Travel snafus left Chattanooga resident Benjamin Francis with no time for sightseeing on a July 2015 visit to Chicago, but his “drop-dead gorgeous” blind date made the trip memorable.
Francis, a local financial adviser, is the latest contestant with Chattanooga ties to be featured on NBC’s new reality dating show, “First Dates.” Tonight’s season finale (8 p.m. Comcast channel 4, EPBFI channel 3) will include his date with Nashville resident Kori Jean (last names aren’t used on the show).
Produced by Ellen DeGeneres, the show is based on a hit UK series in which contestants are paired into potential love matches and flown to Chicago to meet over dinner at an upscale restaurant. Hidden cameras capture their every word and expression – from the time they enter to the time they leave. The best bits are then edited and aired. Though the dates are arranged, they’re not scripted. The encounter plays out like an actual blind date – sometimes heartwarming, sometimes cringe-worthy.
Couples can’t divulge too much information about their experiences before their episode is broadcast – and Francis has no idea what part of his date may make it on air – but he says he had a great time.
“I was very impressed with her,” he says of Kori. “I felt like we were very like-minded in how we handled things, how we approached things. I thought she was phenomenal.”