Young women competing on television for the affection of a wealthy bachelor is nothing new, but what makes WE tv's latest reality series stand out is the show's inclusion of a spiritual advisor. Viewers can watch the show online via live stream below.
"My role is from a biblical perspective to try to give advice to everybody involved on what I think is the best way to create love, keep love and establish love," says Pastor Ken Johnson, a minister, motivational speaker and spiritual advisor to the Indianapolis Colts. "We have a Christian and biblical aspect and bringing a pastor into real life issues is something I have never seen before."
The latest bachelor tasked with picking a possible mate from a cast of beautiful women is real estate magnate and former college athlete Shawn Bullard. In the upcoming series, he dates multiple women over several weeks narrowing them down to hopefully find a match made in Heaven and like all good reality shows, the 24 women vying for Mr. Bullard's legitimization are all young, attractive, and deeply deluded. While some ladies are sane and sweet, others are downright devilish leading to plenty of drama, melodrama and moments of tears.
"Life is full of drama and I am not afraid of controversy," continues Pastor Ken. "I am counseling and giving suggestions and recommendations and having fun through the process by doing what I feel is some really good TV and some good matchmaking counseling suggestions."
Each episode follows a courtship ritual of the media age: dating with the cameras rolling and women being eliminated each week. The women, who include a sweet girl next door, a smoking hot vixen; a career chick to the innocent virgin, are constantly met with the opportunity to make a choice between good and evil in their quest for Shawn's love. Decisions, Pastor Ken, says he guides all of them through, but not only does the pastor weigh in on Shawn's choices, he also has to deal with Shawn's very outspoken mother who too has a say on who could potentially be her daughter-in-law.
His first foray into reality television, it's a new pasture for the pastor who will admit he had reservations at first on joining the series.
"I initially thought they were going to try to make pastors look stupid, but knowing I could really talk about Christian based principles, and from my perspective what really makes relationships successful made me interested in doing it."
With a couple dozen reality dating shows profiting off the awkwardness of courtship, We TV (which is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.) is hoping to coax Christian viewers by adding a twist of a solicited and unsolicited advice from a pastor.
"It's a reality show and I know it's about ratings, but everyone needs someone in their life that can give them advise that can help them become better and make better choices. Biblical based people are people who can be some of those people in your life."
"Match Made in Heaven" premieres on WE tv, Wednesday, February 4 at 8pm ET/PT, and viewers can watch the full episode a day after it airs on the show's website.
