Have Reality Shows Turned Us Off of Dating in Real Life?

I'm not a big fan of shows like The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, or even the more tongue-in-cheek show The Choice. Sure, they're fun to watch. But I think people make the mistake of thinking this is how love happens in real life, that gorgeous people just show up and we get to choose. That love will come to us.

I just don't buy into the chance of real love blooming between two people when it involves TV cameras on every date. While it seems romantic to some that twenty or so gorgeous women are vying for the attention of one hot, successful single man, I can't help but cringe.

Is it even possible that all these women have fallen in love with the same guy? Maybe I'm a cynic, but I don't think real love happens in front of the cameras. It happens when we recognize it, deep in our gut - and it doesn't always happen with the person we expect.

That's why I'm intrigued that Oprah has her hand in a new reality love connection show called "Love Town, U.S.A." I've always been a big fan of hers, but I had to admit - I was skeptical. I mean, she is looking for ratings, right?

But this show takes a very different approach from all the roses and evening gowns and flirtations between gorgeous people. For one, it focuses its attention on the people of one small town in Georgia. For another, it involves not only the singles looking for love, but their families, friends, and other members of the town with whom they share a little history - good and bad.

From what I could tell, the show focuses on helping people get past their histories. There is one man who is deemed a player and it's hard for him to be taken seriously by any woman, and another woman who is shy and afraid of putting herself out there. Then of course, there are broken families that need to heal before a young man or woman can find real, lasting love. How does the show tackle all of this?

Oprah hired two prominent matchmakers, Paul Carrick Brunson and Kailen Rosenberg, to help singles in the town "to build love." What this means is guiding them towards mending broken relationships as well as inspiring feelings of kindness, forgiveness and gratitude. This in turn will lead to greater possibilities in romantic love. The matchmakers are firm believers in love - that you have to give it in order to receive it - and that often means making yourself vulnerable so you can let it in.

Regardless of how the show turns out, I'm inspired by its intention - that giving love will help bring love into your own life.