After two years of forced loneliness, several hundred singles wanted to take part in the reality show “5 guys for me”, which lands on TVA.
But before getting out the cameras, nine women had to be found among the 600 who had applied. And for the men, the Sphere Media team had even more pruning to do: it had to select 45 suitors by going through more than 2000 forms!
The concept of the show is simple. Every week, a woman welcomes five strangers into her home. These gentlemen saw her before knocking on her door, but not her. At the end of each day, she must eliminate a candidate so that only one remains at the end of the process.
Narrated by actress and humorist Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, the daily 5 guys for me is the Quebec adaptation of the concept Five Guys a Week produced by Label 1 of Fremantle. Britons have seen episodes and praised the version here saying it’s the best it’s been done so far, it was pointed out when watching four episodes on Thursday.
Joel Lemay / QMI Agency
In this photo: Simon Sachel (director), Julie Bélanger, Anne-Élisabeth Bossé (narrator), Jean-Pierre Marcotte (producer) and Robert Montour (Executive producer).
The production didn’t want people who just want to get on TV or blow up their Instagram following. We were looking for people who were authentic and sincere in their desire to fall in love.
“I recognize myself in shows like 5 guys for me, If we loved each other Where Love is in the meadow because I like the real world, people who show their vulnerability. I greatly respect this very noble quest to seek love and I believe that it is a program that will do good, ”mentioned Anne-Élisabeth Bossé, underlining the depth of the exchanges.
Here, there is no question of making fun of the shortcomings of the participants as in other meetings of the genre. The tone is rather funny and the narrator is complicit with women, in a concept borrowing from the codes of romantic comedies.
“I don’t want people to have bad surprises. Embarrassing situations are highlighted, but [on n’attaque pas] individuals, mentioned Anne-Élisabeth. People are not afraid to show themselves for real, that’s what is inspiring. They are honest in their desire to meet someone, “added the one who is very busy filming the new judicial daily Indefensiblewhich will be broadcast on TVA this fall.
Couples in front of and… behind the camera
It has been indicated that there will be competition between the guys on certain weeks. A man also arrived with his dog… and it went wrong. For the record, four couples were formed in front of the camera and, inspired by all these beating hearts, relationships were also born within the technical team.
And rumor even has it that the nurse who was doing the COVID tests on the set succumbed to the charms of a handsome technician. “We, when we create love, we create it everywhere,” laughed producer Jean-Pierre Marcotte.
For the first week, it is Janie, 35, who welcomes five suitors to her home. Single for five months, this translation project manager is close to her family and has a child in shared custody. The guys who move in with her are very different. She might have picked the right one, from what we hear, but no spoiler here.
The ages of the participants vary between 30 and 44 years old. In the UK, the concept evolved and was renamed Five Dates a Week to promote diversity.
Directed by Simon Sachel and Brian Desgagnés, the reality show 5 guys for me will be broadcast Monday to Thursday, at 7 p.m., starting April 11, on TVA.