ALTAR-ED STATES
Hub singles get hitched at ‘First Sight’
Who can be against love? Nobody sane. But you can have issues with a reality show that treats you, the viewer, like a goldfish that has suffered a concussion.
Welcome to the sixth season of “Married at First Sight,” a series that spoils all in its title. The show shifts to Boston and focuses on six more 20-something singles looking to make a permanent connection.
Marriage remains an institution so many aspire to, and yet this series, billing itself as a radical social experiment, has a dismal track record.
Of the 15 couples who exchanged vows, only three remain together — a 20 percent success rate.
Season one success story Jamie Otis-Hehner and Doug Hehner had a daughter in August.
The casting special tonight proves to be quite the cattle call, with singles sick of swiping and hoping the experts — returning advisers Dr. Pepper Schwartz and pastor Calvin Roberson and newcomer Dr. Jessica Griffin of the University of Massachusetts Medical School — can find them their dream spouse.
They are subjected to interviews, psychological testing and extensive background checks, we are told.
Casting, of course, is everything, and “Married” excels at finding likable people to root for. Unlike other reality TV franchises (CBS' “Survivor,” MTV's “The Challenge”), it doesn't need aspiring reality TV villains. Producers know the drama is built into the premise. Warning: Spoilers follow. Lifetime would prefer you be surprised, but given the nature of social media, the identities of the six singles about to be married are already out there.
There's Jonathan Francetic, 28, a finance guy (though not for long, apparently because of his participation in this show). He served in the military, teaches scuba diving and lives with an ornery cat who deserves a spinoff.
“I've been single for way too long,” Jonathan says. OK.
He's matched with commercial insurance adjuster Molly Duff, 25.
Following the death of her father, Molly, her sisters and her mother have endured financial setbacks but remain close.
Jaclyn Schwartzberg, 29, is a technical sales representative whose last boyfriend died unexpectedly two years ago. She feels ready to take a risk on life. Wish granted.
She's paired with Ryan Buckley, 29, a boisterous Brookline firefighter who also works construction and relaxes with epic rounds of paintball. He's ready to spoil the special woman in his life.
Shawniece Jackson, 29, is a cosmetologist who also has her own wig line. She hails from a large family, something she has in common with her surprise fiance, teacher Jephte Pierre, 26, who is the oldest of 14 children.
Jephte's mother, Laura, is no pushover and may be the biggest roadblock to this couple.
When Jephte tells her of his plan to marry a woman he has never seen, Laura says, “Oh my goodness. You need a lot of prayer.”
Once the couples meet and are joined at the altar, they have six weeks to live together and then must decide if they will stay together or divorce.
The show can be annoyingly repetitive, with one of the experts, often the pastor, reminding us that these people are marrying strangers. We get it. We didn't get lost on the way to Syfy's “Sharknado” marathon.
Watching “Married at First Sight” is like seeing someone you care about step out onto a high wire strung between two buildings.
You hope they'll make it across to the other side, but there's nothing you can do but hold your breath and hope for the best.