NBC to Base Show on Philly Matchmaker
2003-07-22

Category Dating Nations U.S. City Philadelphia States Pennsylvania Metropolitan Philadelphia Metro People Jeff Zucker Ryan O'Neal University Rutgers University

PHILADELPHIA - Men and women make many mistakes when they court each other. That's why Samantha Daniels is only too happy to offer some dating do's and don'ts.

Think ripped jeans make a stylish impression? Think again. Tempted to rant and rave about a former lover? Don't. Want to field a business call during a candlelit dinner? Better not. Need to vent about work-related stress? Leave it at the office.

Bachelors are well-advised to heed Daniels' relationship advice. A former divorce attorney with a knack for playing matchmaker, Daniels runs Samantha's Table, a popular dating service that maintains offices in New York and Los Angeles and services several thousand clients.

Her life adventures inspired a television show scheduled to debut on NBC this fall. ``Miss Match'' stars actress Alicia Silverstone as Kate Fox, a character modeled after Daniels who balances law and love, and is produced by Darren Star, creator of the HBO series, ``Sex and the City.'' The drama's cast includes Ryan O'Neal.

``I want to help my clients be the best daters they can be so they can go further than just having a good couple first dates,'' explains Daniels, who says she's in her early 30s.

A native of Villanova, Pa., in suburban Philadelphia, Daniels founded her company about 3 1/2 years ago while practicing matrimonial law in New York. With a keen memory for names and faces, and many single friends and acquaintances, she succeeded at playing Cupid and abandoned her legal career to run Samantha's Table full-time.

She noticed that people seemed fascinated by her career and came to believe that she could pitch a television show about a professional matchmaker.

``It didn't matter if they were young or old or single or married. They were just astounded by it,'' Daniels recalled. ``Silence would come across the whole group, and everyone would just have a million questions.''

Samantha's Table includes more than 7,500 clients, mostly in New York and Los Angeles. The company also has a database consisting of about 10,000 eligible bachelors, who serve as potential dates for her clients. Daniels always arranges the date after consulting with her clients; the two always meet for a drink and the man always pays.

Like many dating services, Samantha's Table caters to a particular clientele - in this case, successful, well-heeled professionals. Daniels says her clients include lawyers and models, investment bankers and executives, who operate at ``110 percent.''

``They find themselves with little extra time for them to go out and find people themselves,'' Daniels said.

The service charges $400 for an initial one-on-one consultation and inclusion in her database. Someone interested in becoming a client can pony up as much as $10,000 for a package including a concierge service, fashion stylist and other benefits.

That people pay big bucks for a dating service isn't at all surprising, experts said, especially if it means they're likely to meet someone of a similar background.

``It's more than random matching,'' said Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, co-director of the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University. ``It's sort of a more focused and sometimes quasi-scientific attempt to match according to desires and characteristics. Whereas if you get out and do it on your own, it's catch as catch can.''

Daniels received her big break in Hollywood in late 2001 after attending a dinner party and hooking up with an agent. The agent put her in touch with Star, a powerful television writer and producer associated with shows including ``Beverly Hills 90210'' and ``Melrose Place.'' Silverstone, best known for the 1995 film ``Clueless,'' signed on, and NBC became interested.

NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker said the network has ordered 13 hour-long episodes of the show, which will air Friday evenings at 8 p.m. EDT.

``I think that what was especially appealing, besides Darren and Alicia, was the whole idea that everyone can find love,'' Zucker said.

Currently single, Daniels says she's set up 39 couples - and counting - who have gotten married. It's a track record others in the field would be proud of, though Daniels is quick to distance herself from the stereotypical image of a meddling matchmaker who goes door-to-door peddling love and marriage.

``A lot of people picture matchmakers like Yenta in 'Fiddler on the Roof,' who's old and unattractive ... and has a hair growing out of her chin,'' Daniels said. ``I couldn't be further from that.''

On the Net: Samantha's Table: http://www.samanthastable.com

National Marriage Project: http://marriage.rutgers.edu AP