Anything for Love, Episode 8: Endings and New Beginnings

Hosts Mark and Claudia welcome us to Anything For Love and introduce us to Adam and Christine. They have dated for four years, but he has behaved very badly. Christine comes out and tells us that she is on the show because she knows Adam wants to do something to try and win her love. She recalls how they met and that she fell in love with him instantly. But he didn’t turn out to be the same person she thought he was and when he cheated on her, he tore her heart “into a million pieces.” He admits that he was horrible and she says it still hurts her. Now he claims his playing days are over and he wants to prove to her that he can be honest and faithful. He uses the term “silver tongue” a couple of times, which makes me cringe. She can see herself marrying him one day, but she just doesn’t trust him. Somehow, none of this rings real true to me. They are both saying the words, but neither one of them is terribly convincing.

Anyway, Adam says he has the perfect plan to prove to her that he really loves her. He comes out onstage and seems to be trying to sweet-talk her, but she is still very skeptical. He gets down on one knee, ring box in hand, and asks her to marry him. The audience ohhhhs and he opens the box to show her the nice rock he’s bought for her. She’s smiling a little, but before she can answer, Mark pops in and tells us that they set up a little test for Adam. We are treated to the videotaped evidence that Christine needs to consider before she gives him an answer.

He is taken to a club, and as long as the Anything For Love cameras are on him, he behaves just fine. But when the visible cameras leave, Adam doesn’t know that there are hidden cameras all over the place. A pretty blonde actress is also left behind as bait, and dog that he is, Adam just can’t resist. The actress (who remains nameless) tells us that she noticed him watching her right from the get-go. She is really hot and when she gets on the mechanical bull, she starts flirting with him big time. Initially, he is cool, but when she walks around the table, he gets really aggressive. He tells his pals that she is the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. He hugs and kisses her and tells her he is 100% single. When she asks for his phone number, he writes it on her hand. Ouch! So much for proving you’ve changed, pal.

Christine is not buying any of this, but Adam is trying to weasel out of it, telling her he knew it was a setup. Oh yeah, right! Mark is right on Adam’s case, telling Christine that Adam had a chance to prove he was a changed man but he blew it. She tosses back all the crap he fed the actress and Adam says he knows he looks like a bad guy right now, but it didn’t mean anything. Oh no? Claudia asks Christine if she wants to marry him and she says, “No.” The audience cheers, but he is really burned up and stomps off the stage. Mark jumps right in and explains that they really hoped that Adam would prove he had changed. Really? Christine tells Mark she’s become an independent woman now and doesn’t need to sacrifice herself for anyone. At this point, I start to get the feeling that Mark is not all that unhappy with the outcome of this one and just might be interested in getting to know Christine a little better himself! Hmmmmmm. Wouldn’t that be an interesting twist? [Especially since he’s married! - Assistant Editor]

The next segment could be called “Instant Wedding.” Eric’s player days were over the night he met Lisa. They have been together for a year and a half, but she is just about to graduate from college and that could mean she might move away. He’s just bought a house and is settled into a career. He knows their relationship is at a crossroads and he wants to marry her right here, right now!

Anything For Love rents a hotel room and sets it all up for a wedding. The invited guests have been told they are there for a surprise party. No one but Eric knows the truth at this point, and he is getting progressively more nervous with each minute that passes. He admits that if she says no, he will have to walk away forever. His only regret is that his mother can’t be there. But if nothing else, this show is accommodating, and they have flown his mother in from Mississippi. The guests arrive for what they think is a surprise party for Lisa.

Lisa’s parents come in and Eric asks her father’s permission to marry her. Dad is so happy he goes down on his knees, but doesn’t quite understand that the wedding is about to happen. They seem thrilled, but when Mark shows him the wedding set, Dad hesitates for a moment and then says, “Go for it!” Eric tells all the other guests what is going on, and some think it is a great idea while others aren’t quite sure that Lisa will go along with it. Her Dad says Lisa doesn’t like surprises. Eric thinks this could backfire on him. Phew - I don’t know about this one.

Finally, a cousin brings Lisa to the hotel on the pretense of running an errand. Lisa arrives at the hotel and meets Mark. He tells her she is in for the biggest surprise of her life. She walks through the curtain and is in shock as her potential sister-in-law puts a veil on her head and her father walks her down the aisle. Eric proposes on the spot and everyone holds their breath. After a pregnant pause (don’t get to use that term too often!), Lisa says yes and everyone (including me) cheers and they do the deed! Eric kisses the tearful bride, who tells us she never thought she’d get married wearing sandals, a sweater and tee shirt. What a great story! Congratulations to this brave and happy couple!

Tonight’s last segment features Brandy, who is in the audience, and Mike, who is crazy in love with her. They have been best friends for five years and their friendship is the most important thing in the world to him, but it is getting more and more difficult for him to control himself! He thinks she’s hot with a great body and beautiful eyes. He doesn’t want to offend her or scare her. All he wants to do is give her what she deserves – that is, everything. He tells us all of this while she is watching him on the big screen and then Mark asks Brandy if she wants them to bring him out on stage or tell him to go. She says, “Bring him out,” and we go to commercial.

After the break, Mike comes out of hiding and has his big moment. Mike says he wants to tell her that for five years he’s loved her as a person, but now he needs her to know that he is in love with her and wants to spend the weekend together. He wants to take it to another level. I guess so. She says she was hoping it was Mike and that “now is the time.” They kiss and the audience obviously approves. Wow. Mark tells them that the show is giving them an all expenses paid romantic weekend. Hey, there’s nothing better than developing a friendship first! How can you go wrong?

Donna Reynolds is a freelance writer and technical writer from Syracuse, NY. You can e-mail her at dlrturtle@earthlink.net.

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