howie’s halfpipe

THE COUPLE 7pm weekdays on channel 4

The viewers vote until there is only the final 2 contestants left, the 2 final contestants have never met each other. But soon they will. A regular online chatting session is set up for the two of them, they talk on msn every night. The conversations are published in the next days paper for all to read. A few weeks into it the viewers vote for a first meeting, the camera are in place the meeting is arranged, a party is organised. The host of the show goes and meets the female contestant while the male contestant stays at home frantically cleaning his room and doing his hair. The guests begin to arrive, and finally the host turns up with the female contestant. The male contestant is in the bathroom with a friend when the female arrives he is drying out a computer keyboard over the sink. They look at each other, the host introduces the two contestants. There is a awkward silence followed by some on the spot un-funny nervous comments. The guests all gather and they begin a journey into the city to watch a film together. On the train the host positions himself so that there are 2 seats near him for the two contestants, he tries to provoke conversation, the other guests on the train look on in anticipation.

Sms to win, cast your vote “will they get together?” (proudly brought to you by optus)

The part guests all get off the train and go to the cinema, the romantic film chosen for the even was “the hulk”. The male contestant gets into the cinema before the female and secures his seat. Shock horror due to bad planning the two contestants didn’t sit next to each other.
During the film comments from other guests where past to the male contestant, giving advice and asking when he was gonna make his move, and what do you think?. The Australian public sent in their requests and advice and the guests obliged by passing it on to the male contestant.

After film it was the walk to the restaurant the host mingled and interviewed the other guests, everyone tried to get the two contestants to walk together, they did for a very short while.

At the restaurant the male contestant sat at one end of the table with the female at the other end, there where many glances in each others direction, with quick look aways if the other contestant saw. The cameras picked up on it all, there was even a special “the couple uncut special”

Things progressed, sms conversations became more intense (thanks to optus) and the (ninemsn) msn conversation began to go later and later in the nights.

The host send text messages to the female contestant, to hype things up a bit, hopefully enlighten a flame or at least a spark. A meeting is arranged between the 2 contestants without the host.

The crew gets to Chatswood early to set up for this monumental meeting.

The contestants arrive in Chatswood, the male contestant is met by a kick up the bum by the female contestant, they laugh and joke ,flirting is evident. The afternoon is spent walking around not really knowing what was going on around them just concentrating on being silly and impressing each other. There was foodcourts and later ice cream at dusk.

More and more meeting where arranged (thanks to sparkly bee and breakthru) the contestants began flirting more and more, there was one night in the city with the host, another guest and the two contestants where there was much flirting. The next night the contestants went on a romantic night to darling harbour, where the had mcdonalds and caught the monorail, and held hands.
There was a cheer from viewers across the nation when their hands first connected.

Eventually the two contestants became “the couple” with ratings for the show going through the roof, the producers decided to keep the program going and follow the new couple around. One lucky home viewer won a truck load of cash (thanks to wizard home loans) for predicting they would get together.

The next big event was the (coca-cola) kiss, yet again ratings went through the roof, “the couple” had hit number one 2 months in a row, the whole country was glued to their televisions, sending sms’s and emails, as well as face to face advice.

As things progressed, the producers have extended the show for another 2 series, with negotiations for another 3 series after that. The viewers feel like they have birthed the couple all the couples movements are controlled by votes and descisions that the viewers make. The producers are currently in negotiations with Dr Phil to see if he can come in and give some relationship advice to the 2 . Separately of course!

But until then it seems the viewers have plenty of advice, in the most public relationship of the year.

So stay tuned for “the couple” season 16, coming soon to channel 4.

“keeping you in control of their destiny”
(proudly sponsored by optus, coca-cola, ninemsn, st stephens and the Hornsby shire)