The Big Dating Show Dilemma
ABC has 'The Bachelor/Bachelorette' and MTV has 'Are You The One' . What I have are hot flushes from extensive exposure to testosterone driven hunks of meat!
www.abc.com
I have been a fan of 'The Bachelor' (and subsequently 'The Bachelorette') ever since I first laid my eyes on Andrew Firestone back in 2003. I have been in a monogamous fan-host relationship with Chris Harrison for many years and have never strayed from my somewhat perverse addiction to anything dished up by Mike Fleiss. But, as is often the problem in a long-term relationship, my mind started to wander. Surely a quick little peak at what was happening elsewhere wouldn't do any harm? I was afterall just going to quickly look at the menu with every intention to eat at home. What transpired was in fact a full-on gorge fest which left me feeling both strangely satisfied and deviously dirty. It took all of 2 days and a marathon viewing session of MTV's 'Are You The One' Season 2 to turn my legs to jelly and send all my good intentions running out the back door. I have gone from a somewhat dignified dating show connoisseur to a smut loving betty in under 60 minutes! I still have mad love for all the ABC men but there is something wickedly daring about the MTV guys that set them apart from the aformentioned. Before I get to the guys let me just mention that the formats of the 2 shows could not be more different.
The Male Cast Of AYTO Season 2 www.mtv.com
'The Bachelor' franchise sees one guy/girl having to sift through a room full of potential soul mates to find his/her perfect match. In 'Are You The One' the guys and girls are more evenly matched which makes for a lot more hormone- filled viewing. The latter also seems less scripted somehow, sure you have your token badass girl and man-whore (cue Anthony Bartolotte who turned out to be more than just a very pretty face) but they just come across as more 'real' than their ABC counterparts. Now for the contestants. Where do I even start? I have been presented with a treasure chest full of delectable gems and I don't know which one to indulge in first! The ABC guys are mostly polished, professional All-American guys sporting wholesome All-American looks (Andy Baldwin, Ben Flajnik, Juan Barbieri, Jason Mesnick etc) The MTV guys on the other hand ooze sex appeal and look to be the kind of men you sneak in through your bedroom window after your parents have gone to bed (bring on Dario Medrano). Both shows are known to cast a stereotypical villian (Wes Hayden - ABC/Layton Jones - MTV) who usually turns out to be nothing but a nice guy on the receiving end of a poorly scripted plot. While ABC has the upper hand when it comes to polarizing characters (remember Juan Pablo Galavis and Jake Pavelka) MTV delivers on pure hunkyness (Tyler Pratt has to be the most beautiful man to ever roam the earth). Both shows have given us men of the law (Craig Robinson vs John Moustis) and overly emotional weirdo-sweethearts (Kasey Kahl vs Nathan Siebenmark).
Tyler Pratt www.mtv.com
There are the douche bags and the darlings. Those who lie and those who get laid. There are the guys who we forget about as soon as the show is over and those we fantasize over for years to come. They are the doctors, the lawyers, the wine makers and the frat boys of our dreams. Without them our time in front of the TV would feel mundane. Life would be terribly dull without a few guilty pleasures. Please dont ever force me to choose between my dating show dream-boats. For once in my life I am going to stop counting carbs have my cake and eat it - twice!
