Lifetime has announced Gay, Straight or Taken?, a new reality series that puts a modern twist on the traditional dating show, will premiere on Monday, January 8 at 8PM ET/PT.
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In each half-hour episode, an eligible single woman will meet with three men: one who's in a relationship, one who's gay and one who's single. After spending some one-on-one time to interact with each of the men, the woman must then determine which is gay, straight and taken. Choose the straight man, and she wins an exotic trip for two with him. Choose the gay or taken man, and the one she selects will win a trip with their significant other.
"Everyone believes they're masters at reading people," said executive producer Joe Livecchi. "This is the kind of show you watch with friends and yell at the television because you think you've got it figured out. No one will know for sure who's who until the very last minute. That's what makes it so much fun."
In the premiere episode, 27-year-old realtor Jenner has three suitors to choose from: Luciano, 32, an athletic and handsome bartender; Mike, 25, a down-to-earth club promoter and Chris, 34, a gregarious personal trainer. Through a game of touch football, a jump in the pool, some salsa dancing, and yoga and massages, Jenner looks for hints about the men in an effort to determine which one is straight and not taken.
"For the record, I couldn't tell who was gay, straight or taken myself in the pilot," said Susanne Daniels, president of entertainment at Lifetime. "I'm excited that we've found a new take on the popular reality dating show genre."
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Gay, Straight or Taken? is produced by Endemol USA, the American division of the Dutch unscripted programming giant behind Big Brother, Fear Factor, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Deal or No Deal, and 1 vs. 100.
"We're always seeking to bring relatable programming to audiences," said David Goldberg, president of Endemol USA. "This show really turns stereotypes on its head. It's a fun, wholly original spin on the dating show model, and I think Lifetime is the perfect place for this series."
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio