'Married at First Sight' show causing controversy already
A new reality show is like 'The Bachelor' ... on steroids. Each season of the "Bachelor," is supposed to end with a proposal - but imagine meeting your new husband or wife ... at the altar. What? It's called "Married At First Sight."
There's no dating on this show. It focuses on six strangers who will get married, and then be followed by cameras for five weeks. And it's causing some controversy. "Good Morning America" spoke to show expert Dr. Logan Levkoff who explained, "'Married at First Sight' is a social experiment that really seeks to determine if social science can play a role in matchmaking." But critics say the show's premise makes a mockery of marriage.
At the end of those five weeks, the newlyweds decide if they'll stay married or get divorced. Express.co.uk spoke with Harry Benson, a critic of the show who is with The Marriage Foundation, which calls itself a "champion for marriage" and supports long-lasting, stable marriages.
He had a particularly strong opinion about that "opt-out" clause offered at the end of the show. "Even when they get married they'll be thinking 'well I can back out of this,'" he writes. "This is not the way to get married."
But a writer for the Chicago Tribune loves the idea, saying, "It forces us to reckon with, once again, our complete and utter hypocrisy about marriage." She points out that gay couples can't legally marry in many states, but that this kind of reality show is allowed.
Dr. Logan Levkoff, labeled an expert on the show, wrote on The Huffington Post at first she wasn't sold on the idea, but "I agreed to be part of the team with three other professionals ... this experiment asks people to commit so that they have to fight for something." She adds, "They have to put the work in -- the work that we all need to put in -- into partnerships."
We should point out at least one of the contestants, Jamie Otis, has vied for love before on reality TV in both "The Bachelor" and "Bachelor Pad." This time, she's taking the plunge and swimming all the way to the altar.
Last night, Jamie was not attracted to her match. The contestant said, "I'm thinking I just made the worst decision of my life. I'm sorry."
And according The Hollywood Gossip, the new show is based off of a Danish show. In that version, two of the three couples are still together after their arranged marriage, so just maybe there's hope.
Watch more of "Married at First Sight":
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