NATIONAL POST - Feb 15, 2005

Toronto couples put it all out there for the cameras in two new reality shows that pose the questions: Should they stay together or should they part?

BY GORGIE BINKS

Reality shows can land you romance in spades these days, what with The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Joe Millionaire, Married by America — the list goes on. But what’s a couple to do once they’ve found each other? Two Toronto networks aim to tackle that issue by offering a little more meat and a little less cheese. The multi-faith Vision TV has been auditioning engaged couples as it gears up to begin shooting its reality brainstorm, Prenup Challenge (produced by Stonehenge Media Group), in which three “nearly wed” couples endure an intensive marriage-preparation course. And for couples already playing the marriage game but stressed out by it, Global TV is offering Last Chance for Romance (produced by Frantic Films and hosted by Cheryl Hickey), which had its debut last night. Both shows feature couples who bravely offer up their relationships to the TV cameras to be dissected by the experts.

Prenup Challenge... could earn it the nickname “Prevention Island” (as opposed to Temptation Island). Its guiding premise is that if couples are forewarned about their issues before they marry, perhaps they’ll be better armed to tackle them without failing into the divorce pit. Says Joan Jenkinson, Vision TV’s director of programming, “The show will look at how many children you might have, what faith would you raise them in, if you’re going to raise them in a faith, how will you deal with money, and issues around sex. Many couples applying say they’re in love but they aren’t sure they know each other that well.” Three relationship experts watch and analyze the couples as they tackle various issues. At the end of the episode, therapists choose the most compatible couple. Sean Martin, 28, and Melanie Dignard, 25, of Toronto, decided to put it all out there for an audience and auditioned for the show last week. “We’ve talked about the big things already;” Melanie says. “But money is something for us,” Scan adds. “We’re both out of school, in debt, live in downtown Toronto where the cost of living is high. Also, there’s the kids thing. It takes hearing it from people who have kids to know the little things that can be big things.” Both are prepared to bare all, saying they’re already open with each other. “I asked Melanie how she would feel if the judges placed us last and she laughed and said she didn’t care;” Scan says. Jenkinson says sex will be addressed, but “not in an exploitive way. We’re not going to see anybody doing anything.” Like Last Chance, the goal is not just to help the couples who appear on the show but to reach others who are thinking of marriage. “We’re approaching this from the point of marriage being a sacred union,” Jenkinson says. “It’s one of the most important things in people’s lives and often they’re not prepared for it. The exercises couples do with the experts on the show are things people can do at home.” Who knows? If Sean and Melanie make the cut for Prenup Challenge, and manage to resolve some of those sticky issues before marriage, they might just make it to the 25-year mark, like George and Francie. But maybe their trip will be a little smoother.