Baggage (TV series)
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| Baggage | |
|---|---|
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| Format | Game show |
| Presented by | Jerry Springer |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera setup |
| Production company(s) | Comcast Entertainment Group |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | GSN |
| Original airing | April 19, 2010 – December 2, 2011 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Baggage was an American dating game show, hosted by Jerry Springer. It premiered on April 19, 2010 and ended on December 2, 2011 on GSN. Baggage currently airs in reruns on GSN, Friday nights at 8PM Eastern on GSN, and weeknights at 12 A.M. Eastern/11 P.M. Central.
Similar to The Dating Game, Baggage gives three contestants the chance to win the eye of a prospective date. The contestants carry three suitcases onstage: a small, medium, and large one. Each suitcase contains an embarrassing, unique, or weird proposition the contestant may have; for example, bad habits (e.g. "I share a bed with my grandmother"), strange relationship preferences ("My partner must dress up as Santa Claus"), issues with one's past ("I'm an outlaw in Mexico"), and strange hobbies ("I play video games 30 hours a week"). These cases represent the "baggage" to which they will confess and defend. The bigger the suitcase, the bigger the secret. Once the three contestants are pared down to one, the potential dater must admit to a fault of his or her own.
Gameplay
The game is played by first introducing the central character. Three contestants are then introduced, each accompanied by three pieces of baggage: a small one, a medium one, and a large one, with each one containing a corresponding secret. The central character also has a piece of baggage of his or her own, which is only revealed at the end of the show. During the show, three possible secrets are given about the central character's secret, only one of which is the actual secret contained in their baggage. After the contestants are introduced, they each open the smallest piece of baggage, and explain the secrets they contain.
In the second segment, Springer reveals the second level of each baggage, contained in the medium-sized suitcase. The three contestants are placed on the other side of the stage, along with the central character. Only the three contestants know which piece of baggage belongs to whom. The central character chooses the one piece of baggage which is the "deal breaker" (i.e., the one secret that he or she cannot accept). After stating this, the contestants then return to the other side of the stage and reveal which suitcase belongs to them. The person who claims the deal breaker baggage is immediately eliminated. The central character and two remaining contestants discuss the secrets in the medium pieces of baggage and plead their case as to why they should be the central character's choice. The two remaining contestants, one at a time, are then asked five questions about their personal lives.
The two remaining contestants open their largest pieces of baggage and reveal the secrets they contain. Each contestant makes one final statement, and the central character eliminates one final contestant. The central character then opens their baggage and reveals the contents to the remaining contestant. If the contestant accepts the secret belonging to the central character, the couple is given an expense-covered evening together. However, if the contestant can not accept the secret, the pair part ways.
Broadcast history
High viewer ratings for the show resulted in GSN renewing it for a second season which began on August 16, 2010 and aired through February 11, 2011. Season 3 began on June 6, 2011 and aired through December 2, 2011. On August 21, 2011, a GSN special titled Baggage First Dates aired following a five-hour Best of Baggage Marathon. Baggage First Dates featured a couple named Andre and Maggie talking to Springer about what happened on their first date following their initial appearance.
A syndication test run was shown on a select group of Sinclair Broadcast Group's stations January 10, 2011 and premiered in Australia on April 11, 2011 on the subscription television channel LifeStyle You. It began airing in syndication in the United States on September 17, 2012
Reruns of the U.S. version can now be seen in syndication in America and on LifeStyle You in Australia
International versions
| Country | Local Name | Host | Network | Series | Year Aired |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Denmark |
Hele Pakken | Singe Lindqvist | TV 2 | 1 | 2013 |
 France |
12 Bagages | Patrice Laffont | NRJ 12 | 1-3 | 2011 |
 United Kingdom |
Baggage | Gok Wan | Channel 4 E4 |
1 | 21 September to 2 November 2012 10 and 17 November 2012 |
 United States |
Jerry Springer | GSN | 1-3 | April 19, 2010-December 2, 2011 |
External links
- Baggage at the Internet Movie Database
- Baggage at Syndicated Network Television Association
- GSN version (US)
- Channel 4 version (UK)
- LifeStyle You, the official website that reruns the U.S. version of Baggage (Australia)
- Trailer for "Hele Pakken" (The Whole Package) on TV2 (Denmark)
