Abstract
In 2010, a reality dating show called Fei Cheng Wu Rao (非诚勿扰) sparked discussions across the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and many viewers saw the show as a reflection of changes in the value systems of contemporary national society. The format that inspired the show, however, has international origins. This article considers Fei Cheng Wu Rao alongside the equally popular British version, Take Me Out, to demonstrate how Jiangsu Satellite Television has been able to adjust a global format to comply with PRC censorship and differing television dating show expectations, drawing out the opposing forms of fantasy each version of the format presents. The article then engages with overseas special episodes (海外专场) as a form of international relations that educate participants and viewers alike in how to approach foreign places and cultural difference.
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