CBS is treading into potentially controversial reality TV territory again.

The network has ordered a new series from the producers of "Top Chef" that puts lovelorn singles into arranged marriages.

The show introduces four adults in the 25-45 age range who are eager to get married but have been unsuccessful in their search for a mate. Their friends and family select a spouse for them, and the newly paired couple exchange marital vows. The series follows their marriages.

The rest of the details for the project, whose early working title is "Arranged Marriage," are being kept under wraps.

The series is from Jane Lipsitz and Dan Cutforth of Magical Elves, which launched "Project Runway" on Bravo and produces the network's "Top Chef."

It is the second series green-lighted by CBS' new reality chief, Jennifer Bresnan, after the recent order for "Block Party," a competition among neighboring families.

The series order for "Marriage" shows that CBS is not shying away from reality projects that might draw a few pointed editorials in the wake of the network's previous envelope-pushing social experiment, the fall 2007 series "Kid Nation."

"Marriage" also will inevitably draw comparisons to another arranged-marriage reality show, Fox's infamous "Married by America."

The 2003 series drew fire from conservative groups, and one bachelor party scene containing pixelated nudity resulted in the Federal Communications Commission's slapping Fox stations with a $1.18 million fine (which was reduced last month to $91,000).

But CBS' project differs from the earlier show in key ways.

In "Married," couples were paired by viewers voting from home and then sequestered in a hotel to learn more about each other. CBS' "Marriage" presents itself as a documentary series about finding true love, a show that extends the Eastern tradition of an arranged marriage (where friends and family select the mate) into the West.

Another difference is that on "Married," despite the pundit outcry, nobody on the show actually ended up getting hitched. On CBS, couples will really tie the knot.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

OMG, this could be the biggest mess EVER

Everyone has lost they gatdamn minds.

As long as there is no (and will not be) kids involved, let them go ahead and fuck up their own lives.

This is entertainment? Dayum....its like we are using old school Roman Gladiators again.....

Sounds great. Just don't allow the gays to marry, because we don't want to tarnish the sacred institution or anything. But this is fine.

I'll try it.....with her:

[Edited 2/2/09 11:58am]

Graycap23 said:

First television show about arranged marriage turns into the Family Feud...

I am SO there...

There's nothing I love more than watching a good, hearty trainwreck...

RenHoek said:

ESPECIALLY about straight life!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

ESPECIALLY!!!

This show is gonna be so awful!

CalhounSq said:

...and everyone is going to be watching it!!!

This is truely disturbing but that isn't gonna stop me from watching it.

RenHoek said:

yep

There's nothing wrong with arranged marriages

LiquidGold said:

oh yes there is.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

statistically, they last longer than love matches

LiquidGold said:

Only because those people are whipped into submission by culture and expectations, not because it's a better model or more real.

.
[Edited 2/3/09 10:52am]

this reality tv thing is here to stay.....but they are really running out of ideas. it's cheaper though. No actors to pay enormous fees...

guess i can't blame them

JustErin said:

yeah, if they volunteer for it...then it's their own fault!

Oh god

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I don't know about that, man. I've known two people who had arranged marriage and they both had the choice not to be arranged and they did it and felt it was the best decision they made. They were very convincing

damn, television networks have stooped this low??? what's next? a reality series for 20 year old men who have a fetish for fucking women in their 80's??? Bullshit.

Actually, it's kinda cool that it'll put a dent in that whole "sanctity of marriage" notion - I mean if they're turning it into a fucking game show, how sacred can it be??

CalhounSq said:

Marriage lost any claim to sanctity or sacredness -if it ever really had one to begin with -ages ago, and with no help at all from the queer communities.

luv4u said:

I'll never understand how people actually take pleasure in watching others fuck up.

That's what's really fucked up to me.