A History of Reality TV Programs Developed By Mattel, The Makers of UNO

For a brief moment in history, Mattel, known for their fun-filled card game UNO, held America’s attention through a new medium: television. A run of programs TV Guide called “Easy to turn on, impossible to turn off,” did not last long, but made a lasting imprint as the most watched reality TV series based on a card game with a non-English name. 

Finding The UNO

One Woman, Six Men, One Steamy Game of UNO. 

This Sunday on CBS, watch as six hunky men compete for the love of the Wild Card Queen as she decides who earns the title of, The UNO. Who will draw two from the start, and who will skip their way into her heart?

Status: Highest Nielsen ratings of the year – renewed.

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UNO Island

UNO like you’ve never seen it before – on an island.

This summer on CBS, the Wild Card Queen is back, and this time in a bikini. Witness six hunkier men change the course of their lives forever as they compete for her tropical, sweaty love. Once the cards are dealt, who will win the hand, and who will win her hand?

Status: Cancelled August 2021 due to tropical storm wiping out all communication with production.

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UNO Island: Search and Rescue

First, find survivors. Second, find love. 

Next month on CBS, the storm has cleared and six of the hunkiest men you’ve ever seen are dropped off onto UNO island where they’ll compete to find last season’s missing hunks. Rescued contestants get dealt in to the finale game of UNO, but only one will leave with the Wild Card Queen (as long as she is also found). 

Status: Cancelled mid-production due to second, larger tropical storm.

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One Island: Someone Has To Have Survived

Please be alive. 

Next week on YouTube, ten hunky rescue dogs are dropped off onto an isolated island where they’ll scratch and claw their way to finding 12 hidden and hopefully living contestants. Tune in to witness television history and the first ever reality competition program with a grand prize of seven pounds of bacon.

(Note: we are legally obligated to tell you that Mattel, the maker’s of the family-friendly, fun game UNO, are not affiliated with this particular program). 

Status: Failed to obtain adequate funding due to high prices of dog airfare and bacon.

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Defending UNO Island

One executive producer’s journey to staying out of jail.

Coming to NBC, a team of six hunky lawyers compete to let one executive producer into their hearts, and out of jail. Who can reverse the jury’s sentiment on skipping safety regulations to win a shot at love with the Wild Draw 4 King?

Status: Renewed for Season 2 due to heightened public interest amid the executive producer’s 40-year prison sentence and publicized steamy photos of him on beach with hunky lawyer, making out.

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Defending UNO Island: Prison Break

Time to dig a tunnel…of love. 

Returning to NBC this spring, watch as the newly-divorced star of Defending UNO Island attempts to tunnel out of a hunky prison while also finding the woman of his dreams. Six contestants compete for his love but only one will leave visiting hours crowned the new Wild Card Queen.

Status: cancelled in March 2022 after executive producer escaped and disappeared.

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Defending UNO Island: On The Lam

Our hunkiest season yet. 

This winter on the free-trial version of the Peacock app, watch as one hunk and his new hunky wife run from the hunky law and also a litigious, hunkless Fox Network that didn’t like that we used the hunky name “Prison Break.” Can he outrun the law, or will he have to draw four more decades in prison?

Status: Unable to locate producer so Mattel sold all content to BP to play on those little TVs at gas pumps.