By Norjahan Makmon • UrbanWire
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Survivor was a phenomenal success and so was The Bachelor, so it was only a matter of time before someone came up with a combo of the 2 hit reality shows. The result is Outback Jack, a dating show set in the Australian Outback. 12 girls - whose main interests lie in shopping and grooming themselves - participate in what they think is just another dating show to win the heart of an Australian adventurer.

Decked in fancy evening gowns, they’re sent to Australia to meet the elusive bachelor known simply as Jack. They have no idea that they’re expected to skydive into an open field to meet him. Mind you, that’s only the first in a series of daunting tasks that have been set for them (fishing with their bare hands, diving off a cliff, getting friendly with snakes and crocodiles… you get the picture).

Diehard feminists must be thinking, “All these for a man?” But to the dozen contestants of Outback Jack, living in a bug-infested camp in the middle of nowhere is well worth it if the man is Jack, a certified hunk who makes his dramatic entrance against the setting sun.

The 28-year-old Australian, whose real name is Vadim Dale (the show doesn’t reveal this, though), is so adventurous he should either be on the Discovery Channel or work as a zookeeper. The guy excels at mountain climbing, swimming, horseback riding, skydiving, and the list just goes on.

His immense love for nature is the reason the girls have to get used to roughing it out in the wild, without the luxuries (like shower facilities, insect repellent and nail polish) they’re so accustomed to. You see, Jack wants a girl who will not feel threatened by his affections for the outback, so the girls will have to prove that they’re as capable of loving nature the way they love shopping.

While Outback Jack might sound oh-so-typical, it is anything but. Unlike the men from The Bachelor, Jack is a total gentleman. He may share a smooch or 2 with the girls, but it doesn’t go beyond that. This is 1 bachelor who seems more interested in getting to know the girls beyond their skimpy tank tops and sexy pouts.

For all his macho hobbies, he gets emotional every time he eliminates someone from the game, crying silently as he apologises to the unfortunate contestant. You almost want to cry along with him, if only because his chiselled features and dimpled cheeks are overwhelmingly beautiful. It’s very interesting to see how each girl tries to bond with Jack and to see whether or not he buys it. 1 contestant sings him a song she composed. She didn’t get eliminated the next morning.

The elimination process is another reason why Outback Jack is a step ahead of other reality shows. There’s no fixed style of eliminating contestants on the show. Host J.D Roberto appears without warning and explains how many contestants are to be eliminated, when and how. There’s just no telling what might happen to our contestants.

If you expect a lot of backstabbing and vicious gossiping between the girls, you’re in for a surprise. The girls are friendly with one another and their chemistry shows. You might even understand why Jack cries during eliminations. These girls make an endearing bunch and it’s easy to start rooting for them as they attempt their tasks.

The black sheep of the group, Marissa, is established in the 1st episode, where she had a heat stroke and commanded a large portion of Jack’s attention. The beautiful 23-year-old from Florida remains the show’s villain as she resorts to underhanded means [sneaking out in the middle of the night to seduce Jack, for one] to get Jack’s attention. The rest of the gang, however, manages quite well in spite of the minor hiccups and petty differences they have along the way.

Outback Jack may look cheesy if you’ve had an overdose of reality TV, but give it a chance. You might find that it isn’t as bad as it looks. It’s refreshing to watch a reality show with minimal catfighting, and the fact that it’s unpredictable is also another plus point. If all else fails, though, watch it for Jack. It’ll give you more of a reason to venture into the outback.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database.

Pictures courtesy of TVNZ.