I hope to recap this at the end of the week, but if anyone wants to chat, go ahead.
Surely they’ll bring Steph back next season?
@FirstDatesAU aww I miss you guys more! ????????????
— steph (@StephkateS) February 24, 2016
And Kate’s back tonight for another crack.
Kate & Griff didn't work out (though they're still mates), but let's see if Kate finds ❤️ tonight when she returns! pic.twitter.com/rfKuBgqIuD
— FirstDatesAU (@FirstDatesAU) February 24, 2016
Time for Friday night vegie TV while we collapse on the couch, so let’s catch up on First Dates, the new show from Channel 7. This is the one reality show from the current crop I’ve been able to rope Mr Juz aka IT Sidekick into, so let’s see what he thinks of episode 2.
First up is flight attendant/Lebanese beauty queen Deedee, 24, looking smoking in a lacy playsuit. Last week we kicked off with the hot couple (Model and Island Girl), too, so let’s see what her date is like. It’s Sean, 26, sales exec, and he seem like a fairly normal, nice bloke. He’s a bit nervy but happy she’s “hot”.
Date 2 is Stephanie, 24, in a not flattering white crop top and skirt. She loves makeup – lots of it – but at home in Melbourne is seen as “one of the boys”, so is stoked to on the show.
Date Jordan is a tradie/slash topless waiter and he loves the gym waaaay too much. He looks like a hitman for the Russian mafia.
Of his second job: “It’s a good laugh. I have received a black eye once, though, from being hit with a female sex toy.”
At date 1 Sean is still blinded by Deedee’s beauty and, really, nothing much happens of note on their date but they seem perfectly pleasant.
At date 2, when Stephanie learns of the topless waitering gig she spits out her champagne just a little. You can tell she’s going to be the highlight of this episode, because it’s possible she had a good, long look at the mini bar of the hotel Channel 7 put her up in. Just maybe.
Mr Juz: Is she stoned?
Date 3 arrives: It’s Donna, 52, from NSW, who is back on the scene after 13 years of marriage and rates herself as a kisser. “I like sex, I”m not gonna lie. I’d like to meet someone I want to meet in the bedroom every night.”
She notes her date is late, but methinks they’re holding him at bay in the hope she’ll down more champers. Her date, Tony, arrives. He’s 62 but looks a bit younger and wants a lady with a good libido. Donna does her piece to camera and says if the moment is right she’s a goer for first date bedroom gymnastics. Hmm, this could be a good match.
Mr Juz: I’m not really watching. She seems a bit randy.
At date 2 Stephanie is nonplussed at the fanciness of the menu. Surely Muscles will get the steak, as he looks like a meat-only washed-down-with-10-raw-egg-whites kinda guy.
Over at date 3, both Donna and Tony order oysters. Could they be any more obvious?
But back to the interesting table … Stephanie orders the risotto and lists all the ingredients she can pronounce, ending with “chives 18”. Muscles points out that 18 is in fact the price of the dish. Oh dear, Steph. And yes, he orders the steak. Then she has a go at him for having “tood” towards her in front of the waiter. Waiter Terry approaches again carrying bread and olive oil and Steph is obviously used to Tiptop and marg, because she languidly asks: “What is this you are presenting us with?”. Muscles explains how to eat bread.
Mr Juz: She’s more than drunk.
Date 4 carpenter Chris, 23, arrives. He’s just come out of a long relationship and is a handsome young fella. Tassie salesgirl Hayley arrives (she looks a bit like the doe-eyed Hayley character from Modern Family) and she’s in a lacy green halter and short shorts combo with a giant flower in her hair. I reckon they’ll get on.
Mr Juz: [Discussing the outfit as she sits on a stool] She looks like she’s about to show us her dinner, though.
Hayley is a big talker and Chris likes that she’s into the outdoors, as one day he wants to move home to the bush. She also wants to leave Tassie for the bright lights of Sydney, which is where he now lives. This bodes well.
Darn, I’ve forgotten the name of the older lady.
Mr Juz: “It’s Tits McGee.” The couple discuss healthy eating and being good, and he opines “A bad girl is even better.” It’s a bit smooth but nowhere near as bad as Fritzl Chris from last episode.
At Muscles and Star of Tonight’s Show’s date, he is antagonising her like an older brother. Uh oh – she has the same birthday as his ex, so she replies with a quick: “When’s your birthday? Oh yeah, my dog died on that day.” Maybe being really, really laidback and having a dry sense of humour makes it look as through you’ve downed the mini bar.
In the ad break they are flogging the next season, seeking lovelorn contestants .. Anyone want to apply?
Lauren aka Crazy Eyes (the one who asked how much butter was in the herbed butter) from episode one is back for another go, and it’s date 5 for this episode. This time she doesn’t want to have to do “all the heavy lifting” in the conversation. Her date is entrepreneur Alan, 26, and he’s a little quirky in a slightly nerdy way. But it’s always a worry when you ask someone what they do and they can’t tell you.
At date 4 the young couple are bonding over their love of pancakes and the carpenter tries to impress the naive Tassie chick by boasting there is a 24-hour pancake place in Sydney. “I don’t believe you,” says Hayley, and is then told it’s only five minutes from where they are. So, pancakes after filming stops?
In the confessional, mature lady Donna is feeling the effect of the espresso martini, doing her best Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally impression. Ummm, please tell me she does not have kids, otherwise they just died of embarrassment.
So, would she like a second date with Tony, who’s definitely keen? She does the “you’re a lovely guy, but …” Awww, poor Tone.
At Crazy Eyes’ date, she likes that she he has his own company and is speaking really fast to show just how much she likes that. But unlike her last date, she is letting him get in a few words i and seems to be listening.
Meanwhile, Steph is sharing her hobbies with Muscles, saying she is a great rollerblading and likes to sing. They discover a mutual passion for karaoke and she guesses what his go-to song would be: “Bon Jovi, Living on a Prayer.”
The carpenter and Hayley are feeding each other food and they are rather cute together.
Mr Juz: “There’s a spark there.”
At date 1 they are talking about past loves, so we get the serious piano music. He wants to see the hostie/beauty queen again (and he pays for dinner). “Definitely the best date I’ve been on in a while,” he says, out of earshot. Do they want a second date? The producer must have have asked “What are you doing after?”, because the normal guy replies: “I’m going to date her, I think. Is that too forward?” She thinks it’s funny and hands over her phone number.
Crazy Eyes’ date provocatively rubs his huge butter pat into his steak (for those of you who didn’t watch last week, she doesn’t do butter and gets up at 5am every day to work out).
“I’m not dealing; you’re giving me anxiety,” she says, not looking at the scotch fillet. However, she is calming down now and realising she can’t tick all the boxes on her list. Actually, the food here looks pretty good. Is this a real restaurant?
At date 4 they are both scared to speak but eventually confess both would like to go on a second date. They leave hand in hand, off to get the pancakes, and it looks like a move to Sydney is on the cards for the teeny Tassie girl.
Mr Juz: “She’s got that doe-eyed, Bambi thing about her.”
Steph is confessing to Muscles that she is addicted to wearing makeup, but he likes that she takes care in her appearance.
Crazy Eyes goes to the loo to phone a friend for help, because Entrepreneur is intriguing her (he certainly has a lot more confidence than nice-but-five-year planless Corbin from last week), but he’s not the hottie she wanted. She confesses: “I’m lost for words and I’ve never been lost for words my whole entire life.” She is much calmer than last week – getting used t0 the cameras, finally.
Mr Juz thinks she’ll get a second date.
Muscles and Steph are ordering dessert and she doesn’t know what a chocolate fondant is … Or a ramekin … Does she not watch MasterChef or MKR? He tells her to close her eyes while he explains how a fondant works. Ok, I like that they both don’t take themselves too seriously.
Steph: “He seems like the kind of guy that would definitely treat a girl quite well.” He grabs the bill.
So, would they like a second date? She makes him answer first, for fear of rejection. He says “probably not” and does not soften the blow until prompted. Guess he wants a girlfriend who’s into working out, too. Steph is sad. Prompted, he says they didn’t have a spark. But at the end they go off in search of a karaoke bar, determined to make they best of a night away in Sydney on Channel 7’s dime.
Mr Juz: They probably still hooked up.
Crazy Eyes’s date gets the bill and half-jokingly asks for a tax copy to claim it as a business expense, but she is quite relaxed and laughs. He wants to see her again but I’m worried she’s going to say no because he doesn’t meet her strict criteria
Do they want a second date? He assertively goes first: they had a lot of fun and should do it again.
She says they may turn out be great friends or something more: “I’d definitely like to see you again.” Good on you, Lauren. Then, to reassert her dominance she rips the red pocket square from his pocket and throws it on the ground, to his amusement, and the expresses her fear he is a secret bow tie wearer. Relaxed Crazy Eyes has a sense of humour!
Time for the “where are they now?” Crazy Eyes has not gone on a second date with him yet. Steph will be back for another episode. Date no. 1 “shared a kiss … but not a second date”. The cute young couple “went for pancakes … and they’re still sharing desserts” – accompanied by pictures of them on other dates and pashing. Yay!!!
Mr Juz’s summary: “I’m pleased the Modern Family chick (that’s young Hayley) obviously found what she was looking for.”
And here’s a link to a story about their true love http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/after-meeting-on-first-dates-chris-and-hayley-have-now-moved-in-together/news-story/79a8bc29ebf9b3d4111b484fc69f7d7b
And that’s a wrap. If you haven’t already, give First Dates a go. You can catch up at Yahoo 7 or it’s being repeated really late Saturday night (Feb 13).
I missed the premiere of First Dates on Seven on Wednesday night. Goodness knows why – it’s not like My Kitchen’s Rank, Celeb Charades in the Jungle and Farmer Wants a Missus all launched in the same week. But now it’s Friday night and TV schedule is a little clearer, so it’s time to check out the catch-up TV options. In the First Dates premiere we meet international model Aiden, who likes running his hands through his own flowing locks. International models have had a rough trot on TV lately, with Dapper Dave from the Bachelorette lambasted for his stellar work in a Patons catalogue.
Aiden is the hipster beardy kind of model who wears a low-scoop neck tee. He’s never been on a blind date before. It looks as though the show has taken over a whole restaurant for filming purposes, which I guess makes it easier to get footage. And the staff (presumably wannabe actors who make a buck in hospitality) are in on the act, asking the lonely hearts leading questions like “Are you nervous?”. digestive issues. Model likes the Island/Polynesian look, so he’s in luck with the stunning Emily. She’s only 21 but is already sick of modern blokes not making an effort to be romantic. The producers have stuck Aiden at the bar with a drink to make him sweat a bit, although he’s a confident fellow who no doubt has been headhunted to be on the show. They meet and it’s a bit awks. Emily is from the Seychelles and Aiden doesn’t know where that is.
Cut to Bachelor No. 2 and it’s Nicholas Nicholas. Yes, for reals.
Poor Nick Nick is so nervous he asks for a straw for his tequila shot, for fear he will spill it all over himself. “I liken myself to an excitable puppy – like most puppies I’m loving and endearing, but like most puppies I end up pissing the floor and making a mess.” Date Dannii arrives and she looks like a girl who works out a lot and has a BFF who runs a spray-tanning biz. She normally goes for hunky tradies but has decided she needs to try something different. Nick x 2 definitely fits this bill. He cleverly tells Dannii the tequila is for her, but can’t maintain the charade and confesses all. She suggests he “balls up and take it like a man”. He does. Date No. 3 is 40-year-old Caterina who is rocking a coppery fro. She loves dancing with her gay BFFs but now wants tall and handsome. Date Chris fits that bill, but you know he’s a knob when he opens his mouth and tells the maitre d “Good evening – I believe I have arrived”. He greets Caterina by holding both her hands and speaking with lots of lingering pauses. It’s totes creepy.
Then he says: “You know what, if we’re going to spend a little bit of time together, let’s get lubricated.” Urgh – this guy needs to date Cougar from MKR. Over at Nick Nick’s table, Dannii has twigged Nick has forgotten her name. They enjoy a bit of banter about his general hopelessness. “Strike,” she laughs. At date No. 1 Emily is doing most of the talking, while at No. 3 Chris is going from bad to worse. Caterina must think it’s a gee up.
Date 4 begins and it’s Lauren, 28, and Corbin, 27. Lauren talks very, very, very fast and does not come across as desperate at all. I already know from the promos she has crazy eyes, so this should be excruciatingly compelling. They bother work in marketing so should be able to make small talk, but he’s in digital marketing and that’s “stuff I don’t know and I don’t like that stuff”. (Ha, ha – she’s just joking … but not really). Lauren is afraid, at the grand age of 28, that she is going to become a crazy cat lady and die alone. Usually this is an exaggeration but honestly, poor Lauren, for a marketing expert you’re not presenting the best side of yourself. You need to go on Gruen and be the subject of their “How Do You Sell …” segment. Over at another table, Double Nick sneaks off to the loo to phone a friend for help with his patter. He heads back to try it out on Danni, but halfway through actor/waiter Terry shows impeccable comic timing by arriving with their food. The Channel 7 editors cack themselves, cutting to a shot of a zucchini having its tip sliced off.
Seychelles Lady says she has never been in a relationship. Perhaps this is because she is still a baby at 21. Model is just throwing out the odd “mmmm”, “yeah”, “mmm” in response. At Date 3, creepy dude is refusing to divulge any information about his family, friends or career and is determined to stay in this character he has created. Meanwhile, Crazy Eyes talks her date through her training regime (up at 5am six days a week to train). Good on her, I guess, but then it gets weird when she orders the steak with cafe de Paris butter, but asks the waiter how much butter is in the butter? Umm, a lot? The waiter tries to stir the pot by suggesting she has chips with her steak. The steak arrives in all its buttery goodness and Corbin tries to keep the peace by agreeing with everything she says.
And the dates keep coming – glad they are not dragging everything out. Tom, 23, hails from Broken Hill, so they’ve dressed him in a blue shirt. He’s a well-spoken lad who’s never had a girlfriend, let alone a date at a fancy restaurant. Here comes Vanessa from Bright (uh oh – that’s a loooong way from Broken Hill). She’s only 19 and is a real sweetie. Tom, legend that he is, pulls out the chair for Vanessa, which is something the boys in Bright would never do. Note to Creepy Chris: Now that’s how to behave on a date. Date No. 1 is over. The don’t live in the same city, so a relationship would be tricky.
Over at Date 2 Double Nick is quick with the compliments but he’s such a bumbler it’s endearing, not creepy. Speaking of which, Chris has challenged Caterina to stare into his eyes for four minutes. He takes her hand and starts stroking it. She is a very polite, tolerant woman. They’re splitting the bill, which we can see is $131. She puts in $70. Surely Channel 7 pays for their food and this is all a charade? 
After it’s over he finally let’s slip a little personal info. She says “maybe” to date two, he says “yes” so she upgrades it to a yes. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat! There must have been more footage of him being normal that didn’t make the final cut. 
At the kids’ table Vanessa can’t believe what a polite, kind lad Tom is and he seems equally smitten. Corbin is wishing he could join them when Crazy Eyes explains she’s not crazy, it’s her past boyfriends who have set out to make her crazy because they can’t stand her being so awesome and un-crazy. Then she drops that one of her fave movies is Wedding Crashers and Corbin knows he’s in real trouble. Please, Channel 7, can you do a Second Dates series so we can try and find love for the normal people from this season. Back to the kids and Tom offers to write her a letter … awww … now every grandma in Australia wants him to be her adopted grandson. At date 2, Double Nick nicks off to fix up the bill, then gives whatsername a wooden heart with his name on it. She’s been a good sport.
The kids are on dessert and they are totally going to be going steady by the end of the night. Crazy Eyes: “If one more person gets married and has a baby, I’m going to die, just so you know.” Does he have a three-year-plan? Nup, he’s not a goal setter, unlike her. He pays the bill and she thinks he is boyfriend material. It’s time to ask Corbin if he wants to see Crazy Eyes again. “What am I meant to say?” he replies. And then it’s a no.
Poor girl – let’s hope it was the pressure of the TV cameras that got to her because she is going to cop it for a while. The bill arrives at the kids’ table and both reach for it. He insists it’s his treat, which given she’s only 19 and probably an impoverished student, seems fair. “I felt like a princess,” she says. They are both too shy to say they’d love a second date, but look at their hands.
At the end we get a montage of what happened next: Nick Nick has been too nervous to call Dannii for coffee, creepy dude disappeared and the young lovers have yet to go out – noooooooooooooooooo!
Yet another reality shows kicks off this week. First Dates premieres on Channel at 9pm Wednesday, February 3. Will it get lost in the flood of other shows which have already built up loyal audiences?
The blurb on Yahoo7 says:
Be there for every awkward, hilarious and heart-warming moment of lovelorn Aussies on blind dates with the premiere of First Dates – Wednesday, Feb 3 at 9pm, hosted by Sam Mac. In Channel Seven’s new fly-on-the-wall dating show real people go on blind dates in a restaurant with a unique twist.
There’s someone out there for everyone, and when the First Dates restaurant sets the table, hopeful singles from across the country will have a chance of meeting their dream partner.
Our daters have been brought together according to their likes and dislikes by First Dates’ team of matchmakers. They’ve turned their backs on online dating in the hope of meeting someone special face-to-face, and they’ll meet their potential love match for the very first time in the restaurant.
Cameras controlled remotely record the date from start to finish – from first impressions, through all the awkward, heart-warming and funny moments, to the end of the meal and the discussion about whether or not a second date is on the cards.
For some pairings, it’ll be their first and last date. For others, it might just be the beginning of a lifelong relationship. What happens next is up to them!
First Dates allows us to observe human behaviour in its purest form. This is a series about people’s lives, their stories, the diversity of a country – these factors are played out through the prism of dating and the universal feeling of wanting to love and be loved.
The series is warm, kind and generous, and served with a good dollop of humour.
