Even though meeting that special someone through online or digital means has grown more and more popular over the years, MTV is in the process of creating a new show that’s the “antidote to online dating,” according to Damon Furberg, supervising casting director for MTV.
The show is currently casting, and Furberg said the crew is searching for participants who are at least 21 years old and look between their early to mid-twenties.
“For any reality show, of course, we’re looking for people who are charismatic and good storytellers, and who are open,” Ferburg said. “You know, obviously people who value their privacy are not suitable for reality TV. For this show specifically, what we’re looking for are people who are genuinely a catch dating-wise, but for whatever reason they just sort of haven’t been able to find that person.”
Furberg said the new show will bring together 15 college-aged women and 15 college-aged men from across the country to live together in a house for about six weeks. The twist — the men and women will each have a “perfect match” in the house with them, but they have to figure out for themselves which roommate is their soul mate.
Matchmakers and compatibility tests will be the determining factors of deciding which contestants will click with each other, according to Furberg.
He said how the contestants find their potential matches is largely left up to them, but interviews and dates will likely be key methods. If they are successful in figuring out who their dream guy or girl is, they will be awarded prize money as well as someone to hypothetically spend their days with.
Unlike MTV’s successful “Catfish: The TV Show,” this series will take on the opposite side to meeting someone online. Ferburg expressed why he believes online dating has only added to the confusion of courtship.
“It’s really easy to meet people — lots of people,” Ferburg said. “What’s hard is meeting the right person even though dating has become quicker and more accessible and you have access to more people. It’s almost made it harder instead of easier.”
He went on to say that it’s not always clear with online dating what someone’s intentions are. At the transitional age between adolescence and adulthood, some people are looking for a committed relationship while many are not. Ferburg said these motives aren’t always clear until “later in the game.” He says the show will take some of the guesswork out of the equation and present people with interested mates.
He said the show is untitled as of now. The filming hasn’t started yet, but he expects the show to air at the end of this year or in early 2014.
Those interested in becoming a contestant can apply before September 31 at www.lighthearted.com/untitled-mtv-dating-casting/.
“It’s really easy to meet people, lots of people. What’s hard is meeting the right person even though dating has become quicker and more accessible and you have access to more people. It’s almost made it harder instead of easier.”