Why WE TV’s ‘Match Made In Heaven’ is the Better Version of ABC’s ‘The Bachelor’

WE tv’s Match Made In Heaven made its debut on Wednesday night and despite my best intentions, I found myself sucked in as soon as featured bachelor, Shawn Bullard arrived on the scene.

I was convinced that it would be a low rent version of ABC’s The Bachelor, which I happen to find quite boring and pathetically contrived. The idea that young women are assembled for the sole intention of competing for the affection of a man they hardly know is an appalling act that directly violates the code of feminism.

But lets not get carried away – this is purely for entertainment so when you consider that fact, all bets are off and we are permitted to indulge while we keep our expectations at a minimum.

Be that as it may – I never quite understood the appeal of The Bachelor, especially since none of the “bachelors” seemed committed to the process of finding “the one”. They also have consistently lacked the level of charisma and authenticity needed to endear them to viewers and encourage some form of investment.

But refreshingly, Match Made In Heaven is proving to be everything The Bachelor strives to be but fails to achieve. Shawn Bullard, 33, a former NFL player and real estate mogul is dashing, sincere, instinctive and quite smart. His supporting cast includes Pastor Ken Johnson who adequately provides the commentary while navigating the course of the show. And then there is also Bullard’s defiant mother who is undoubtedly up to the task of keeping the collection of women in check as she meddles in and out of the upcoming episodes.

The contestants are not that much different from what The Bachelor showcases with the only difference being that most of them are African-American women. But the scenario plays out pretty much the same. The introductions are made and we are privy to the crazies, dumbbells and bland offerings. The group then heads over to their assigned residence to soak themselves in free booze as they size each other up and wait for the dreaded elimination segment. This time there is no harrowing rose ceremony – the women learn their fate in the form of text messages.

Sounds pretty standard but this time we can’t help but fall for the man the women are vying for and it’s not just because he is irresistibly gorgeous, although that helps a ton. But there is a genuine sensibility to Bullard that draws you in almost immediately and keeps you attentive and hopeful that perhaps he really will succeed in his quest for finding the woman of his dreams.

This is where The Bachelor and Match Made In Heaven break ties and why the latter has the ability to become the preferred blueprint for shows of this genre. Bullard presents himself in a way that solicits our approval and support because he is just naturally believable in his approach.

In the first episode, the Philadelphia native expertly sizes up his vast array of options which should be a daunting task for most but somehow he possess the uncanny ability of being able to see through the nonsense. Bullard’s career in sports possibly afforded him with the mental discipline that is needed for a show of this caliber. He may have been a football player back in the day, but it is clear he is not playing games when it comes to wading through the maze of hopefuls.

Unlike the men on The Bachelor, Bullard is on a mission and there is every reason to believe that he will accomplish his goal and as his popularity soars, he will certainly amass an impressive number of supporters who will cheer him all the way to the finish line.

If you are oozing with curiosity – check out Match Made In Heaven when it airs on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on WE tv.