Successful men and women look for a partner in ‘Ready to Love’
Hit the town: The dating game is not an easy one to maneuver. Getting out and trying to meet someone special and ultimately find true love is often a daunting and challenging task (and therefore rich material for big and small-screen entertainment). Even with the advent of dating apps, online dating services and other helpful tools, the journey toward coupledom is still no picnic. Premiering Tuesday, Oct. 23, on OWN, “Ready to Love” looks to explore the love lives of Atlanta’s single men and women.
Hosted by comedian, actor, producer and current co-host of “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles, “Ready to Love” follows successful men and women in Atlanta as they navigate the tricky dating scene. Each of these thirtysomething or fortysomething singles is looking for lasting love, but not all will find it.
Other current dating series, such as “Are You The One?” and “The Bachelor” and its many popular spinoffs, cast participants who tend to fit the same thin, young, beautiful mold, while “Ready to Love” follows men and women of all shapes, sizes and shades. It also brings a unique twist to the typical format.
In an attempt to attract male viewers and to shake up the genre, the series will focus on the male participants’ dating perspectives, in particular. Their honest likes, dislikes, attitudes and emotions will be brought to the forefront unlike in other similar series, which tend to zero in on the female perspective.What do men have to say about the dating game when women are not around? “Ready to Love” will take a deep dive into this question and attempt to get answers from young, urban Atlantans.
Last year, prolific producer extraordinaire Will Packer (“Girls Trip,” 2017) signed an exclusive deal with Oprah Winfrey’s network and is looking to make his mark much like mega producer Tyler Perry (“The Haves and the Have Nots”) has done.
In a news release, Erik Logan, president of OWN, had nothing but glowing words for the ultra-successful producer. “Will is a creative powerhouse who knows what audiences want,” he said. “He has an insightful approach to relationships and a keen eye for great storytelling that resonates with viewers across the board.”
Tune in to the premiere of “Ready to Love” on Tuesday, Oct. 23, on OWN, and witness successful men and women of Atlanta as they navigate the complicated dating scene in Packer’s first collaboration with the network.
Fun and games: While it’s true that kids say the darnedest things, it’s also true that they are far more wise and intelligent than most of us give them credit for. On Friday, Oct. 26, “Child Support” demonstrates how knowledgeable and hilarious five helpful youths can truly be in another fun-filled episode on ABC.
For years, game shows were deemed prime-time persona non grata by the major networks. “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s” mammoth success in the early aughts led to an oversaturated television landscape filled with subpar game shows and, predictably, the bubble burst.
However, like all Hollywood trends, the prime-time game show has made a comeback in the past several years. For the most part, the current crop of such series has consisted of successful reboots of classics such as “Celebrity Family Feud,” hosted by Steve Harvey (“The Steve Harvey Show”); ABC’s “The $100,000 Pyramid,” hosted by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan (“Live! with Kelly and Michael”); and “Match Game,” hosted by Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”)
Nevertheless, original game shows such as NBC’s “Hollywood Game Night” and “Ellen’s Game of Games” have become hits with audiences across the country.The alphabet network’s “Child Support” falls into this category with its unique and hilarious premise.
Hosted by Fred Savage (“Friends from College”) and Emmy winner Ricky Gervais (“The Office”), the sophomore series puts a fun new spin on the classic format. Contestants are posed 10 questions ascending in difficulty as they make their way to the top prize of $200,000.
Although the above premise might sound familiar to most, there’s much more to it. Like many game shows, “Child Support” provides its contestants with a lifeline to stay alive and in the game, but unlike most, this lifeline is comprised of five precocious youngsters.
A contestant who answers one of Savage’s questions incorrectly still has a shot of winning it all, but it won’t be easy. After an incorrect answer, the game shifts its focus from the former “Wonder Years” star and the adult contestant to the legendary Gervais and a group of mischievous little ones.The funnyman asks the same question that stumped the adult contestant to the kids panel, and if they answer correctly, the contestant can move on.
If that sounds like a recipe for disaster, you’re not off the mark — the five youngsters often say the most unpredictable things during their hilarious back-and-forth with Gervais. Despite their youthfulness and penchant for the outrageous, however, the kids can also be quite helpful and knowledgeable, and the panel has oft aided contestants in getting back into the game.
Laugh, learn and play along with a new episode of “Child Support,” airing Friday, Oct. 26, on ABC.