Average Joe (2003 TV series)

Did You Know?

• GSN acquired the first two seasons in 2004.
• A role-reversal version titled Plain Jane was announced but never materialized; the title was later used for another reality series with a different concept.
• Episodes also aired on the Fox Reality Channel.

Premise

The show featured 16 to 18 ordinary men, considered average in appearance by the producers, competing to win the heart of a beauty queen. Many of the men were overweight, underweight, nerdy, or awkward in behavior and personality. The beauty queen was initially misled into believing she would be dating only handsome suitors, unaware that the contestants were average-looking. Halfway through the season, several handsome suitors were introduced to compete against the average Joes. The beauty went on group and individual dates with the men, and when the attractive suitors arrived, competitions occurred between the rival groups. At each episode's end, the beauty voted to send home a number of men, typically four, ultimately selecting one for an intimate vacation.

Seasons

The first two seasons were intended as a mockery of traditional dating shows like The Bachelor and Joe Millionaire, marketed with a moral subtext that personality could triumph over looks. However, both seasons ended in a way that seemed to contradict that message. In the first season, Melana Scantlin chose Jason Peoples, one of the attractive suitors, over Adam Mesh, the last remaining Average Joe. In the second season, Average Joe: Hawaii, Larissa Meek chose attractive Gil Hyatt over Average Joe Brian Worth.

Days later, during a honeymoon, Larissa revealed she had once dated Fabio, causing Gil to leave in disgust. Meek now owns a website design and art company in Fort Lauderdale, Hyatt's hometown; according to her blog, they are no longer a couple. The third season, Average Joe: Adam Returns, brought back rejected contestant Adam Mesh as the object of affection for 19 female contestants, a mix of fairly attractive and average women. When a busload of babes arrived, Adam sent them home immediately, ultimately choosing saleswoman Samantha Trenk over schoolteacher Rachel Goetz.

The fourth season, Average Joe: The Joes Strike Back, began airing on June 28, 2005, its title referencing The Empire Strikes Back. Each week, one rejected Joe received a complete makeover and another chance with the show's beauty, Anna Chudoba. Anna chose Average Joe Nathan Griffin over model/bartender Rocky Fain, breaking the Joes' losing streak. Matt Hoffman, later on Big Brother 12, was a contestant on this season and was eliminated in the first episode.