Decoder Ring “Videomate: Men” (Encore)
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Dec 3, 2025 Steve Dorman, creator of VideoMate, shares behind-the-scenes insights about the quirky 1987 dating tape featuring single men directly appealing to women. Julie Fuhrman, a former Great Expectations matchmaker, reveals the surprising successes and challenges of the video-dating service. Together, they discuss the bizarre heyday of video dating, its sharp decline with the rise of online platforms, and the ongoing struggle of intimacy in video formats today. They also ponder whether Gen Z can revive the concept in a new light.
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Found Footage Made Videomate Viral
- Joe Pickett and Nick Pruer discovered and shared the VideoMate Men tape, which later went viral after a 2010 upload.
- Their Found Footage Fest work preserved a 90-minute time capsule of 1980s video dating culture.
Member Turned Matchmaker Found Love Offline
- Julie Fuhrman joined Great Expectations, recorded a profile video, and later married her franchise owner Gil.
- She then worked for Great Expectations for eight years and later founded a matchmaking business without using video.
Require Commitment To Improve Matches
- Great Expectations worked because members invested money and effort, creating commitment and higher-quality matches.
- Designers should require meaningful 'skin in the game' to improve matchmaking outcomes.