When I was in grade school we were allowed to return home for lunch each day at 11:30, and with rare exceptions my sisters and I did. When we were younger we'd watch Seasame Street in that hour but in the later years we'd tune in to Love Connection, the dating show hosted by Chuck Woolery.
A contestant would be shown three videos of prospective suitors (cashing in on the popularity of video dating at the time.) The in-studio audience would vote for which one was the best choice, with the result disclosed later, and then the contestant
would reveal who he or she had chosen and actually gone out with on a date. Their choice would appear by video from backstage, and the two would describe the date for Chuck, with the best ones being tales of awkward encounters. The audience poll was then revealed, and the contestant was offered a date with the winner, on the shows dime, or a second date with their original choice. If they chose their original connection, he or she would be brought out to reunite with them on stage.
Silly, but fun. And Woolery, a veteran host of several other game shows, kept it light but with a modicum of class. He was great.
Chuck Woolery died today at the age of 83.
RIP
