This past week has been another amazing week: Grammy Awards, NAACP Awards also last week.
A friend had phoned to tell me that she could not speak because it's 'Award Season' - which was more than fine as the Writer's Strike officially ended this week (Which incidentally cost us about $3.2 Billion) and I have way to much work in which to return....
A Time For Love
Amidst the 'Awards' there was an ode to love, Valentine's Day. Not to get side tracked so early in this discussion, but do you know that it has been said that Valentine's Day was a mere fabrication induced by the Greeting Card industry (capitalized by Joyce C. Hall, founder of Hallmark)? Further, it is said that Valentine's Day is the second largest day for Greeting Card sales.Anyway, as I blissfully enjoyed the day with my loved one, I began contemplation of the new plethora of dating related shows. My business partner is well aware of my interests in dating shows and I speak to him quite often about numerous outlandish (Or, so he claims) ideas for new dating related television fare.
In my opinion, people will NEVER tire of watching dating shows - Anyone up for a return of Love Connection 2008?
Not Your Average Love...
Which brings me to mention that dating on television is going through a rapid evolution.
As I have knowingly mentioned on several previous occasions, many ailed serial shows (I do not need to mention names, however if they have season after season - they are ailed serials) need the help of a professional matchmaker. Low and behold, my advice was accepted and the entire new offering of dating shows are about Matchmakers!
It's All In The Match Making
Aside from the usual serials of love-lorn looking for the loveless (Joe Millionaire, The Bachelor, For Love or Money, Age of Love, Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, Et Al...), consciousness and rationale are beginning to give way to a new type of format - the Matchmaker.
Quite frankly, the bottom line is that it is possible the general 'Cattle Call' of talent and forcing them into an unnatural living situation (In a mansion for 13 weeks no less - wink), is not only becoming tiresome to watch for the general audience at large, but it just does not work (Ah, maybe that is the idea).
Enter the New Breed of Love: Taking inventory of all the recent good-intentioned match/love advice related shows, we have:
- Can't Get A Date (Vh1) (Show can now be seen on Logo)
- The Pick-Up Artist (Vh1)
- Confessions of a Matchmaker (A&E)
- Millionaire Matchmaker (Bravo)
- Matched in Manhattan (Lifetime)
And, that could be just the beginning, if any of the above carry on to second seasons (Keep in mind each of the above within the list are fairly new and additional seasons have yet to be picked-up by the network).
Further, what is amazing is that each show 'touts' an expert in which every currently single person should listen.
The all new shows attempt to expertly pair soul-mate-seeking singles who are unable to find a partner through old-fashioned methods such as frequenting bars, online dating sites and going on blind dates arranged by friends (Does anyone still allow this drastic measure?).
My question is do these 'Love' experts actually take their own advice? Only one of the above mentioned shows includes an amalgamated expert (Matched in Manhattan).
Moreover, the expert advice bestowed on the starry-eyed appears to be common sense (As mum would say, "Common sense is not so common"). The experts make the effort appear effortless (Get a haircut and some new clothes, hold a smile for 5 seconds and do not talk about yourself too much on the first date).
Quite frankly, if dating were as easy as the expert advice, I think more people would be in relationships - I do not believe that anyone would choose to remain single and alone for an extended period of time...Perhaps, there will be fewer single people after watching these shows?
*The photo above "Millionaire Matchmaker starring Patti Stanger", is property of Bravo / NBC Universal
The Random Daily is an extension of Val St. John's News Blog, StJohnDaily.com. 
