I’m questioning the sensibility of this whole thing. Is it right to go on a blind date for the sake of a TV show? On the one hand, like Blake says, it could be educational for viewers. On the other hand, what if hearts get broken? Like mine. “So have you gone on a blind date for the show yet?”
He lets out a long sigh. “Actually, I had a coffee date just last week.”
“Really?” I’m surprised. “You never told me.”
“Hey, it’s work. You don’t always tell me about your work.”
“I don’t date anyone at work.”
He glances at me. “Are you saying you’re jealous?”
Suddenly I feel set up, or cornered, or something. I just shrug. “Not exactly. I guess I’m more curious. Was your date a match from the computer?”
“Kind of. We started out with a small pool of daters … you know, for the sake of the show.”
“Like people from
Malibu Beach
and friends of Ben?”
“Yeah. The dating service matched us up from that pool and that’s how the show begins.”
“Do the viewers know this?” I ask. “Or do they think you went out with a girl who was pulled out of a million potential dates?”
“We don’t mention the small pool, but I think viewers will figure it out when they see the same people going on other dates … but the pool will get bigger and bigger.”
“Kind of a pyramid pool?” I tease.
“We have to keep it interesting.”
“Yeah, I can imagine. So is it going to end up being like
The Bachelor?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, people drinking too much, making out, going to bed?”
“No—at least I don’t think so. Not with me anyway.” “But with others?”
He shrugs. “That’s not the focus of the show, but I suppose it could happen.”
Now, call me old-fashioned (and plenty of people do), but that just aggravates me. I don’t like it that Blake is involved in something like this.
“So, are you saying you wouldn’t go on a blind date?” he persists. “Just for the fun of it?”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Because it would be interesting, Erin. Wouldn’t you like to see what kind of guy the computer matches you with?”
“Out of your
small
pool?” I frown. “What if I ended up with Ben? Ugh!”
“Ben’s not the devil, Erin.”
“I know. But I couldn’t stand to be stuck on a blind date with him. What would happen if I agreed to do this and hated the guy and walked out?”
“That would be your choice. No way are we forcing anyone to do anything. That’s what makes it interesting.”
“Right …”
“What if you agreed to a blind date and the computer matched you with me?” he asks in a hopeful tone.
I laugh. “That wouldn’t exactly be a blind date … or anything that your viewers would be interested in.”
“Maybe not.”
Suddenly I feel like calling his bluff. Not that it’s a bluff exactly. But since he’s jabbed me in a jealous spot, I decide to jab him back. “You know, Blake, it might be interesting after all.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I do wonder what kind of guy the computer would match me with. I mean, I’d be totally honest in my likes and dislikes. Maybe I’d meet a really cool guy.”
“Maybe …” He sounds uncertain.
“I would only agree to do it if you let me be part of the big pool of daters. Not just the handpicked ones.”
“I guess we could arrange that.”
“Okay. If you do that, I’ll give it a try.”
“I’ll talk to Ben.” Blake sounds a little doubtful, and I suppose I feel a bit smug, like I have him over the old proverbial barrel. I like that.
Although I follow Blake’s direction by registering with the online dating service the following week, I go for almost two weeks without hearing a word. Really, I’m relieved. By late August I’m thinking I was nuts to even agree to anything so ridiculous. But Paige and I did accept the invitation to guest star a couple of times in order to offer fashion critique and suggestions.
Actually, I played my old role as
He lets out a long sigh. “Actually, I had a coffee date just last week.”
“Really?” I’m surprised. “You never told me.”
“Hey, it’s work. You don’t always tell me about your work.”
“I don’t date anyone at work.”
He glances at me. “Are you saying you’re jealous?”
Suddenly I feel set up, or cornered, or something. I just shrug. “Not exactly. I guess I’m more curious. Was your date a match from the computer?”
“Kind of. We started out with a small pool of daters … you know, for the sake of the show.”
“Like people from
Malibu Beach
and friends of Ben?”
“Yeah. The dating service matched us up from that pool and that’s how the show begins.”
“Do the viewers know this?” I ask. “Or do they think you went out with a girl who was pulled out of a million potential dates?”
“We don’t mention the small pool, but I think viewers will figure it out when they see the same people going on other dates … but the pool will get bigger and bigger.”
“Kind of a pyramid pool?” I tease.
“We have to keep it interesting.”
“Yeah, I can imagine. So is it going to end up being like
The Bachelor?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, people drinking too much, making out, going to bed?”
“No—at least I don’t think so. Not with me anyway.” “But with others?”
He shrugs. “That’s not the focus of the show, but I suppose it could happen.”
Now, call me old-fashioned (and plenty of people do), but that just aggravates me. I don’t like it that Blake is involved in something like this.
“So, are you saying you wouldn’t go on a blind date?” he persists. “Just for the fun of it?”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Because it would be interesting, Erin. Wouldn’t you like to see what kind of guy the computer matches you with?”
“Out of your
small
pool?” I frown. “What if I ended up with Ben? Ugh!”
“Ben’s not the devil, Erin.”
“I know. But I couldn’t stand to be stuck on a blind date with him. What would happen if I agreed to do this and hated the guy and walked out?”
“That would be your choice. No way are we forcing anyone to do anything. That’s what makes it interesting.”
“Right …”
“What if you agreed to a blind date and the computer matched you with me?” he asks in a hopeful tone.
I laugh. “That wouldn’t exactly be a blind date … or anything that your viewers would be interested in.”
“Maybe not.”
Suddenly I feel like calling his bluff. Not that it’s a bluff exactly. But since he’s jabbed me in a jealous spot, I decide to jab him back. “You know, Blake, it might be interesting after all.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I do wonder what kind of guy the computer would match me with. I mean, I’d be totally honest in my likes and dislikes. Maybe I’d meet a really cool guy.”
“Maybe …” He sounds uncertain.
“I would only agree to do it if you let me be part of the big pool of daters. Not just the handpicked ones.”
“I guess we could arrange that.”
“Okay. If you do that, I’ll give it a try.”
“I’ll talk to Ben.” Blake sounds a little doubtful, and I suppose I feel a bit smug, like I have him over the old proverbial barrel. I like that.
Although I follow Blake’s direction by registering with the online dating service the following week, I go for almost two weeks without hearing a word. Really, I’m relieved. By late August I’m thinking I was nuts to even agree to anything so ridiculous. But Paige and I did accept the invitation to guest star a couple of times in order to offer fashion critique and suggestions.
Actually, I played my old role as
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