It starts tonight, National Geographic’s newest reality show called, “Bachelors Abroad”.
Here’s how they describe it:
“BACHELORS ABROAD goes inside the wild world of international romance tours. Head off on a ten day tour of Ukraine where American men throw themselves full on into the search for something they can’t find in the USA — a BRIDE. Each year, John Adams’s Phoenix, AZ-based company, A Foreign Affair, takes men on trips around the world — from Cartagena to St. Petersburg to Kiev and the Philippines — with one goal in mind: finding a bride. Hundreds of women in their hometowns sign themselves up for the chance at a better life in America through this fast-paced route to marriage.”
We watched the one working trailer that was playing on the National Geographic site. It features a 51-year old police officer named Joe Gregory. Joe decides it’s time for him to go find a wife and he’s heading for Ukraine. The cameras come in to his dining room as we observe him telling his four adult daughters about his decision. None of them are impressed. Finally, he breaks it down into simpler terms so they see it as nothing different from any other form of online dating.
Next, we see two of Greg’s buddies come of so he can share the news with them. He first takes them to a computer where he shows photos of girls he’s been writing to – stunning women by any standard. As the camera zooms in on a bikini photo we hear Joe say, “This one is really sincere”.
We’ll see what this all means following the airing of the first program, but I have my concerns over what we can see so far.
- You get the impression that Joe is a guy who is chasing bikini-clad women and not sincere in his pursuit of a soulmate
- They portray the women as “green card hunters” who are only looking for a free ride to the good life in America.
This was obviously a one-off show and not a series. It was a good program and accurately reflected the AFA tour experience.
However, having Bob Ray as a dater was fake – obviously – he’s one of their tour guides.
The problem with the AFA tour experience is still the same. You’re thrown in a room with 200 plus ladies with no game plan and you have to go find a translator to help. Even if you connect with someone you’re off to another city the next day and the momentum is lost.
However, this will be a positive for our industry because it made it look possible for good men to meet gorgeous women and more guys will want to give it a chance.
We’ll see what comes of it.
Mark
Even their intro paragraph indicates their intention to continue to promote the common negative misconceptions about international dating/romance tours. As if the men who make the decision to try an alternative to domestic dating just get out of bed one day,jump on a plane,and head off to a foreign country to claim their “Stepford Wives” – and have put absolutely no thought or effort into researching international dating and the women from foreign cultures. And,of course,once the men arrive at their destination – the ladies there are jumping all over them “like fleas onto a dog” for the opportunity to “escape” their horrible lives and homeland – and no effort is required of the men to win the hearts of their chosen lady. Not being one to worry about other people’s opinions of me – regardless of whatever their “documentary”(reality comedy) portrays,I will be standing tall with my head held high(with a smile on my face) for the decision I have made to make “The Quest”!