Raja wrote:pandabear wrote:Having watched the first 4 episodes--I can see where this show is an excellent advertisement for seeking love abroad. If it were me, I think that I would be reluctant to sign up--the couples seem like they are under enough pressure, and being constantly filmed for a documentary can only make it worse. Plus, you (or your family members) risk looking like complete idiots on national television. People who were on the show must be reading the online comments. Apparently, everyone in the country is convinced that the guy from Oklahoma is a closeted gay. Okies are probably very sensitive about being thought gay. Unless the TV network paid them a lot, to compensate for the possible national embarrassment.
TV fan sites seem to indicate that all they got paid was airfare. For many the largest single expense. you can hear in their comments from the first season that the couples thought they were doing a documentary while TLC was putting on a reality show and suggesting that the couples had just met and were going through a 90 day trial to determine if they would actually go through with the marriage.
I would think these couples received some financial incentive. I find it hard to believe anyone would be stupid enough to let a camera crew following them around for the critical 3 months. This is a very important time that a couple wants to get to know one another, why would anyone, but maybe Paola, the Colombian, want a camera in their face all the time. I'm sure TLC gave them money for plane fares, Visas, wedding money, and probably money for Russ and Paola's $1100 a month apartment while he didn't work. If not these men are beyond stupid!
I can't believe a Mormon would want his wife being a model. This was probably setup by TLC to add color, because a conservative man would not pay for something that would put his wife in front of many other men. They don't take those photos for free. She is too short for anything but teen modeling. I think the bachelorette and bachelor parties and big weddings were scripted. I would think some of these couples being pressed for time and money would have just gotten married in a very small informal wedding and had a large party later when not pressed for time.
About another reality show: I am curious did AFA pay anyone or give them a free singles tour and flight when they were doing their short lived reality show?