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When people head to conventions for genres like comic books or science fiction, they might be concerned with the logistics of keeping their costume together. Maybe they're thinking about arriving in time to secure a place in line to get their favorite star's autograph, or hoping to score a good deal on rare merchandise. Still others, however, are wondering if they're going to meet someone special, someone who has the same passions.

The idea of finding love at a convention may sound strange, but it's not a bad idea at all. Everyone there likes at least something about the genre, so chances are you have common interests already. Conversation-starters abound, from crazy costumes to the prices of merchandise to speculating about the direction a series will take. The only problem is that conventions are often so hectic, and people so driven with their own agenda, that often people feel intimidated about approaching someone and starting a conversation.

Speed dating has begun to catch on in conventions as an easy way to bring like-minded singles together - and it has apparently caught the eye of TV's TLC Channel producers. A new show, "Geek Love", will premiere on December 18 in America on TLC. The show will focus on people who attend Ryan Glitch's Sci Fi Speed Dating events at conventions.

On the one hand, the premise of the show itself isn't a bad one. On the other hand, TLC, known for featuring reality shows about "unusual" families, medical anomalies and other gems such as "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant," often walks a fine line between educational and exploitative. Do the producers of the channel really intend to show us a group of passionate people, deserving of love, or do they think people will enjoy laughing at a "bunch of nerds"?

The trailer for the show seems like it could go either way; the convention-goers don't seem particularly extreme or exceptionally awkward, but when the man leading the speed dating event shouts "Normal people suck!" one has to wonder if the "geek acceptance cause" wasn't just set back ten years. Either way, whether it's to root on those seeking love or pick up some basic do's and don'ts for speed dating, "Geek Love" might be worth a try.

Earlier this month Zoosk released a iPad version of their dating application which quickly ranked in the top 20 list for Social Networking Apps in the United States. Like their dating apps for other platforms, this app is available in 25 languages and offers the user the ability to search, browse and communicate with other Zoosk members. It is also optimized for the iPad and takes into the account the larger screen real-estate available.

Zoosk also noted that their mobile apps have been downloaded over 2.5 million to date. Search algorithm changes over the last year have also increased communication on the dating service by increasing message replies 133 percent.

For further details about the service please check out our review of Zoosk.com.

"Friends don't let friends date solo."

That's the premise behind DuoDater.com, a new San Francisco-based dating site that launched in August of this year. DuoDater aims to take the awkward out of online dating by promoting a more social environment in which users partner with friends to form what is aptly known as "a Duo." After pairing up, they create a Duo profile, find potential matches in other Duos, and start going on DuoDates. It's as "easy as me, you, and a lucky two!" the site proclaims.

The DuoDater team hopes that using the buddy system will counteract the stigma that is often attached to online dating, and will also help ensure the safety of DuoDater members. Double dates, the site believes, will help mitigate the awkwardness that many online daters feel when it comes time to move their interaction from online communications to a real-world meetup. Double dates also offer the advantages of reducing the danger of meeting a stranger offline, and of giving daters the opportunity to rely on friends - and not an impersonal algorithm - to help them find a suitable match. And although online dating was created to facilitate socializing, sitting at a computer and hiding behind an anonymous screen name can in fact feel very isolating - DuoDater encourages singles to connect their love lives with their social lives once again.

Michael Parikh and Andrew Flachner, the co-founders of DuoDater, believe that there are fundamental problems with current approaches to online dating, despite how popular the service has become. In response, they designed DuoDater for men and women in their 20s and 30s who are looking to socialize and meet new people - with the support system of a friend and co-pilot. By allowing users to have this support system by their side during a date, Parikh and Flachner hope that they will be encouraged to be more natural and less awkward as they socialize, make new friends, and find potential partners.

Committed to making online dating less intimidating, Parikh and Flachner developed a profile that that is simple and quick to fill out. The "Duo Profile" only requires users to write a few sentences about themselves as individuals, so that the focus is placed firmly on the joint description that the duo creates together. The founders also believe that their model promotes accountability in a world that is famous for its lies. By signing up with a close friend and knowing they could easily be caught, Parikh and Flachner have explained, users will be less likely to use old or altered photos of themselves and less likely to exaggerate or lie in their descriptions.

It's too soon to tell whether DuoDater will revolutionize online dating, but it's certainly an interesting approach to finding love online.

IAC released their quarter 3 results earlier this month. Overall they reported good news especially in the dating sector where they saw revenue increase by 25 percent when compared to the same quarter last year.

For the complete public financial IAC Q3 2011 report read this page. For more information on the dating sites owned by IAC, read our Match.com review and our Chemistry.com review.

Related Story: Match.com First Quarter 2011 Financials

Spark Networks reported their 3rd quarter financial results this month. On a year over year basis revenue grew 28 percent to $12.7 million this quarter. A net loss was recorded however at $238 thousand and was contributed to an increase in marketing expenses. Subscribers overall increased 30 percent to 206,099 when compared to the same quarter last year and increased 8 percent when compared to the prior quarter.

When looking at the different dating segments Spark Networks has, the Jewish Networks revenue was flat when compared to the last quarter at $6.7 million. Subscribers decreased by 1 percent to 88,976 when compared both to last quarter and the same quarter last year.

The Other Affinity Networks saw a huge increase of subscribers this quarter of 84 percent to 113,972. With the increase of subscribers it also increased revenue by 108 percent to $5.7 million when compared to quarter 3 of 2010.

General Market Networks continue to slide. Revenue was $264 thousand which is a decrease of 52 percent when compared to 2010. Subscribers fell about the same percentage (54) with only 2,702 recorded.

For the full 2011 Q3 release visit the Spark Networks News Room.

Related Story: Spark Networks Second Quarter 2011 Financials

Last week we found out that Zoosk had acquired WooMe for an undisclosed sum. When you visit WooMe now, you will be redirected to Zoosk for a better online dating experience. According to statements previously from WooMe they had about 10 million members. These members will now be integrated into Zoosk, though the first time WooMe members will have to go through a small migration process to update their login information.

According to TechCrunch, WooMe was launched in 2000 and has received $17.4 million in venture funding to date.

For more information on this story you can read this post on TechCrunch and for further details about the dating service you can read our review of Zoosk.com.