IU Student Television answers the question "Hoosier Date?"
Most of the time, Ryan Turton is an IU junior studying telecommunications and sports marketing management in hopes of becoming a sports broadcaster one day.
During a recent Halloween taping of Indiana University Student Television's "Hoosier Date," though, Turton was Rod Tidwell, Cuba Gooding Junior's famous "show me the money" shouting character from the film Jerry Maguire.
He wore a football uniform, shaved his head and channeled the character's attitude during the taping of the tongue-in-cheek show, during which he asked the three female contestants questions such as, "If you could be any Disney princess, which one would you be, and why?" and the more risqué, "Are you a trick or a treat?"
Turton has worked both behind the scenes and on camera at IUSTV's "i Student News," "Hoosier Sports Nite," and "Hoosier Date." A longtime fan of dating shows such as "Love Connection" and "Blind Date," Turton said he always thought it would be fun to be a contestant on "Hoosier Date."
"My roommates and I were going to do it together and see who would be selected, but one guy got cold feet," said Turton. "I was like, 'Forget you guys, I'll just do it by myself!"
The dating show is one of several programs from IUSTV, a student-created, student-run television station on IU's campus that was established in 2002. Students working at the station can gain practical experience in a range of fields that include finance, graphic design, management, marketing, network administration, production, reporting, sales, video editing, and Web application and design. The station is available 24-hours-a-day on campus in the residence halls on channel 2 and on Insight Cable channel 7 during one- or two-hour segments each day.
In addition to the light-hearted "Hoosier Date" and its news and sports programs, the station produces "Game Zombie," a video game review program; the sitcom "Best Years;" "iuTube," a self-proclaimed "counter-culture show" from IU's film community; "The New Noise," on current music; and "The Food Guy," a dining show.
Turton says most contestants on "Hoosier Date" are funny, outgoing people who approach it as a fun activity, not as a way to actually meet a potential mate. At the recent Halloween episode taping Oct. 30, Turton sat with his back to the contestants, Kara Greven, Whitley Yates and Bradi Andrews, in front of Woodburn and Ballantine Hall asking them questions. He ultimately chose Yates, and the two carved pumpkins together before he walked her back to her residence hall.
A love connection it was not, but Turton says he had fun. He and Yates are now "Facebook" friends.
For more information about IUSTV, see http://www.iustv.com/. Episodes of "Hoosier Date" can be viewed here: http://www.iustv.com/shows/hoosierdate/. The three-part Halloween episode can be viewed on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-v6XEl6Cec, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNA-rzeCiGY, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmh5ZcfH5xo.
