The link between modern coupling and the world of yesteryear is the television dating show. The bizarre phenomenon where people are either so vain, or so stupid they sign up to be humiliated on national television for our viewing pleasure.

Remember Perfect Match? Greg Evans with the 3XY voice, Debbie Newsome with the big hair and Dexter the robot made from aluminium foil, pipe cleaners and pure evil? Remember the lonely single on one side of the screen who'd ask three equally desperate and dateless on the other side of the screen questions such as, "If you were a condiment what would you be?" "Africa? Maybe that's not a condiment; maybe it's a country. Tassie then."

Taken Out is the Perfect Match of the noughties. We're talking one bloke (either up himself or tragic) and 30 women with names such as Fleur, Lacey and Biannca (who love themselves stupid). The ladies are given bits of information about him and turn off their lights as they lose interest. In the end he whittles the last ladies standing down to Ms I'd So Bang You with questions such as, "Can you change a tyre?" "What parts of your body do you shave?" or "Who do you barrack for?"

There's talk about man riggs, hot bods and sexy nerds. Women turn off their lights if they don't like the look of him, his job or if they hear he does have sex with fat chicks but throws them out before his flatmates cop an eyeful.

Let me save you some time. The upside? It's Australian content. The downside? It's crap. But host James Kerley is a bit of all right.

Taken Out, Network Ten, every weeknight 6pm.

Source: theage.com