The producers of "Shipmates" are absolute geniuses. Or maybe they aren't. Either way, Shipmates is an awesome example of how to produce a dating show. On other similar shows, the "contestants" are set up and filmed over a matter of hours. The difference is that Shipmates takes place over 3 days. It is my contention that NO 2 complete strangers can spend every minute of 3 days together and come out the other side with anything but disdain for each other. This is the brilliance of Shipmates. The couples almost never get along, which leads to endless hilarity. Add to that the wit of Chris Hardwick, and you get a show that, intentionally or not, has my friends and I in hysterics every night. I would argue that the type of person that doesn't enjoy Shipmates is missing out on one of life's great pleasures; laughing at other people's misery.
