Family or Fiancé

Remember when the OWN network premiered with the promise of uplifting television for African Americans? Clearly that ship has sailed long ago. The crop of so-called reality shows on the network range from bland to outright ridiculous and potentially harmful. Family or Fiance takes the crown for foolishness. The first season wasn't so bad as at least some of the couples were reasonably realistic in terms of the issues they faced. The second season is so over the top that it's clear that the show is going more for ratings than reality. The couples are clearly there for the free trip and to be on TV, not to ever get married! No matter what the issues, everything always works out with a neat bow by the end of the episode. Then the postscript indicates that most of the couples predictably split up after the show's over. Like many others, the show had the potential to demonstrate how to deal with realistic family drama but it shows to go down the unbelievable route because it often manufactures drama that nobody believes in the first place. Another troubling factor is the way the show doles out pseudo-therapy on serious issues like domestic violence and parenting. I need you one seriously scratches her head at some of the troubling guidance that's given.