des portage sioux

Farmer Wants a Wife sounds like one of those jokes that was kicked around at the time of the writers’ strike, when people were contemplating the sort of horrific reality shows that awaited us in prime time if the two sides couldn’t get together. But it’s all too real, and debuts tonight on the CW.
The latest in TV’s apparently endless pool of matchmaker shows, Farmer Wants a Wife features the requisite handsome (if somewhat bland) leading man in Matt Neustadt, a 30-year-old from Portage Des Sioux, Missouri, who claims it’s tough to meet women and especially tough to keep them interested when they find out you’re a farmer. To that end, ten women, all with city backgrounds, are brought to Matt’s farm and eliminated one by one.
There’s a real social problem hidden beneath the exploitive surface: it actually is difficult for farmers and other single residents of America’s rural areas to meet potential mates, which is one reason why these areas are depopulating. However, Matt’s hometown is not too far away from the St. Louis metro area, so any woman who absolutely couldn’t live without that kind of stimulation wouldn’t have to forgo it if she were to get involved with him. Look for the show to downplay that little fact, however, not to mention that it’s hard to imagine this guy couldn’t find a woman on his own if he was really looking.
The CW has a track record with its competitive reality shows of treating them like glorified sitcoms, which often comes across like the worst of both worlds, as the comedy is particularly witless and the competition so fake that it can’t be taken seriously even by connoisseurs of trash (thinking here of the beauty pageant show Crowned). The promo for Farmer Wants a Wife, which asks which women are looking forward to “plowing” and features an especially groan-worthy pun based on a crowing rooster (use your imaginations), does not raise hopes this series will be different.

film.com


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