The Proposal: Channel 7’s bizarre new reality show

The ratings for Channel 7’s much hyped reality dating show The Proposal are in, and they’re not great.

Channel 7’s ridiculous new reality show failed to impress Aussie TV viewers last night.

The Proposal, which launched last night at 8.30pm, pulled in a disappointing 307,000 viewers (five city metro). It was up against Seachange (548,000), Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds (478,000) and Australian Survivor (804,000).

Oh my word. #theproposalau is pretty much every terrible dating show that’s ever existed rolled into one hot mess on a massive LED stage. It’s The Bachelor x with MAFS x with Take me Out x with Perfect Match x with First Dates x with Yasmins getting Married. Nope nope nope. Nooo

— Lucy Holmes Official (@lucyholmestweet) August 27, 2019

If you missed The Proposal, it’s kind of like a whole season of The Bachelor condensed into 60 minutes.

In each episode, a male “suitor” or a female “suitress” is hidden behind a screen called “the commitment ring”.

The suitress sits behind a screen so she can see the singles but they can’t see her. And yes, there’s a swimsuit round.

Eight singles are brought out on stage and the suitor/suitress can see them, but the singles can’t see the person whose heart they’re competing for.

Over four rounds (one of which encourages the singles to bare their bodies) the suitor/suitress whittles down the group of singles until there are just two left on stage.

The suitor/suitress then reveals themselves to the remaining singles for the first time, I repeat, the first time.

In the very next segment, there’s a proposal. If it’s an episode with a male suitor, he will then propose to one of the two female singles picked to remain on stage. If it’s a female suitress, both male singles will propose to her and she will only accept one.

A single mum called Jess is the first suitress on The Proposal.

The Proposal promises a love story in an hour.

The one thing the show seems to assume is the singles, who have literally just laid eyes on the suitor/suitress for the first time, will be so taken by the person that they’ll actually want to propose.

It’s a pretty bold assumption, but the show’s executive producer says the singles have every right to reject/refuse a proposal.

“The Proposal’s aim is always to find and match suited couples who feel the time is right to find a partner for life and get engaged,” Sean Kneale told news.com.au.

“However, all participants were advised that when they got to the proposal moment, they could either go for it or not. In fact, during the first couple of recordings we were very worried that we either wouldn’t get a proposal or nobody would accept it.”

Eight singles will battle it out for the affection of the male suitor.

The assumption the singles will just fall head over heels for the suitor/suitress also raised eyebrows when the US version of the show aired in the states last year.

As Esquire wrote about the show’s concept, “It asks the viewer to simply accept that these people really are in love after seven-and-a-half minutes.

“The Proposal demands that viewers completely suspend their reasoning faculties, critical thinking skills and any expectation that what is happening on their TV screen might be real.”

The Daily Beast added, “The Proposal is just a depressing reminder of how us single folk are expected to take any chance at love we can get — and it comes off more bleak than binge-worthy.”

The US version of the show was cancelled after the first season due to poor ratings. After last night’s disappointing ratings for the Aussie show’s premiere, one has to wonder how if our version will meet a similar fate.

The Proposal continues next Tuesday at 8.30pm on Channel 7