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‘The Bachelorette’ vs. ‘FBoy Island’: Which One Is Better?

It’s time to address the question that has been haunting us for days. Which dating show is better: The Bachelorette or FBoy Island?

Luckily, on this week’s episode of the Stream On podcast (below), co-host Phil Mutz—AKA PureWow’s VP of News and Entertainment—sparks a much-needed debate and explains why FBoy Island is superior to The Bachelorette. The conversation was inspired by the new episodes of The Bachelorette season 19 (which premiered this week) and FBoy Island season 2 (which debuted the first three episodes on HBO Max).

The two shows are sorta similar—they both feature contestants who are trying to win someone’s attention by embarking on lavish dates. But unlike the contestants on The Bachelorette (starring Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey), the FBoy Island cast members aren’t looking for an engagement and can walk away at the end in exchange for cash.

“They’re not just pursuing an engagement ring, like on The Bachelorette where everyone wants to get engaged at the end of this,” Mutz says. “These are people who are like, ‘Yeah, maybe we’ll date after this.’”

the bachelorette fboy island stream on
ABC/Craig Sjodin & Hassen Salum/HBO Max

Plus, FBoy Island (hosted by Nikki Glaser) recognizes that the whole concept is ridiculous and unrealistic. “It just feels fun and joyful and self-aware and silly,” Mutz adds. “This is a dating show where a bunch of men are trying to compete for three women. The whole concept is ridiculous, and they acknowledge that. And that’s what makes it bearable and fun.”

When the show’s tone is compared to that of The Bachelorette, the difference is even more stark. “I think watching FBoy Island at the same time [as The Bachelorette] is ruining it for me because that show is so funny and self-aware, and The Bachelorette takes itself so freaking seriously,” he says.

One thing’s for sure: He’s not wrong.

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greta

Senior Editor

Greta Heggeness is a California-based editor at PureWow and has been writing about entertainment since 2015. She covers everything from awards shows to exclusive celebrity...