PREMIERE

"DATING IN THE DARK," A NEW ROMANTIC REALITY SERIES, PREMIERES MONDAY, JULY 20 ON ABC

Each Week, Three Men and Three Women Look for Love in the Dark

"Pilot" -- Looks will be taken out of the equation when men and women get to know each other and connect in total darkness on the premiere of the one-hour reality series, "Dating in the Dark," MONDAY, JULY 20 (10:02-11:00 p.m. ET), on the ABC Television Network.

Hosted by Rossi Morreale, the six-episode "Dating in the Dark" is a sexy social experiment asking the age-old question, "Is Love Blind?" Each week three new single men and three new single women, all looking for love, will live in separate wings of a house and remain totally sequestered from the opposite sex. While they'll have no chance of seeing each other in the light, they will have the opportunity to date in a completely dark room. The participants won't be able to see anything, but the audience will get to see EVERYTHING first hand with the help of high-tech infrared cameras.

After several days of wooing, kissing and snuggling in complete darkness, the participants will select one of their dates to be revealed in the light. And after they see each other for the first time, they'll have to make the ultimate decision� to stay with the person they fell for in the dark, or to move on.

In the premiere episode, "Pilot," the participants are given some tantalizing clues about the opposite sex in the light, such as an article of clothing of one of their dates that they can touch and smell (different sorts of clues like these will occur in each episode). Near the end of the episode, each participant will work with a professional sketch artist to envision their favorite date (based on imagination and what they have felt in the dark room). When those drawings are shared with the opposite sex, fireworks ensue when they see what their dates expect of them! Once appearances have been revealed, participants will have to decide just how much looks really matter.

"Dating in the Dark" is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding, along with Talpa Content, the format department of Dutch media entrepreneur John de Mol's company. David Goldberg is the Chairman of Endemol North America. The series is executive-produced by Tom Shelly and the co-executive producer is Richard Devinki.

This program is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. A TV parental guideline will be posted closer to airdate.

This episode of "Dating in the Dark" will be available on abc.com the day after airing on the network for users to watch online.