Where do they get these people?
There are four types of contestants on the Irish Take Me Out show. Babies, foreigners, desperate daters and media attention seekers. TV3 holds auditions throughout the country searching for suitable single men and women, who are up for some craic to bring laughs to homes across Ireland.
Babies
On the first episode of the 2012 series, a baby faced boy chose a 29 year old to take to Shifters. Last week, a 28 year old had no choice but to take the last woman standing, a lady (looking in her 40's) on a date to Shifters! I think the age should be 21 to 30...but I guess the age gap issues gives the show a bit of humour and shock factor.
Foreigners
There are two American girls on the panel, and a few other non-Irish lassies. There have been lots of tweets about the lack of Irish on the panel. Well...maybe it is because Ireland is so small and foreigners don't mind making a show of themselves on national TV as they are not stuck here and they do not know EVERYONE! I think any Irish person who watches Take Me Out will see at least one person they know.
Desperate Daters
The desperate daters on the show are those who are near or have already passed their dating sell by dates. Maybe they have already been married, or have a child or more, or they have just not met the right person and have tried all the nightclubs, all the pubs, singles nights and dating sites and this is another way of putting themselves out there, hoping that Mr or Mrs Right is out there watching or better yet in studio with them.
Let's face it, Ireland is probably the worst country when it comes to dating..we just don't know how to date. Irish people need a few pints or shots in them before they have the courage to ask someone for their number, but then by the time they have managed to chat to the person that takes their fancy at a bar, the other person has already started shifting (kissing) someone else or you have had one drink too many and are a little too messy!
Media Attention Seekers
There are a lot of contestants who are studying media or are actors or singers. There is a nurse who appeared on Irish Come Dine with Me and a girl who was on Fade Street. Last night, there was a guy from a band and a semi-professional football player. There was also a media student who used her ten minutes of fame to say some lines from Buffy The Vampire Slayer!
There have been many people in the past who made their name from reality TV shows. Amanda Holden made one of her first TV appearances on the dating show Blind Date. Irish socialite Pippa O Connor, wife of reality TV star, ex-band member and presenter, Brian Ormond, started her career in the limelight by appearing on reality TV shows. She brought three of her ex-boyfriends on an Irish dating show, the Ex-Files, hosted by Lucy Kennedy. This couple truly are a reality TV show couple. They even allowed cameras to follow them around while they prepared for their big wedding day.
Dating shows like Take Me Out are a good way for media attention seekers to network and gain some experience in front of the camera!
YOUR OPINION?!
We want your opinion?! What do you think of Ireland's version of Take Me Out? Hit or Miss?! Are you addicted or does it make you want to gouge your eyes out?! Have you recognised any familiar faces from home or from other reality TV shows?
Leave us a comment with your thoughts.
