Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we did some digging and found some of MTV’s most popular and short lived dating shows that you probably binge watched during summer vacay. Now in reality, it is quite obvious that most of these shows were super scripted and just unrealistic, but hey who doesn’t love a good cringy laugh?
Depending on how old you are, you may not remember most of these shows but that is totally okay! In the age of MTV’s reality show niche (Catfish and Teen Mom anyone?) they most likely got lost in the transition between the older and younger millennials. However, do not go searching on Google just yet, we’re going to break down the top 5 hidden gems that have now retired themselves to MTV heaven.
1. My Own
Now this show was actually one of my favorites and possibly where the modern colloquialism “stanning” got its identity. This obviously scripted dating show featured an overly obsessed fan of a celebrity of their choice choosing from six contestants who resemble the celebrity. The contestants would dress and perform like the celebrity in hopes to win a date with fan. In some cases they would look so much like them that you probably would have to do a double take. The celebrity obsessions included Alicia Keys, P!nk, Beyonce and so many more.
2. Date My Mom
So by the title, I know you’re probably like, what? This show was most likely the most comical of them all. How would you feel if you had to pick your significant other based off of their parents? We probably wouldn’t date them. The synopsis of this show was that you would go on three dates with three different moms who would convince you to date their child..the twist however, you have no clue what they look like. Fun, right?
3. Room Raiders
Yes, the show is exactly what it sounds like. You and two other contestants would essentially get taken from your home (by MTV producers of course) without any time to clean up and organize anything. From there you sit in the back of a production van watching your potential date raid your room and belongings finding God knows what. If this doesn’t make you want to clean up before bae slides through then I don’t know what does.
4. Parental Control
Imagine this, your parents basically disliked your current significant other and scouted other potential so that you would dump the one you were with. This is probably one of the best yet worst shows for those featured. What makes it even more nerve wracking is that your parents would sit in your living room with the person they were trying to get rid of while you dated their two potential options. Many times, the child opted to end their sometimes toxic relationship and in other cases, they could not deny their love for who they were with. So much drama, but yet this was possibly one of MTV’s most memorable dating shows.
5. Next
This show was probably the most savage of them all. They basically threw out the notion that you should never judge a book by its cover. The plot is that you and 4 other contestants would get on the “Next Bus” to go on this blind date adventure. The coined Next-er could then decide if they wanted to date you or next you immediately. The even bigger twist is that you could get a huge “next” on a date if they seemingly grew interested in you.
If you ever have time or if you want to binge watch early and mid 2000’s television, MTV truly has some interesting shows. You can find most of these episodes buried deep into someone’s YouTube channel or on the super late night spectrum of MTV. Happy watching!
**Image credit via MTV.com and Giphy.com**