S18: Matchmaking in Chicago / Kicking Off Chicago

[atomic]

PSA/reminder that MAFS has moved to Tuesday nights. Both the Matchmaking Special and the Kickoff Special with Kevin Frazier will air on October 8, starting at 8/7c.

[VioletNevermind]

The 35-year-old Basement Daddy is a hell no.  If they choose him, I’ll have to learn his name, but that’s my only takeaway on him so far.

[Retired at last]

So, no one else watched? I don't bother with any of the fillers, especially if Kevin Frazier and his panel of nobodies are involved. Pretty auspicious start to a long-delayed season.

[atomic]

I recorded the episodes, but will probably fast forward through most of it. Don't care about Frazier and his panel of nobodies either; will probably just check to see if the former cast members that come on have any interesting updates.

[Elizzikra]

On 10/9/2024 at 11:13 AM, Retired at last said:

So, no one else watched? I don't bother with any of the fillers, especially if Kevin Frazier and his panel of nobodies are involved. Pretty auspicious start to a long-delayed season.

I completely missed it by my DVR got it and I watched tonight. For the most part, the couples seem like nice and well-intentioned people but I've been fooled before. I think it's funny that they have a leftover from another season (Houston?) in Ikechi and explain it no further than saying "yeah, he lives here now and he applied again). 

There are a couple cute dogs, so I guess there's that.

Here is an idea for a show. Take a bunch of married (or happily partnered) couples. Have them fill out all the personality tests and applications and have the "experts" interview them separately. See how accurately they match them up. I don't know that anyone would match me with my amazing husband but we are great together. I wonder how accurate the "experts" matching would be when they start out knowing that everyone is successfully matched with someone. 

[Crashcourse]

I don't know the couples' names yet, but I do wonder how the bride will feel about seeing that hairy, bearded guy.  

[Meowwww]

Karla and the “like” every other word….and the blonde girl Michelle too.  And the uptalk.  I’m not going to be able to handle it! 

Edited October 13 by Meowwww

[Retired at last]

Thanks for the warning! That annoys me, too. I keep telling myself that "things change," but that doesn't mean we have to like them. I once had to tell someone I was interviewing for my team that I thought she had great skills, but I could not hire her for a senior trainer position unless I knew that I could put her in front of a group of senior leaders and she could speak professionally. And, since it was so distracting during the interview, I had tallied the number of 'likes' she used. I know it is just a lazy bad habit, but it is what it is. Of course, after I pointed it out to her, I gave her a chance to answer the questions again, or reschedule and come back. 

[Jodyj]

I am one of the people who thought this started today. I watched the matchmaking show last night in a semi panic. I was fine with the first and second couple. Then they got to the really driven man and the hippy girl and my first thought was this is a really stupid match.  I don't remember the names yet either. I really want this season to work but some accidentally seen spoilers (Hate spoilers) make me think it won't. I need some separation of couples and more expert meetings with the couples. I hope I see that. Happy watching everyone. 

 

[Doublemint]

Watching the wedding gown selection.  So far 3 girls - 2 of them are big.  Don't think the blond and the basement guy will work out at all.

[Elizzikra]

50 minutes ago, Doublemint said:

Watching the wedding gown selection.  So far 3 girls - 2 of them are big.  Don't think the blond and the basement guy will work out at all.

I can't fathom what you mean by "big." I don't consider any of the women this season to be "big" by any stretch of the imagination. One of the blonds is definitely pretty busty but that's the only thing I can think of that could be construed as "big."

[JenE4]

Okay, so maybe I should take this as a sign to quit this show, but my DirecTV Stream subscription no longer carries Lifetime. Regardless, I downloaded the Lifetime app, and I’m starting to watch the episodes, but these two matchmaking specials are not available to me. And yet, she persisted. 😉 So here I am asking for a quick rundown on what’s the deal with these people and why they were supposedly matched. For example, Dr Pepper thinks they have corresponding childhood trauma, etc. Or, at the very least, who are the obvious trainwrecks who should not be getting married? Thank you.

Edited November 10 by JenE4

[Elizzikra]

5 hours ago, JenE4 said:

Okay, so maybe I should take this as a sign to quit this show, but my DirecTV Stream subscription no longer carries Lifetime. Regardless, I downloaded the Lifetime app, and I’m starting to watch the episodes, but these two matchmaking specials are not available to me. And yet, she persisted. 😉 So here I am asking for a quick rundown on what’s the deal with these people and why they were supposedly matched. For example, Dr Pepper thinks they have corresponding childhood trauma, etc. Or, at the very least, who are the obvious trainwrecks who should not be getting married? Thank you.

I don't remember much but here's what I've got:

Alan and whichever blond he is matched with (Madison, maybe) are both pretty well off financially. She is in software sales and he does something in finance. She is more extroverted than he is though he claims that once he warms up, he has a fun side. They both like travel and fine dining. Both have messy childhood histories. Her parents divorced and mom took off so she was primarily raised by her dad, to whom she is close now but he had a lot on his plate when they were young. Alan (Allen?) was the subject of a bitter custody dispute when his parents split. His mom was present in the pre-wedding and wedding scenes and they seem to get along but his father has not appeared and he seems to be mostly absent from Allen's life. Both of them exercise regularly. She thinks she is prettier than he is and I think this will be what does them in.

Ikechi and Emem. He is a college guidance counselor for high school students who previously applied for Houston (I think). The producers loved him and really wanted to cast him and he "just happened to" move to Chicago for work (or for a second shot at being cast - you decide). Emem is a nurse practitioner who either works in or owns her own cosmetic practice (botox, fillers, etc.) So far, best I can tell, they are both good looking African American people who wanted to date/marry within their race and that's about all they seem to have in common. I don't see red flags yet with either of them except for her repeated, trilling "I'm going... to see... my huzzzbin..." That drove me nuts. 

Karla and Juan. He is a construction project manager and she is a hair stylist and ... something woohoo-ish - a sound bath practitioner? She is all hippy and "go with the flow" and he is probably more disciplined and financially responsible. They are both very attractive physically and were matched because they are a fine looking couple and they both like to dance. Red flags - Karla may just be looking for someone to pay her way and Juan has not had successful relationships because no one can fully understand and embrace his complex bi-culturalism (Latino American). I think he is maybe a fair amount older than she is, or at least comes off as more mature.

Tom and his wife with the pretty curls. Tom was in a nine year relationship that did not result in marriage. it ended when he cheated on her, though he says that the relationship had run its course by then. He is an identical twin and is a little OCD about how he keeps house. I wouldn't want to live with him but I'd love for him to come clean and organize my house. His wife seems nice. Can't remember what she does for a living or any particular red flags about her. 

The Basement Dweller and his blond wife. BD lives in his parents basement "by choice" because he "doesn't like to pay rent." He is close to his parents and could be a mama's boy; or he could just be really judicious about saving money in a very expensive rental market. Time will tell. His wife is 38 years old, an executive assistant, and financially self supporting. They both have a background in social work though neither of them seem to be working in that field (BD works for the city, I think as some sort of contract officer?). She freaked out at the wedding when she found out that he lives in his parents' basement. Physically they look like a mismatch to me but each of them is what the other described as being "their type." They would be more likely to succeed if he wasn't still living with mom and dad.

[JenE4]

12 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

I don't remember much but here's what I've got:

Alan and whichever blond he is matched with (Madison, maybe) are both pretty well off financially. She is in software sales and he does something in finance. She is more extroverted than he is though he claims that once he warms up, he has a fun side. They both like travel and fine dining. Both have messy childhood histories. Her parents divorced and mom took off so she was primarily raised by her dad, to whom she is close now but he had a lot on his plate when they were young. Alan (Allen?) was the subject of a bitter custody dispute when his parents split. His mom was present in the pre-wedding and wedding scenes and they seem to get along but his father has not appeared and he seems to be mostly absent from Allen's life. Both of them exercise regularly. She thinks she is prettier than he is and I think this will be what does them in.

Ikechi and Emem. He is a college guidance counselor for high school students who previously applied for Houston (I think). The producers loved him and really wanted to cast him and he "just happened to" move to Chicago for work (or for a second shot at being cast - you decide). Emem is a nurse practitioner who either works in or owns her own cosmetic practice (botox, fillers, etc.) So far, best I can tell, they are both good looking African American people who wanted to date/marry within their race and that's about all they seem to have in common. I don't see red flags yet with either of them except for her repeated, trilling "I'm going... to see... my huzzzbin..." That drove me nuts. 

Karla and Juan. He is a construction project manager and she is a hair stylist and ... something woohoo-ish - a sound bath practitioner? She is all hippy and "go with the flow" and he is probably more disciplined and financially responsible. They are both very attractive physically and were matched because they are a fine looking couple and they both like to dance. Red flags - Karla may just be looking for someone to pay her way and Juan has not had successful relationships because no one can fully understand and embrace his complex bi-culturalism (Latino American). I think he is maybe a fair amount older than she is, or at least comes off as more mature.

Tom and his wife with the pretty curls. Tom was in a nine year relationship that did not result in marriage. it ended when he cheated on her, though he says that the relationship had run its course by then. He is an identical twin and is a little OCD about how he keeps house. I wouldn't want to live with him but I'd love for him to come clean and organize my house. His wife seems nice. Can't remember what she does for a living or any particular red flags about her. 

The Basement Dweller and his blond wife. BD lives in his parents basement "by choice" because he "doesn't like to pay rent." He is close to his parents and could be a mama's boy; or he could just be really judicious about saving money in a very expensive rental market. Time will tell. His wife is 38 years old, an executive assistant, and financially self supporting. They both have a background in social work though neither of them seem to be working in that field (BD works for the city, I think as some sort of contract officer?). She freaked out at the wedding when she found out that he lives in his parents' basement. Physically they look like a mismatch to me but each of them is what the other described as being "their type." They would be more likely to succeed if he wasn't still living with mom and dad.

Thank you! That’s very helpful!

[DrewPaul2010]

On 10/10/2024 at 6:50 PM, Elizzikra said:

Here is an idea for a show. Take a bunch of married (or happily partnered) couples. Have them fill out all the personality tests and applications and have the "experts" interview them separately. See how accurately they match them up. I don't know that anyone would match me with my amazing husband but we are great together. I wonder how accurate the "experts" matching would be when they start out knowing that everyone is successfully matched with someone. 

That is exactly what they would do to analyze what makes for happy couples. Take couples that describe their marriage as good to very good to great. Then make them fill out endless questionnaires and surveys. Eventually a discernible pattern will emerge.

Even with that information it may not work because there is a difference between a couple who find each other, date and then become bonded and couples just thrown together.

 

[DrewPaul2010]

So far I select David and Michelle as least likely to succeed. She's 38, probably been on her own for quite sometime. Yet they pick someone who is not only physically younger (35) but clearly emotionally and mentally much younger. How can they pick someone who still lives at home? I can appreciate why she's fixated on that issue. At 38 I'm sure she's looking for someone to sire children not be treated as a child.

I wish couples would stop making absurd statements about how great the experts were based on 10 minutes when on an emotional high with adrenaline glands pumping full blast. I would assume these couples watched every show don't they know its very hard to get settled into an instant presto marriage?

Camille and Thomas are 10 years apart. That could be a bridge too far.

Madison and Allen might work things out...

 

 

 

[princelina]

15 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

I don't remember much but here's what I've got:

Alan and whichever blond he is matched with (Madison, maybe) are both pretty well off financially. She is in software sales and he does something in finance. She is more extroverted than he is though he claims that once he warms up, he has a fun side. They both like travel and fine dining. Both have messy childhood histories. Her parents divorced and mom took off so she was primarily raised by her dad, to whom she is close now but he had a lot on his plate when they were young. Alan (Allen?) was the subject of a bitter custody dispute when his parents split. His mom was present in the pre-wedding and wedding scenes and they seem to get along but his father has not appeared and he seems to be mostly absent from Allen's life. Both of them exercise regularly. She thinks she is prettier than he is and I think this will be what does them in

 

Great recap!  The only addition I have is that old goat Pepper thinks these two will be okay because she says Allen has a great body! 😂

[DrewPaul2010]

Quote

She thinks she is prettier (Madison) than he is and I think this will be what does them in.

I don't think they're too far apart looks wise. It doesn't seem to me looks are at the top of a woman's list for who she will marry. Being kind, thoughtful and loving can make up a lot of ground.

With the exception of the first season it seems to me most couples are at least close on a scale. I haven't seen them match up couples who are more like 4 or 5's on a scale of looks with other 4-5's. Or match up couples that are clearly not in each others league (looks wise). All the couples seem like 6 or above. I don't recall seeing any handicapped folks on the show either. Two deaf couples would be interesting and informative. Two wheel chair bound couples would be fascinating.

[LuvMyShows]

On 10/13/2024 at 8:23 PM, Retired at last said:

Thanks for the warning! That annoys me, too. I keep telling myself that "things change," but that doesn't mean we have to like them. I once had to tell someone I was interviewing for my team that I thought she had great skills, but I could not hire her for a senior trainer position unless I knew that I could put her in front of a group of senior leaders and she could speak professionally. And, since it was so distracting during the interview, I had tallied the number of 'likes' she used. I know it is just a lazy bad habit, but it is what it is. Of course, after I pointed it out to her, I gave her a chance to answer the questions again, or reschedule and come back. 

So, what happened with the candidate?!