| Perfect Match | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Dating game show |
| Presented by | Greg Evans (1984-1986, 1989) Cameron Daddo (1987-1988) Shelley Craft (2002) |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Grundy |
| Running time | 30 minutes (including commercials) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Network Ten |
| Original run | 1984 – 1989, 2002 |
Perfect Match is an Australian dating game show based on the format of The Dating Game. Perfect Match was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation.
It originally aired on Network Ten for 30 minutes most weekdays from 5:30pm between 1984 and 1989. The format was revived in Australia for subsequent programs Blind Date in 1991, and Perfect Match on the Seven Network in 2002.
A New Zealand version of the show was shown in the late 1980s following the same format. The host of the show was Butch Bradley.
Contents |
The show featured the same format as The Dating Game and Blind Date, with a contestant determining their "perfect match" by asking three potential suitors of the opposite sex hidden behind a screen a number of scripted compatibility questions. Each episode featured two different rounds. One featured a male asking questions of three unseen females, the other had one female asking questions of three male contestants. Viewers of the show could see all contestants throughout each round.
Frequently the questions - along with the answers contestants gave - aimed for comedy and were imbued with sly innuendo. After three questions the contestant would choose their preferred partner based on the answers they had given, and they would win the prize of a holiday to be taken together (along with a television crew). After this the partner with the highest "compatibility score", based on responses to interview questions prior to the game, would be revealed, although this would have no effect on the game itself or the awarding of prizes.
Each episode also included a recap of the holiday taken by an earlier couple. The segment included footage of their weekend away, along with edited highlights of video interviews with each individual in isolation after returning home, which would be played to the couple as they were interviewed together in the studio. Sometimes previously unrevealed true feelings would be revealed when the video interviews were replayed.
The Comedy Company' character Kylie Mole once appeared on Perfect Match. Another Comedy Company character, Marika, Con the Fruiterer's long suffering wife, also made an appearance on Blind Date.
Perfect Match was hosted by Greg Evans for the first two years. Through an oversight, Channel Ten forgot to renew his contract, so he was signed by Channel Nine who "warehoused" him. Cameron Daddo replaced him as host of Perfect Match from 1987 to 1988. After Daddo left the series, Evans, whose contract with Nine had expired, returned as host for the final season. The show also featured hostesses Debbie Newsome (1984-85), Tiffany Lamb (1986) and Kerrie Friend (1987-89).
After returning in 1991 as Blind Date the show was again hosted by Greg Evans and Nicky Buckley. Buckley was later replaced by a hostess credited only as "Anke from Sweden". The 2002 revival was hosted by Shelley Craft and Agro.
The original series also featured Dexter - a "robot" that supposedly mathematically calculated the compatibility of the couple. He was voiced by Keith Scott. In the 2002 version Agro partially fulfilled a similar role to Dexter in announcing the couples' compatibility scores. Karl Stefanovic later filled the roll after he brought on line from a hardware upgrade.