The Chinese dating show "If You Are the One" has become popular in Australia because of the brutally honest comments made by its contestants. (Photo : Facebook)
A new Chinese dating show "If You Are the One" has become an unexpected hit in Australia, the only English-speaking country the show is broadcast in, becoming the most popular dating show among Australian TV viewers.
An English-subtitled version of the show became an unlikely hit in Australia's youth-oriented SBS2 channel since 2013. It has become so successful that the producers of the show have launched a casting call that will result in 28 Australian men and women to be flown to China in December to participate in two Australian specials.
The mechanics of the show involve one male contestant facing 24 single women in the hopes of dating one of them. The man then shows videos, performs talents and answers questions from the women to let them get to know him better.
Each of the women have a light that is turned on and will remain on until the woman decides to turn it off, signifying that she is not interested in the male contestant. At the end of each show, the man chooses a date among the women who have left their light on, or leave empty-handed if none of the lights are left on.
Strangely enough, the format was actually based on an Australian show called "Taken Out," which was a flop domestically, despite being successfully exported to several other countries.
In China, the show has become Jiangsu Satellite TV's most successful show and the most successful dating show in the country ever since it was launched in 2010, attracting around 50 million viewers per episode.
Part of the reason Australians prefer the Chinese version is supposedly because of the brutally honest contestants. With every episode, Australians post their favorite blunt quotes on Twitter, Tumblr and online forums under the hashtag #ifyouaretheone.
"I haven't said hello to you because I don't think you deserve it," a young woman told a male contestant.
"If I was your girlfriend, would you let your belly be my pillow?" said another woman to a chubby male contestant.
Up until now, non-Chinese contestant have been rare on the show, with even fewer among them being successful in getting a date.
However, with the Australian casting call, that might change. While speaking Mandarin is required, several non-Asians have applied.
