"Speed-Dating" Put To Test

"Speed-dating" has taken off in a hurry.

It's a new way for singles to meet prospective dating partners.

At speed-dating "events," singles gather and rotate, talking with others one after another, for several minutes. They're timed as they do.

Generally, when a bell goes off, they move on to the next conversation. Then, the next, and the next, and so on. It amounts to a bunch of mini-"dates" in rapid succession.

The only topics the "daters" can't talk about at most such events are where they live and their professions.

The Early Show held a speed-dating session on its plaza Thursday during its "How To Date In 2008" series. Eleven men and 11 women were slated to take part.

It was run by a company called 8MinuteDating -- though each "date" was shorter than eight minutes, to enable all the singles to meet one another during the course of the show.

8MinuteDating organizer Dave Cervini, who's also with The New York Social Network, outlined speed-dating procedures and plusses for co-anchor Julie Chen.

She approached one couple apparently hitting if off, and they agreed to go on a "real" date.

The Early Show is picking up the tab at a New York restaurant owned by its resident chef, Bobby Flay.