Average Joe

Average Joe (2003), Average Joe: Hawaii (2004), Average Joe: Adam Returns (2004), and Average Joe: The Joes Strike Back (2005) are reality TV dating shows that aired on the NBC network.

The premise of the first two Average Joe series was intended to be somewhat of a mockery of traditional set-up shows such as The Bachelor and Joe Millionaire in which the "reality" premise is questionable. Instead of attempting to make a "dream couple" between two extremely attractive people, Average Joe tried to get 16 (in the sequel, 18) ordinary men to win over the heart of a beauty queen. The men are extremely average in appearance, with many being overweight or underweight and nerdy, or awkward in their behavior and personalities.

There are two main twists:
*Prior to the show's start, the beauty queen is not aware she will be dating "average" men. She is instead led to believe her show was going to feature only handsome suitors. (The second series, taped before the first one aired, also contained this element, thus avoiding the problem associated with the second season of Joe Millionaire.)
*Halfway through the show, these handsome suitors actually appear, to compete with the average Joes.

Throughout the show the beauty goes on various dates with the men, both in groups and individually (at her choice). When the attractive suitors show up, there are also competitions between the rival groups of men. At the end of every episode the beauty votes to send a certain number (usually four) of the men home. In the end, she must pick only one to go on an intimate vacation with.

The show appeared to have an implied moral subtext, namely that beauty was only skin deep, and that personality could ultimately triumph over looks. However the first two seasons ended in a way that seemed to prove the opposite. In Average Joe, Melana Scantlin chose Jason Peoples, one of the attractive suitors, over Adam Mesh, the last remaining average Joe. In Average Joe: Hawaii, Larissa Meek chose attractive Gil Hyatt over average Joe Brian Worth. A few days later, on a "honeymoon" between Hyatt and Meek, Larissa revealed she had once dated Fabio, which caused Gil to leave her in disgust. Meek now owns a website design and art company registered and situated in Fort Lauderdale, which is Hyatt's hometown, leading many viewers to believe that the two continue to be an item.

The third series, Average Joe: Adam Returns, featured the return of rejected contestant Adam Mesh, this time as the object of the affections of 19 female contestants. The women in this situation were a mixture of fairly attractive and average, with the busload of "babes" arriving later sent home immediately by Adam. In the final episode, Adam chose saleswoman Samantha Trenk over schoolteacher Rachel Goetz. [1]

The fourth season entitled Average Joe: The Joes Strike Back started airing on June 28, 2005. The name is an obvious reference to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. In this season, one rejected Joe from each week received a complete makeover and the opportunity at another chance with the show's beauty Anna Chudoba. In the end, Anna chose Average Joe Nathan Griffin over model/bartender Rocky Fain, breaking the 'Joe's' losing streak. A contestant on Average Joe: Hawaii, Alfred LaPonza 'Fredo', along with two other men, sued NBC claiming the network used ideas of theirs on the show.

GSN had acquired the first two series in 2004, but the network no longer airs the show.