great idea. This show that helped people see their partner's true colors only lasted a couple of short years, of course.
Can you name this show that involves love and elimination?
"Momma's Boys"
"The Hills"
"The 5th Wheel"
"Love in the Wild"
You're single; they're single. Why not team up and do some labor-intensive stunts together? That is what "Love in the Wild" was all about. If you were looking for a new way to date, you needed to sign up to be a contestant on this show.
What show was all about confidence, but lasted only one season?
"More to Love"
When you take confident plus-sized women and introduce them to a former football player, you are bound to get romance ... or at least a little drama. This show highlighted true dating expectations and reality.
Do you know this reality show that turned the tables?
"Rock of Love
"Married by America"
"Excused"
In this show that only lasted two seasons, there were two females selecting from a larger pool of men. At the end, the winning male gets to choose between the two females, and the happy couple gets to kiss.
Which show didn't even involve contestants on dates with one another?
"The Real World"
"Date My Mom"
If you're too scared to go out on a first date, just send your mom. She can convince anyone to date you ... or she will never give up trying. This show was all about figuring out how to break the ice, using only your parents.
What is the name of this romantic reality show that began in 2014?
"Are You the One?"
Math can help you find someone to be with forever. "Are You the One?" utilizes dating algorithms to match up male and female singles. Then, they all wear bathing suits and hang out with each other.
This show gives you a chance at love with a MySpace influencer. What is it?
"A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila"
Remember when Tila Tequila was relevant? It was before the Kardashians took over pretty much everything. For two seasons, she even had her own dating show where contestants could try to win her over.
In which reality dating show did we get to see what contestants were thinking?
"Playing It Straight"
"Love Games"
"Blind Date"
"Blind Date" was absolutely hilarious. It really got into the mind of people who were on blind dates. If your reaction to spotting a red flag was recorded, a little thought bubble would pop up and tell the audience what you were thinking.
This show lasted only one season, for obvious reasons. Can you name it?
"Excused"
"My Antonio"
"Playing It Straight"
Yeah, there's nothing like being on a reality dating show and wondering if the guy you select is even interested in your gender. If you're wondering how this could be a thing, it was aired in 2004, if that gives you any sense of the times.
What elimination dating show involved a chance for two girls to date two brothers?
"Real Chance of Love"
VH1 was at it again in 2008 and 2009, when two brothers with interesting hair set out to find love the only way they knew how: a dating game. On this show, women had the chance to go on dates with both brothers but had to pick one at the end.
In which show was the bachelor's mother present at all times?
"Mommy Dearest"
"More to Love"
"Momma's Boys"
While "Momma's Boys" lasted only one season, it does touch on some unhealthy mother-son relationships, and it gives us an inside look into what it's like to have an overbearing parent telling you who to date.
Can you guess the name of this show that gives romantic reality a "Survivor" twist?
"Bachelor in Paradise"
"Paradise Hotel"
What could be better than having six strangers live in an awesome resort and flirt with one another? How about having them get voted off the island one by one? While this premise seems familiar, the show has been on since 2003, so it has to be doing something right.
Do you recognize this reality dating show that requires five first dates?
"First Dates"
"Dating Around"
If you take "The Dating Game" and follow the people around on their dates, you will have a pretty clear version of "Dating Around." The premise for this show isn't new, but it does give a clear look at how difficult first dates can be.
In this romantic reality show, famous people look for love. Can you name it?
"Fame and Love"
"Real Chance at Love"
"Celebs Go Dating"
Since 2016, "Celebs Go Dating" has been highlighting the difficult dating lives of celebrities. It's so difficult to date as a celebrity that they need their own TV show to help them find "normal" people to take out to dinner.
