Cable's Oxygen network has announced that its new Mr. Romance reality-comedy series that will "search for the next Fabio" will premiere Monday. March 14 at 10PM ET/PT. Created by Gene Simmons of KISS fame, Mr. Romance will feature twelve beefy hunks competing for a $50,000 cash prize and a contract to appear on the covers of Harlequin romance books.
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A six episode series that will culminate with a special two-hour finale, Mr. Romance won't be a typical Top Model-like elimination show. Instead, with none of its contestants eliminated until the broadcast of its live finale, Mr. Romance's first five episodes will feature the twelve men attending a "romance boot camp" and preparing to compete in the finale's The Swan-like "man-pageant."
Held in front of a live, all-female studio audience, the "man-pageant" will feature all twelve contestants being judged by a panel that will include Simmons, TV personality Tina Malave, and Fabio himself.
In addition to appearing on Mr. Romance's judging panel, Fabio will also appear throughout the first five episodes of the series, serving as a role model of sorts and sharing his "inside knowledge and know-how" about the profession. The one-time boyfriend of Average Joe: Hawaii star Larissa Meek won't be the men's sole mentor however -- in addition to Fabio, the men will also be tutored by Cindy Guyer. Guyer, a romance model who has appeared on over 2,000 national magazines and book covers, will serve as Mr. Romance's "headmistress of the romance academy."
"We love this show because it’s funny, affectionate and sexy -- all at the same time." explained Debby Beece, President of Programming for Oxygen Media. "We want to paint a portrait of the quirky world of male modeling competitions... giving women a glimpse into the absurd and the serious side of what it takes to get on the cover of a Harlequin Romance Novel."