GMA-7's reality dating game show Take Me Out continues to thrill and surprise viewers since its debut last April 26.
Surprising twists and turns continue to unfold as bachelors vie to win the attention of 30 single ladies through any means possible. To up the ante further, the show recently injected new stunts like requiring the bachelors to mount production numbers and execute stunts to impress the girls even more.
The show's producers also decided to reveal the backgrounds of the searching bachelors to provide a human interest angle to the show and to tug at the heartstrings of the ladies as well as the viewers.
The local team behind the show consulted with Fremantle Media—the giant London-based production company—before implementing the said changes.
"We explained to them the need to innovate and sabi nila sa Indonesia it worked daw 'yong merong celebrity edition so that's what we did. Pero sabi din namin na sa Pilipinas parang uso 'yong heart-warming tapos may kurot sa puso kung minsan," Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) during a recent interview held at the GMA Network Center in Quezon City.
"But of course being a dating game show it still has to be fun and that's also the reason why we're doing special episodes now."
WINNING COUPLES. PEP also had the chance to meet some of the winning couples inside the station compound and we're surprised to learn how interesting and diverse their backgrounds are yet they somehow managed to find a neutral ground at the end of the competition.
One thing they all share in common was the fact that they are all hoping to meet a new love.
"On the day of the audition I was thinking should I go or should I not. But I did audition just for kicks without me knowing what to expect," bachelor Miguel Masigan said.
Another bachelor named Miguel added, "I'm single and if I find a partner here, why not!" His date, Kyoko Amano, wholeheartedly agreed with his statement.
Canadian stunner Tiffany Alejandro, on the other hand, confessed being drawn to Alvin Aguilar's charming "smile" more than his great physique.
Confidence was a big issue for Alvin at first: "Kabado kasi ngayon lang ako sumali sa isang dating game show tapos English speaking pa siya [Tiffany]. Pero it turned out okay naman nung date namin."
23-year-old balikbayan Paulo Ranola Jordan described petite Cavite-native Catherine Desingaño as "girl-next-door and sweet."
Paulo, who is trying to recover from a previous breakup, continued with a grin, "It's good to see what the Philippines has to offer."
Catherine never expected to be chosen considering the number of equally pretty girls on the roster: "Hindi talaga kasi madami talaga kaming pinagpipilian kaya most of the time hindi ka na lang din mag-e-expect. Pero siyempre 'yon din 'yong nakakadagdag ng thrill and excitement pag ikaw bigla ang napili."
But not every one ended up feeling lucky.
Take the case of 38-year-old bachelor Jo Ashley Cruz. The Kalookan Barangay Councilor, unfortunately, earned the distinction as the first bachelor to go home without a date after all 30 ladies shut down their podium lights to express their lack of interest.
"I wasn't expecting na the girls would turn off their lights akala ko may matitirang isa o dalawa!" laughed Jo Ashley.
"I was supposed to do public speaking since I'm a public servant but they asked me at the last minute to sing and I wasn't prepared," he added.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Jo Ashley said he somehow enjoyed his short stint in the show. When asked if he is willing to give dating another crack, the jovial guy shot back: "Why not?"
Catch Take Me Out every Monday to Friday at 5:00 p.m. on GMA-7.