Sabrina Jalees Admits That Hosting FARMING FOR LOVE Has Grown on Her in a Much Deeper Way Than Expected

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede As the host of the new unscripted dating series FARMING FOR LOVE, Sabrina Jalees feels as if she had a very specific job, beyond the typical TV tasks. “I think my role in this was truly just to be everybody’s wingman,” said Jalees, a well-known Canadian comedian and writer, whose new series debuts Sunday, May 28, at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app. With Jalees on wingman duty, there’s sure to be a bumper crop of romance, as five single Canadian farmers invite a group of daters to live and work alongside them, immersing themselves in a series of farm chores, group activities, and intimate one-on-one dates, with the ultimate goal of finding their life partners. “It really is funny, because I feel like people’s first impressions, when you say ‘farmer,’ it’s almost like they have these cartoonish ideas of what it is,” Jalees said. “And the first surprise, I think, for everyone who is going to watch the show is that these are cute, hot, contemporary human beings. They’re really beautiful. They don’t have a piece of straw in their mouth. They really are the prizes that you want them to be in terms of dates.” But that said, Jalees – who currently also serves as a judge on CTV Comedy Channel’s ROAST BATTLE CANADA – admitted that she had some questions when first approached about the hosting gig on FARMING FOR LOVE, which is based on a long-running and successful hit format that exists in other countries around the world. “I’ve been living in L.A. for the past decade, and I’ve been really focused on writing, and sort of marching down that path,” Jalees said. “So when I first heard that there was a dating show, and they were interested in me hosting, I was like, ‘you know what? That’ll be a great job for someone else, but not me.’ But then they told me more about the show, and that it’s truly the most legitimate, successful dating show out there. It has produced 197 marriages, and 480 kids!” Given those impressive numbers, Jalees knew she had to give FARMING FOR LOVE a closer look. “I quickly realized that this isn’t just some dating show – it’s a profound experience and journey,” she said. “I’ve been married for going on 11 years, we just passed the decade mark, and starting that chapter of my life was by far the best decision I ever made. So this really has been a lot deeper than I thought the job would be initially. It really was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had working on a project.” Nonetheless, rejection is rejection, even on a TV show, so has it been difficult for Jalees to watch when hopeful daters get sent home by farmers, who are forced to be picky in this circumstance? “That part really sucks,” Jalees admitted. “I think a lot of my job also was not just on camera, but off camera, being a human in those moments. I have been dumped. I have been heartbroken. I’ve been blindsided. I thought I was building something with someone who was building something with someone else. It can feel like all is lost. So I definitely made sure to talk with people on their way out, whenever I had the chance, to let them know that this is not the end of the story, it’s just another part of the beginning. You need this to happen so that you’re still available to meet the person that really gets you, that you connect with, and they’re out there.” Jalees then quickly added, “and I don’t think that’s bull—! I think that’s real!” Ultimately, FARMING FOR LOVE is about planting connections that could grow into something that’s life-changing. “This is very real, and the stakes are high,” Jalees said. “I felt that way when I was meeting my wife, like, how do I convince this person that I am her ‘forever?’ The rewards really couldn’t be higher, and it also could be lower than low if she walks away. But that’s the electric, fascinating energy around love. It was really fun to be along for the ride with all these farmers and daters. As I got deeper into the experience, I really fell in love with the whole thing.” billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv