Married at First Sight, currently in its seventeenth season, has become a staple in reality TV, showcasing the journey of couples embarking on marriage from the moment they meet at the altar. However, despite its popularity, the show’s success rate in matching couples has been relatively low. With recent developments, such as the inclusion of LGBTQ+ participants like Lauren and Orion, there’s potential for the franchise to expand its horizons and embrace inclusivity further.
While the show has taken steps towards inclusivity by featuring diverse couples like Lauren and Orion, there’s room for growth. With reality TV trends leaning towards more representation, it’s evident that audiences are eager to see themselves reflected in the shows they watch. Other reality TV programs have already paved the way, demonstrating the success of LGBTQ+ representation in shows like Love Island USA and Are You The One?
Despite the lack of concrete plans for an LGBTQ+ spinoff, there’s a clear opportunity for Married at First Sight to diversify its cast and explore the dynamics of queer relationships. This expansion could not only attract a new audience but also contribute to the broader conversation about representation in media. By creating an LGBTQ+ spinoff or incorporating more queer couples into the main show, Married at First Sight could continue to evolve and remain a relevant and impactful franchise in the reality TV landscape.
Married At First Sight Has No Plans For LGBTQ+ Spinoff
As of January 2024, Married at First Sight has no plans for an LGBTQ+ expansion. Having Lauren and Orion as cast members was a big step for the notoriously heterosexual show, so that might be a sign that the network is open to having more representation. The biggest Married at First Sight news in 2024 has been the announcement of an eighteenth season, which will take place in Chicago. The cast for Married at First Sight season 18 has not been revealed yet, so there is potential for more inclusive representation to be present among the cast.
Married At First Sight Franchise Could Benefit From Expanding
Not only could Married at First Sight benefit greatly by getting a new panel of experts, but the franchise as a whole could benefit from creating an LGBTQ+ Married at First Sight spinoff. At the very least, they should start matching queer couples. The show could gain a whole new following of fans, and the regular Married at First Sight show could run after the LGBTQ+ one ends, that way, fans don’t have to wait in between seasons. Married at First Sight has already proven that it’s a powerhouse show, and it could get even better with the addition of an inclusive spinoff.
The Married at First Sight franchise could help pave the way for more representation in reality TV by adding an LGBTQ+ spinoff. Lifetime Network could gain more notoriety were it to expand also. Instead of looking to Netflix or MTV for queer reality content, viewers could start looking to Lifetime more. Since the heterosexual Married at First Sight has not been coming up with many lasting matches, a new LGBTQ+ spinoff could change that, were the matches to be good ones with compatible people. A queer spinoff could breathe new life into the show that has been struggling to showcase healthy marriages.
While there may not be an LGBTQ+ Married at First Sight spinoff in the works right now, the franchise is likely feeling pressure to take note of the successes of queer shows. When The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On? expanded with The Ultimatum: Queer Love, fans of the show went crazy and were excited to have representation and to have a show with so much entertainment value. Were Married at First Sight to expand, it would certainly become a show a wider audience would watch, and it could boost viewership for the OG show.
