Entertainment

‘Nobody Loves You’ mocks dating shows with flair and bouncy pop tunes

Heath Calvert (right) leads a group of contestants in this funny new musical. (
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Television dating shows are an easy target for satire — almost too easy. After all, it’s hard to outdo bird-brained youths looking for true love in hot tubs.

But the wonderful new pop musical “Nobody Loves You” takes on that most ridiculous of genres in a way that’s both silly and smart — it even includes a babe in underwear slipping into a Jacuzzi. Talk about having your cheesecake and eating it, too.

Said babe is hot-to-trot Megan (Lauren Molina), a contestant on a dating show called “Nobody Loves You” — after the catchphrase with which the suave and shallow host Byron (an excellent Heath Calvert) dispatches the losers. Combining elements from “The Bachelor,” “Big Brother” and “Survivor,” the series is part titillating, part sadistic — and entirely manipulative.

At least Megan’s in it to win it. On the other hand, her fellow contestant Jeff (Bryan Fenkart) has a not-so-secret agenda.

A self-righteous grad student in philosophy who has trouble “engaging with humans,” Jeff signs up only to win back his ex-girlfriend after she leaves him and auditions for the show. She doesn’t make the cut, but he does and decides to stick around to expose the ridiculousness of the whole thing.

Initially annoyed by Jeff’s snotty “authenticity,” hard-charging producer Nina (Leslie Kritzer) changes her tune when she realizes that he’s driving up ratings.

As if this weren’t enough, Itamar Moses (“Bach at Leipzig”), who wrote the book and, with Gaby Alter, the lyrics, also sneaks in digs at inane social-media pundits. Enter a nerdy gay blogger (Rory O’Malley, late of “The Book of Mormon”) who obsessively tweets about the show:

“Ooh look at that she’s wearing a thong now,” he sings. “Hashtag please just do it.”

The songwriters have a field day with their premise, taking swipes at the shallowness of producers and contestants alike.

“Usually guys tell me I want too much and then I blame myself,” sings needy Samantha (Autumn Hurlbert) of her new love interest. “But with Dominic I’m really learning how to never want anything.”

Energetically directed by Michelle Tattenbaum and with choreography by — irony alert! — Mandy Moore from “So You Think You Can Dance,” the show is an upbeat funfest.

And unlike its target, it’s never cruel or demeaning. The opening number may ask “Which Love Is for Real?” but there’s no doubt this nifty musical’s heart is in the right place.