farmer wants wife What’s missing from reality television right now is the perfect love story. ,cough: Scandal.) At least, that’s what host Jennifer Nettles believes.
As the successful international dating franchise makes its new debut Wednesday night, Yahoo spoke with Nettles about what viewers can expect from the Fox iteration. really farmer only meeting of the Bachelor, Are women here for the right reasons? and are these people In fact Farmer Here are answers to some of your burning questions farmer wants wife,
What is this show about?
Well, the title pretty much sums it up. Four hardworking, and yes, real-life farmers – Hunter Grayson, 31, Watkinsville, Ga. From; Ryan Black, 32, from Shelby, NC; Alan Foster, 32, Williamsport, Tenn.; and Landon Heaton, 35, from Alva, Okla. — Looking for your soul mates. Each farmer plays host to a group of single women who are ready to leave their big cities behind for love and living in the country.
“It’s a love story,” explains Nettles. “I love storytelling and I’m super romantic and so I love being a part of these relationships and watching these romances grow and develop and blossom.”
The Grammy winner says “romance reality shows have never really been my thing,” but she believes this one is different.
“What attracted me to this show is how unique it is and it’s so authentic, so organic and so heartfelt and endearing because these people, you know, they’re not trying to be Instagram influencers here or fame for seconds,” she explains. Nettles says the show is not about creating scandal, or “caddy” women “crying over a rose and a boyfriend at the end of the evening.”
“It’s four people who are farmers. They’re real people looking for real love,” she says. “The women who have been selected have seen these farmers and wanted a chance to get to know them and have a chance at love…it’s what you see whenever you see it.”
Farmers and women “confirmed” each other before production
Different the Bachelor Or love is blindon competitors farmer wants wife They got acquainted with each other even before the cameras started rolling. Nettles calls the process validating.
“The way it works for this show, which also sets it apart and makes it unique and interesting, is it’s a two-way street from the beginning,” she explains. “The women who are interested in[the show]look at these farmers and say, out of this group, these are the ones I might be interested in possibly meeting and getting to know more about. It’s like an online dating profile. They watch a video. , they see a profile, they get some information about them.”
Then each farmer had to look at the group of women and choose who they wanted to meet. However, Nettles points out that by giving power to the women first, it established the “safety and openness” necessary for the show to work.
“It continues to be in terms of a two-way street. Because there are moments when some women are just like, ‘I don’t feel a connection, this isn’t for me,'” she says. “This is real life. It goes both ways, you know? Farmers and women putting their hearts at stake and making themselves vulnerable.”
Are all 32 women on the show out to find love?
Of course there’s no way of knowing He, women range They range in age from 22 to 39 and come from cities like Los Angeles, Nashville and Miami. They have real jobs – one woman is a cyber security analyst, the other a recruiter and two are physicians – which is so different the Bachelor As listed occupations were “dog lover” and “free spirit”. But while Nettles acknowledges the instant fame “could develop into an issue” after the show premiered, overall, she doesn’t think the group of women is just hoping to become Instagram influencers.
“Especially being this first season, everyone was very wide-eyed and open-hearted, not knowing exactly what to expect,” she says. “Everyone seemed really genuine to me. I didn’t see anyone who felt like an opportunist. It all felt very authentic to me.”
The aim of the show was to get a diverse cast
Unlike the issues that constantly plague the BachelorNettles says it was important to portray a diverse group of contestants.
“What I saw in front of the camera was amazing in terms of diversity, especially when you consider that we have a stereotypical image of what a cowboy is or isn’t in our minds. So I think they – ‘casting’ me Hate to use the word, but that’s essentially what it is. (The makers) did a great job casting a diverse group.
What is Nettles’ role as a host, exactly?
Although the 48-year-old admits she’s part therapist, part storyteller, she says she really sees herself as “a fairy godmother.”
“I come on group dates and help encourage, and at times give advice and guidance, especially people I’ve found,” she says, “overwhelmed in many ways.”
“They’re real boys, they’re real farmers. They come from small towns. The joke is, you know, they know all the women in their town and half of them they’re related to,” she laughs. “Then all of a sudden there’s a bunch of wonderful women on their farms with them.”
Nettles says the boys were sometimes “anxious” and “shy”. “They live life on the ground with the animals … to put themselves out in front of the camera (to find love). I mean, it’s very revealing.”
the Exorcist The actress says she was “happy to be there and give them encouragement and give them advice.”
“You know, ‘There you go little buck, let’s go. You can do this boy!’ It was a fun part of the job,” she shares.
Wait – so it’s actually a successful show?
Sure, Buckroo. Although there was a short-lived version of farmer wants wife Airing in 2008 on The CW, the show really found success internationally – especially in Australia. According to Fox, which touts the series as “the most successful dating show in the world”, the franchise has resulted in 180 marriages and 410 children.
“Sometimes when you say ‘reality television,’ people get the idea of ​​what’s actually hyper-reality and what’s not real. It’s very realistic and it’s heartwarming,” Nettles promises. Is. “Who doesn’t love a real life love story?”
farmer wants wife Airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.