Americans Swoon Over Twisted TV Love

Imagine pitching this idea for a TV show to a group of people: A man chooses between 24 women who will eventually become his mate and help raise his child. The man will make his choice based on a variety of interviews, personal references from the candidates’ family members, and steamy hot tub experiences. The man then cycles through interviews and an array of experiences with these ladies, all recorded and broadcast to any American willing to watch.  Lastly, the producers of the show will choose the places, the times, the appearance, and almost all that is said on these televised excursions. And, of course, the producers will ask for more drama, to show more passion, to fake more love.

Is the perversity of The Bachelor falling on deaf ears and blind eyes?

Ten year old tweens across the country watch this show, hoping for either Naomi or Melissa to come out on top, married to the love of her life in a fairytale romance. Yet this ‘romance’ is set up in a controlled environment, with cameras coming in from all angles and microphones an arms’ length away. Every single nanosecond of these manufactured situations is caught on camera, where people have never been able to act themselves.

Somehow, though, The Bachelor’s fans believe that they are witnessing true love—and that’s the danger of it.

The true reason these vein of shows (including, but not limited to: The Bachelorette, Rock of Love, Flavor of Love, A Shot at Love, I Love New York) are the most poisonous on television is that they’re referred to as reality shows.

Reality? Take A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila. In what universe do bisexual porn stars invite a bunch of people to a house and make them compete in silly contests to improve their chances at finding their true partner, who of course must be the dear woman holding the contest in the first place? In what universe do washed-up rock stars judge who will make a better life partner by deciding who can pose for the most revealing CD cover?

During these shows, when the cameras are talking one on one with the character, it is wholly common to hear “I think I’m really falling for him.” Or, “I believe that we felt a real connection, and I think she’s the one.”

And that’s the saddest part: People watching the show, from six-year old Molly to fifty-seven year old Georgia, believe it. Because of these shows, Americans believe love is easy to find. That it can be obtained while conducting a series of mundane interviews on camera, that “romance” is saying “You mean so much to me” when the speaker has just finished making out with the last contestant.

And it is all accepted! These shows are a product of an American culture, an American lifestyle, that is responsible for the fact that between four and five out of every 10 marriages in this country end in divorce.

While manufactured love may yield money, the costs for America are much greater in the long run.