Welcome to “Love to Hate,” where we take a look at the shows you hate so much that you can’t stop watching. This week: “Love in the Wild” on NBC.
What is this? Yet another in an endless string of reality dating shows set in the tropics. All the usual elements are there: generally good-looking people with motives other than love who should be at work instead; one or more “ceremonies” per episode; physical challenges; scorpions.
Who’s watching: You, apparently! 4.5 million of you last week, in fact — hopefully with the shades drawn.
Why you hate yourself for watching it: It’s an intelligence vacuum, and the pranks are awful (stealing towels? Come on.) And deep inside you know that by watching, you’re contributing to the continued succession of this diseased lust-in-the-jungle TV lineage.
What makes you cringe: First of all, absolutely everything Jenny McCarthy says. Her jokes are astoundingly bad. “Tonight, the guys have all the power…(yuck face)…Blleeegggghhh.” And lots of “Meowwww”s with claw gestures. These are met with fake chuckles and condescending smirks from the contestants. Also terrible are the women who claim to “have their guards up” yet go on national television to shack up with a guy on the first night.
Why you love it in spite of its flaws: As with many “reality” shows, it makes you feel better about your own life. It has some deliriously terrible/hilarious quotes like, “I do want a man to take control, but I also want a man who knows when it is my turn to take control.” And then there’s the eternal possibility that the man will not make the obvious choice, choosing the pretty, pale, boyish-figured girl who whines and complains all the time over the buxom, fun girl who doesn’t come across as a rocket scientist or a stalker. It’s another case of something being so bad that it passes as entertainment. The people are cute without being overtly pathological. It’s light, it’s fun, it’s a summer fling.
The upshot: Enjoy yourself, but don’t tell anyone you watch this show. Watch it in the dark, in a closet if necessary. Disavow all knowledge of it to your friends. But don’t beat yourself up about it. This includes you, Jenny McCarthy.