Keys to the VIP
| Keys to the VIP | |
|---|---|
 Keys to the VIP - title screen | |
| Starring | Chris Greidanus |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| No. of episodes | 39 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 min (13 Episodes) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Comedy Network |
| Release | October 31, 2006 – 2008 |
Keys to the VIP (A Professional League for Players) is a reality-television, comedy game show that aired on the Comedy Network and Fuse TV. The game involved two self-proclaimed players competing against each other to pick up women in a real bar. The two contestants went against each other in rounds to complete different objectives all related to seducing women. Hidden cameras recorded all the action that occurred, with four "expert" pick up artists judging to decide which of the two contestants did better picking up women during a round. The winner was the contestant that wins at least two out of the three rounds, and went on to win a party in a private VIP room with a select group of friends.
Hosts and judges[edit]
The 4 hosts who oversaw the progress of the contestants across the town in Kai Lounge. Their personalities descend from the 4 corners of the male psyche.
- Alen (Alen Bubich) - The cold, calculated master of pick-up analysis
- Peachez (Emeka Bronson) - An ex-all-star jock inspired seduction specialist
- Sheldon - Mysteriously coy and unorthodox philosopher
- Chris (Chris Greidanus) - A hopelessly romantic man of integrity
The roles are based on the real-life personalities of the four guys, but are exaggerated to help them come up with specific judging criteria. [1]
Production Team[edit]
- Executive Producer - Sean Buckley
- Executive Producer - Alen Bubich
- Co-Executive Producer - Justin Killion
- Senior Producer - Jim Kiriakakis
- Director - Justin Harding
History[edit]
Alen, Peachez, Sheldon, Chris, and director Justin Harding are the creators of the show.[1] The concept was based on the real-life challenges that Alen, Peachez, and Sheldon would come up with and try out in clubs in Guelph, Canada.[1] Most of the challenges from the show are challenges that the guys had attempted in real life; in fact, the three men came up with many more challenges that the network did not integrate into the show. [1] The pilot was filmed a few years before the show aired. [1]
Chris was originally in an editing role, and expected to continue this role for the network show.[1] However, the executive producer steered him towards the role of the 'nice guy' on the judging panel.[1] Chris describes being the only "genuine guy" to audition, and he won the role.[1]
Filming Location[edit]
Episodes of Keys to the VIP were primarily filmed at well-known nightclubs and bars in the Greater Toronto Area. Some of the clubs included Mink, Zu bar and Wet bar.
Reception[edit]
The show was generally positively received among the PUA community around the world. Users pointed out the fact that real-life situations were being shown and contestans were real, sometimes without enough social skills to pick up women. In-depth analyses of the episodes had been conducted,[2] gathering insights and judging the reactions of women. People pointed out the fact that contestants used mostly their own techniques and charisma instead of canned material taught by the PUA teachers. Also, pieces of information from behind the scenes of the show[3] indicated that the show was real, without paid actors or scenarios. Contestants, identified at the end of each episode, were easy to find on social media, which also added credibility to their performance. The comparisions between this show (KTTV) and another one - The Pickup Artist (TPUA, starring Mystery) - were being made. Both shows were aired roughly the same time. While TPUA was more focused on learning process, the KTTV presented much more real-life interactions with women and was more humorous. The number of episodes (39) and contestans (76) were in favour of KTTV, when comparing to TPUA (respectively: 16 and 17). After the show aired, the judges became a local celebrities in Toronto Area.[4]
Episode list[edit]
| Episode Number | Contestant 1 | Contestant 2 | Games Played | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1x01 | Marc "The Baron" | Kyle "The Terminator" | The Laugh Factor Recovery Starving Artist |
Kyle "The Terminator" |
| 1x02 | "Hurricane" Patrick | Brandon "The Wizard" | Three Approaches The Digits Sexy Talent |
Brandon "The Wizard" |
| 1x03 | Eyal "The Egyptian Prince" | Vida aka "Drego" | The Narcissist Reverse Golddigger Angry Girlfriend |
Eyal "The Egyptian Prince" |
| 1x04 | "Cocoa Butter" Chris | Yakov "The Trapper" | Freestyle The Dancer The Hyena |
That Guy* |
| 1x05 | Mark Sparks | Kyle "The Diesel" | Speed Dial Call Your Shot Seduction School |
Kyle "The Diesel" |
| 1x06 | Dennis aka Hodge | "So Hot Right Now" Josh | Line Off Questions Divide and Conquer |
"So Hot Right Now" Josh |
| 1x07 | "Pretty Boy" Ford | Eryk "The Great" | The Laugh Factor Recovery Freestyle |
"Pretty Boy" Ford |
| 1x08 | "Dainty" Danny | Simon aka Screech | The Dancer Foot Fetish The Breakup |
"Dainty" Danny |
| 1x09 | Mark "The Karaoke Kid" | Dennis "The Lion" | The Palm Reader Why You Suck The Dance Off |
Mark "The Karaoke Kid" |
| 1x10 | John aka Wilk | "Cobra Commander" Phil | Love At First Sight Seduction School Quiet On The Set |
"Cobra Commander" Phil |
| 1x11 | Donny "Danger" | Leo "The Carpenter" | Nip/Tuck Talented Mr. Ripley Freestyle |
Donny "Danger" |
| 1x12 | Captain Karim | Ryan aka Weezer | Fake accent The Box Out Friend Destroyer |
Ryan aka Weezer |
| 1x13 | Duane "The Damager" | "Cocky" Kevin | Speed Dial She's So Silly Freestyle |
"Cocky" Kevin |
| 2x01 | Josh "The Matador" Maltin | "Maximum Max" Boateng | Line off Recovery Divide and conquer |
Josh "The Matador" Maltin |
| 2x02 | Eyal "The Closer" | Illya "The Ill Kid" Konstantin | Seduction School Talented Mr. Ripley Call your Shot |
Illya "The Ill Kid" Konstantin |
| 2x03 | Justin "Rated R" Rego | Rob "Fromeo" Cavaliere | The Introduction Sabotage Angry Girlfriend |
Rob "Fromeo" |
| 2x04 | Frank "The Tank" Marques | Kyle "Smiles" Gentle | The Opener Freestyle The Dancer |
Frank "The Tank" Marques |
| 2x05 | "Hot Body" Jason | Mike "The Magician" | Reverse Gold Digger Freestyle Kiss Close |
Mike "The Magician" |
| 2x06 | "Party Boy" Jay | Dustin aka "Xerxes" | The Palm Reader Momma's Boy Body Shots |
Tie - Both Players won |
| 2x07 | Kevin "the Hammer" | Alex "Da Vinci" | Love at First Sight Freestyle Shaken not Stirred |
Alex "Da Vinci" |
| 2x08 | "Down" Pat | Steven "New York" | The Opener Recovery Divide and Conquer |
"Down" Pat |
| 2x09 | Keegan "The Playboy" | Jonathan "The Stylist" | Plastic Surgery Recovery Mighty Wingman |
Keegan "The Playboy" |
| 2x10 | Jordan "The Joker" | Christian "The Keeper" | Speed Dial Freestyle Recovery |
Jordan "The Joker" |
| 2x11 | Mitch "The Protege" | Derek "Cajun" | Freestyle Speed Dial Recovery |
Derek "Cajun" |
| 2x12 | Anthony "The Boy Wonder" | Nick "Dundee" | The Introduction Stink Mouth Shaken Not Stirred |
Nick "Dundee" |
| 2x13 | Matt "Meatus" | Todd "The Natural" | Sabotage The Narcissist Talented Mr. Ripley/Angry Girlfriend |
Todd "The Natural" |
| 3x01 | Bruno "Casanova" | Andrew "The Dungeon Master" | Reverse Gold digger Speed Dial Freestyle Kiss |
Tie - Both Players won |
| 3x02 | Ajay "The Arabian Knight" | Julian "The Bait" | Mr. Icebreaker Freestyle Divide and Conquer |
Ajay "The Arabian Knight" |
| 3x03 | "CraZy" Joe Luca | Malcolm "the Ex" | The Laugh Factor The Photographer The Ex-Lover |
Malcolm "the Ex" |
| 3x04 | Steve "Sphinx" | Pierre "Biscuit" | The Opinion Opener The Routine Freestyle |
Steve "Sphinx" |
| 3x05 | "Will French" | "Soft Top" Thomas | Mr. Photographer Recovery Freestyle |
"Soft Top" Thomas |
| 3x06 | Mike "The Bailiff" | Isaac "The Mama's Boy" | Speed Dial The Date The Introduction |
That Guy* |
| 3x07 | Matt "Punch Line" | Mike "The Spanish Fly" | Ice Breaker Freestyle The Crutch |
Matt "Punch Line" |
| 3x08 | Evan "The Broski" | "Little" Jon | The Opener Recovery Divide and Conquer |
"Big" Jon |
| 3x09 | "Claymax" | Alexander "The Great" | The Jealous Angle Mr. Icebreaker Freestyle |
"Claymax" |
| 3x10 | "Poolboy" Peter | Blake "The Chef" | Mr. Icebreaker Freestyle Recovery |
Blake "The Chef" |
| 3x11 | Marko "The Slavic Thunder" | Thomas "The Heff" | Line Off Talented Mr. Ripley Freestyle |
Marko "The Slavic Thunder" |
| 3x12 | "Rodeo" Ryan | "B-Boy Caution" Jones | Talented Mr. Ripley Freestyle Line Off |
"B-Boy Caution" Jones |
| 3x13 | Eyal Anthony |
Sparks Justin |
Seduction School & The Introduction Sabotage The MacGyver |
Anthony "The Boy Wonder" |
- Season 1 Episode 4 had no declared winner. "That Guy" was randomly selected from the studio.
- Season 2 of Keys to the VIP Premiered November 1, 2007 on The Comedy Network.
- Season 3 of Keys to the VIP Premiered Thursday October 23, 2008 on The Comedy Network featuring the youngest contender on Keys to the VIP ever, 19-year-old Julian.
- "That Guy" appears once again in Season 3 Episode 6, as the judges refused to choose a winner.
- Season 3 Episode 1 had a resulting tie game - both players received the award.
- Season 3 finale, also known as Redemption, featured four of the best previous contenders who didn't win. This episode was structured as an elimination tournament.[5]
Games[edit]
| Name | Objective |
|---|---|
| Angry Ex-Girlfriend | Pick-up a woman while a surprise actress pretends to be an angry ex-girlfriend. |
| The Breakup | Initiate conversation with a woman and get her number, but only after borrowing her cell phone to break up with the "girlfriend". |
| Body Shots | Initiate body shots at the bar |
| Call your Shot | Seduce the women your competitor has selected for you to approach |
| The Comedian | Pretend to be a working comedian and get a woman's opinion on "new material" |
| Come With Me | Separate a woman from her friends |
| The Dancer | Get a woman's number while dancing |
| The Dance Off | Initiate a pick-up by challenging a woman to a dance off |
| Divide and Conquer | Isolate a woman from her group of friends before attempting a pick-up |
| Fake Accent | Obtain a girl's number while using a fake accent |
| Foot Fetish | Initiate a pick-up by confessing to have an intense foot fetish |
| Freestyle | 3 minutes to demonstrate your most impressive seduction technique |
| The Hyena | Each contestant must retrieve a woman's phone number while his opponent is sent in, determined to steal her away |
| The Introduction | Get one random woman to introduce you to another random woman |
| The Laugh Factor | Make a woman laugh |
| Line Off | Initiate a pick-up using the provided one-liner |
| Love at First Sight | Initiate a pick-up by admitting that he's fallen in love at first sight |
| Momma's Boy | Convince a woman she reminds you of your mother |
| The Narcissist | Get a woman's phone number while only talking about himself and never letting the woman speak |
| Plastic Surgery | Initiate a pick-up by fishing for a compliment about recent plastic surgery |
| Palm Reader | Pick-up a woman by performing a detailed palm reading and predicting a romantic outcome |
| Questions | Obtain a woman's phone number while only speaking in questions |
| Quiet on the Set | During the pick-up, each contestant must ask the woman to be quiet while he listens intensely to the music playing for 30 seconds because it reminds him of his grandmother |
| Recovery | Get a woman's phone number after insulting her hair and makeup |
| Redemption | Complete the challenge that caused your original loss. This game was given to contestants who had previously appeared on the show and lost. |
| Reverse Gold Digger | Convince a woman to buy you a drink |
| Seduction School | 5 minutes to demonstrate your most impressive seduction techniques |
| Sexy Talent | Each player must get a woman to reveal and demonstrate a sexy secret talent |
| Shaken Not Stirred | Turn a drinking game into a kiss |
| Speed Dial | Obtain a woman's phone number in less than a minute |
| Starving Artist | Convince a girl that you're an unemployed artist living at home with your parents |
| Talented Mr. Ripley | Convince a woman that you have the same occupation as her. |
| Three Approaches | Each player has 5 min to approach three different women |
| Why You Suck | Initiate conversation with a woman by telling her why she sucks. |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Keys to the VIP Judges Interview - Part 2 - YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "Keys to the VIP [KTTV] – potężna analiza – sezon 1 – PUA Panda" (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ sulkorp (2011-02-01). "I worked on the show "Keys to the VIP", AMA". r/IAmA. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ sulkorp (2011-02-01). "I worked on the show "Keys to the VIP", AMA". r/IAmA. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ "Keys to the VIP". Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-03-03.
