On March 7, Brandon Berman, a comedian and the host of UpDating, was interviewed about the live audience dating show where blindfolded contestants answer rapid-fire questions from the show’s hosts and the audience. The show ended its “After Hours Winter Tour” in Seattle on Feb. 28 at the Neptune Theatre.
The matches are made through a casting process in which contestants apply and reach out to the hosts. While being questioned, contestants can give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to indicate whether they are interested in each other. If a contestant doesn’t want to go on a second date, an audience member can jump in and pitch why they would be a good match.
What made you choose Seattle over other Washington cities?
The tour ended in Seattle because it “was already a stop-through booking the event,” Berman said. According to Berman, who has toured in Washington before, “We’ve toured in Tacoma a couple of times.” However, he and the team preferred Seattle over Tacoma because they had bad experiences in Tacoma.
What was the preparation like before the show?
“Casting the contestants and prepping the jokes for the audience,” Berman said. “You also would need to be prepared for a very good crowd.”
How did you choose the contestants?
Contestants apply through the show’s website, but Berman noted, “Both of the contestants had good connections and personalities with each other.”
Did you expect a 3-for-3 couple match success?
(Spoilers for fans who weren’t at the event) There was a 100% success rate in matching couples. “It was not really expected,” Berman said. “I expected a lot of chemistry throughout the night,” but he did not anticipate this level of success. The Seattle show ended with three couples–two of whom included audience members. The first couple paired up at the 20-minute mark; the second couple formed right after with both audience members shooting their shots. The third couple came together toward the end of the night after two women raced over to win the audience member who had been looking for love the entire show.
Would you come back to Seattle for another show?
“Yes,” Berman said. “I love Seattle. I would go back to Seattle every year.”
So, the next time UpDating comes to Seattle, don’t miss it!
Author
As Rhiannon had done journalism in the past for her high school. She hopes to continue that path through the Collegian.
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