Friendzone (TV series) explained

Genre:Reality
Creator:SallyAnn Salsano
Damon Epps
Runtime:30 minutes
Executive Producer:SallyAnn Salsano
Joel Zimmer
Stephanie Lydecker
Producer:Jill Garelick Jeffrey Ruggles
Julie Van Groll
Josh Lansky
Erika Bryant
Krista Van Nieuwburg
Nicole Walberg
Timothy J. Hamilton
Sheonna Mix
Josh Peters
Company:495 Productions
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:5
Num Episodes:108
Channel:MTV

Friendzone is a dating/relationship reality television series produced by 495 Productions[1] and airing on MTV. The show follows people who have romantic feelings for one of their friends. Sally Ann Salsano created the show based upon one of her personal experiences.[2] The theme song is "Two Hearts" by Keegan DeWitt.[3] The show ended on December 2, 2014.

Premise

Each episode of Friendzone features two stories. In each story, the person with romantic feelings (the crusher) wants to express these feelings to the target of his/her feelings (the crushee).

At the very beginning of the show, both crushers featured are introduced and each mentions their crushee. Of the 176 crusher-crushee pairs featured in seasons one through four, 157 are opposite-sex and 19 are same-sex (8 male pairs and 11 female pairs). Later both crushers mention the premise of the show. Each crusher tells the crushee that he or she is preparing for a blind date and asks the crushee for assistance. But the date is actually for the crushee. The crusher's goal is to get out of the "friend zone".[4]

The first part of the show follows these preparations and the crusher speaks to the camera about his or her feelings towards the crushee. Often, the crusher talks about how nervous he or she is that the crushee will say yes or no. Some worry if the friendship will remain if the crushee refuses the date. The crushee will also talk to the camera about the crusher, often in a very positive but platonic manner, unaware of the crusher's feelings towards him or her.

After the crusher and crushee arrive at the location of the date, the crushee leaves the crusher ready for their date. On most stories, the crusher will then call back the crushee and then say that the blind date is really between the crusher and the crushee. The crushee will then respond to the crusher's feelings. Very rarely, the crusher gets cold feet and allows the crushee to walk away.

Sometimes the crushee will tell the crusher that the feelings are not mutual and suggest they remain friends. In these cases, the crusher will usually be upset and say so to the camera while the crushee will say his or her feelings as well.

Other times, the crushee will agree to the date. In these shows, the crusher will usually be very happy and show his or her joy to the camera. Then, the date will be shown. Not all dates wind up well. Some crushes have agreed to dates to be nice even though they really had no romantic feelings for the crusher and usually wind up mentioning the truth during or after the date, hurting the crusher's feelings. Other times, the date goes well and a relationship starts between the crusher and the crushee. In some cases, the crushee will already have romantic feelings for the crusher but was also too scared to express his or her feelings as well.

Production

Five seasons of Friendzone have aired, featuring 216 crusher-crushee pairs in 108 episodes.[5]

Most of the episodes of the first season took place in the Northeast. All of the episodes of the second season were based in Florida.[6] The third season was filmed in the Midwest, including more than one episode with students from the University of Michigan. All of the episodes in season four took place in California, Oregon, or Washington.

For the fifth season, there were casting calls in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville.[7]

Episodes

Season 1

EpisodeOriginal Air Date[8] First Date CrusherFirst Date Crushee First Date LocationSecond Date CrusherSecond Date CrusheeSecond Date Location
1November 1, 2011GabyNickKings Park, New YorkConnorBrittanieHuntington, New York
2November 2, 2011KevinJanineOld Bridge, New JerseyHeatherGaryNeptune, New Jersey
3November 3, 2011ChristieDylanSomerset, New JerseyPeterVictoriaFreehold, New Jersey
4November 4, 2011AlexAnthonyMedford, New YorkDanKatieLittle Silver, New Jersey
5November 7, 2011FitzMichelleNew York CityShellyAnthonyWading River, New York
6November 8, 2011JamieSteveNeptune City, New JerseyJackieFrankManorville, New York
7November 9, 2011JeremyAmandaManhattan, New YorkNateStephanieNorth Haledon, New Jersey
8November 10, 2011AngelicaJohnFranklin Square, New YorkShivaniParthLodi, New Jersey
9November 18, 2011KatyBrianNew York CityJaciEdKeansburg, New York (typo?)
10November 21, 2011PollyTylerWest Long Branch, New JerseyStephanieJoshBethpage, New York
11November 22, 2011StephanieMikeCity Island, New Jersey (typo?)SeanKateNot listed
12November 28, 2011B-HawkToniNew York CityDavidMaiaNew York City
13November 29, 2011KrisLaurenNew City, New YorkRachelBillyNot listed
14November 30, 2011BryanMeganNot listedKeniseJamesThe Bronx, New York
15December 7, 2011KrystalNishellYonkers, New YorkMikeRachelNot listed
16December 8, 2011AlexChelseaWhite Plains, New YorkAshaChrisRadnor, Pennsylvania
17December 20, 2011AjaCharlesPhiladelphiaPaulieBethanyMoonachie, New Jersey
18December 20, 2011DanielleChrisBridgewater, New JerseyJennaChristieStaten Island, New York
19December 7, 2011NicoleChrisPhiladelphiaAndrewSarahToms River, New Jersey
20 [9] December 8, 2011FranklinEricaPhiladelphiaWayneMeganPalmyra, New Jersey
21 [10] December 20, 2011ScottLaurenForked River, New JerseySidCourtneyToms River, New Jersey
22 [11] December 20, 2011MelitaMarcusClifton, New JerseyBrianSamanthaWall, New York (typo?)

Season 2

EpisodeOriginal Air Date[12] First Date CrusherFirst Date Crushee First Date LocationSecond Date CrusherSecond Date CrusheeSecond Date Location
1May 29, 2012YohamnaJamesTampa, FloridaJoeLaceyPlant City, Florida
2May 30, 2012CassieSeanLutz, FloridaNykKatieSpring Hill, Florida
3May 31, 2012AntonioMeganBartow, FloridaStormyGroverGibsonton, Florida
4June 1, 2012JojoSydneyMadeira Beach, FloridaKristenJeremiahTampa, Florida
5June 5, 2012NicoleTomIndian Rocks, FloridaAgapeJenYbor City, Florida
6June 6, 2012SpenserBlancaTampa, FloridaNazzyJoelTampa, Florida
7June 11, 2012AmyTinoTampa, FloridaToneeRyanPlant City, "NY" (typo?)
8June 13, 2012CaitiKevinPlant City, FloridaJarvisNazBrandon, Florida
9June 14, 2012RyanTaylorBradenton, FloridaAshleyColinTampa, Florida
10June 15, 2012DannySabraOrlando, FloridaTravisKellyOrlando, Florida
11June 18, 2012LunaLolaOrlando, FloridaCarleenJessicaOrlando, Florida
12June 19, 2012BiancaTaylorOrlando, FloridaTannerKeleighSarasota, Florida
13June 22, 2012LaurenTravisTampa, FloridaChrisTerraSt. Petersburg, Florida
14June 25, 2012MeganJakeTampa, FloridaJoeyBeboOrlando, Florida
15June 26, 2012MariahJorgeTampa, FloridaDaneJenniferTampa, Florida
16June 29, 2012JusticeKaylaOrlando, FloridaAndrewLizOrlando, Florida
17July 2, 2012MemoStephBradenton, FloridaPercyJasmineOrlando, Florida
18July 5, 2012AndrewBrittanyOrlando, FloridaMykeSeannaOrlando, Florida
19July 6, 2012AlexAhijahTampa, FloridaJamesLaurenTampa, Florida
20July 10, 2012StephanieShortySarasota, FloridaMary-KateAustinOrlando, Florida
21July 11, 2012LaurenDarenOrlando, FloridaJuanHopeOrlando, Florida
22July 12, 2012RobinChelseySarasota, FloridaTylerLaurenSarasota, Florida

Season 3

EpisodeOriginal Air Date [13] First Date CrusherFirst Date Crushee First Date LocationSecond Date CrusherSecond Date CrusheeSecond Date Location
1January 22, 2013CrystalKennyPalatine, IllinoisChrisStephanieChicago
2January 23, 2013MichelleAndrewChicagoTaneshaFredChicago
3January 24, 2013AnnieWesPlainfield, IllinoisJoshKellySkokie, Illinois
4January 25, 2013MattJessiePlainville, IllinoisMariaJonathanChicago
5January 28, 2013AdautoDianaChicagoJosieDaltonHoffman Estates, Illinois
6January 29, 2013ShawnAlexGreenfield, WisconsinSandraJellieMilwaukee
7January 30, 2013PaigeTahjBeloit, WisconsinKimDanMilwaukee
8January 31, 2013AlexRaineChicagoDanCandaceChicago
9February 1, 2013MannyMackMarkham, IllinoisJamesSamElmhurst, Illinois
10February 5, 2013JohnLeahAnn Arbor, MichiganClarissaJoeSouthfield, Michigan
11February 6, 2013DayCurtisNorthville, MichiganDerianKelseyNorthville, Michigan
12February 11, 2013TebyusJasmineBrown Deer, WisconsinAlecFeliciaMilwaukee
13February 12, 2013KatAllaMilwaukeeMayaMikeHartfield, Wisconsin (sp?)
14February 13, 2013NickAmberLivonia, MichiganBenChrisArmada, Michigan
15February 15, 2013WillKekeFlossmoor, IllinoisTreyAshleyMilwaukee
16February 19, 2013SieriaRichardWhitefish Bay, WisconsinAlantaeJanayBelleville, Michigan
17February 20, 2013ConnorAllyCommerce, MichiganGraceMikeAnn Arbor, Michigan
18February 22, 2013RobSaraSt. Clair Shores, MichiganGabriellaDarrylDetroit
19February 25, 2013CameronBrianaLincoln Park, IllinoisMartrellRavenChicago
20February 26, 2013AmandaAdamAnn Arbor, MichiganNicholeDerekOak Creek, Wisconsin
21UnknownTyMissyWest Bloomfield, MichiganTiaraMattFarmington, Michigan
22UnknownKimBryanHolbrook, New YorkMikeSarahSt. Clair Shores, Michigan

Season 4

EpisodeOriginal Air Date [14] First Date CrusherFirst Date Crushee First Date LocationSecond Date CrusherSecond Date CrusheeSecond Date Location
1September 9, 2013SaraRickySan FranciscoRicardoMarcoSan Francisco
2September 10, 2013SophiaPascalSanta Cruz, CaliforniaVanessaSamSanta Cruz, California
3September 11, 2013GaylenMelissaSan FranciscoSimonCrystalEl Sobrante, California
4September 12, 2013MikeyFrankieUnion City, California GarrettLaurenBerkeley, California
5September 16, 2013MackenzieRileyCorvallis, Oregon GeorgeSandraEugene, Oregon
6September 17, 2013MonicaGabeOakland, CaliforniaTigerMarcusPacifica, California
7September 18, 2013JonGeorgiaEugene, OregonBoBrookeSeattle
8September 23, 2013MarieBarringtonEugene, OregonJazzminKoreyHayward, California
9September 24, 2013ColtonColtonSeattleRomeStephanieSeattle
10September 26, 2013ArmaniAmeerahBerkeley, CaliforniaMackenzieJeremyHayward, California
11September 27, 2013JimmyMeganSeattleKittySamDuvall, WA
12September 27, 2013KyleChristineEugene, OregonTatumAndyEugene, Oregon
13September 30, 2013CassidyBenLodi, CaliforniaCelesteLilahBerkeley, California
14October 1, 2013AJPedroSeattleRosaAaronSeattle
15October 2, 2013LilianaShaqPuyallup, WAKrisDemiTacoma, WA
16October 3, 2013DiegoJackieKingston, WAParkerHunterSeattle
17October 4, 2013JessicaAdamSeattleZacAshleySeattle
18October 7, 2013AmaraDavidNormandy Park, WAKittyAnthonySeattle
19October 8, 2013TaylorConnorSeattleChrisKateSeattle
20October 9, 2013JavierAshleyBellevue, WATaylorMecosAuburn, WA
21October 10, 2013BrieRobMountain View, CaliforniaEvanMariaMountain View, California
22October 11, 2013AnthonyAlexSnohomish, WAJordanSamSeattle

Notes and References

  1. 495 Productions IMDb site: https://www.imdb.com/company/co0192481/
  2. Sally Ann Salsano Talks FriendZone: http://www.shockya.com/news/2012/05/27/sallyann-salsano-talks-friendzone/
  3. Two Hearts chosen as MTV theme song: Web site: "Two Hearts" chosen as MTV Theme Song | Keegan DeWitt . 2012-07-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120329203439/http://keegandewitt.com/2011/10/02/two-hearts-chosen-as-mtv-theme-song/ . 2012-03-29 .
  4. Official MTV Friendzone site: http://www.mtv.com/shows/friendzone/series.jhtml
  5. List of Friendzone episode videos: https://web.archive.org/web/20111022010105/http://www.mtv.com/shows/friendzone/video.jhtml
  6. MTV's 'Friendzone' seeks hopefuls in Central Florida auditions: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/12/mtvs-friendzone-seeks-hopefuls-in-central-florida-auditions.html
  7. Friendzone Season 5 casting site: http://www.friendzonecasting.com/
  8. Friendzone Season 1 Episode Guide (TV Guide): http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/friendzone/episodes-season-1/339300
  9. Music From Friendzone Episode 20 https://web.archive.org/web/20120601212339/http://soundtrack.mtv.com/post/music-from-friendzone-episode-20/
  10. Music From Friendzone Episode 21 https://web.archive.org/web/20120601212051/http://soundtrack.mtv.com/post/music-from-friendzone-episode-21/
  11. Music From Friendzone Episode 22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120601211440/http://soundtrack.mtv.com/post/music-from-friendzone-episode-22/
  12. Friendzone Season 2 Episode Guide (TV Guide): http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/friendzone/episodes-season-2/339300
  13. Friendzone Season 3 Episode Guide (TV Guide): http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/friendzone/episodes-season-3/339300
  14. Friendzone Season 4 Episode Guide (TV Guide): http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/friendzone/episodes-season-4/339300