NBC is getting a Regency era dating show that’s like Bridgerton meets The Bachelor

NBC has a new dating show called The Courtship. The premiere is set for March 6. For the most part, it’s like the other dating shows: a bachelorette, in this case a beautiful woman named Nicole Remy from Seattle, is selecting from a group of eligible hot young men to be her forever love. The men will perform various tasks to compete for Nicole’s hand and there’splenty of smooching, flexing, drama and tears to go around. However, this time, all of that will be done with a Regency era backdrop. Nicole, her suitors and her court will travel ‘back in time,’ dressing the part and acting the part (to an extent) for the duration of the show. Her court consists of her parents, sister and best friend who will also appear in period dress. Only they get brought in from the beginning and get to have their say about everything. Oh, and when Nicole nixes a suitor, he gets sent back to present day. This sounds wild.

Say salutations to Nicole Remy, a modern woman from Seattle in search of her own Duke of Hastings.

This Valentine’s Day, EW and PEOPLE can exclusively reveal first look images and a new trailer for The Courtship, NBC’s upcoming Regency-era dating reality series. Formerly titled Pride & Prejudice: An Experiment in Romance, the series debuts on March 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

A noble cross between Bridgerton and The Bachelorette, The Courtship follows Remy as she embarks on the ultimate fantasy: the leading lady will be transported back to Regency-era England in the hopes of finding love amongst 16 eligible suitors.

Against the grandiose backdrop of a 19th century castle nestled in the rolling hills of the English countryside, Remy and her suitors will swap modern-day sensibilities for grand-courting gestures of the past, wooing each other on carriage rides and at masquerade balls.

The suitors will battle it out through archery and fencing, but the competitive sports are no match for the formidable challenge of receiving the seal of approval from Remy’s trusted court of advisors: her parents Claude and Claire, sister Danielle, and best friend Tessa.

Each week, suitors will attend a farewell ball to determine whether their journey in romance continues or a carriage awaits them, returning them to the modern world of swiping right. Writer and broadcaster Rick Edwards will host the series and guide the suitors on their journeys, with special guests set to appear.

[From Entertainment Weekly via DListed]

I’m here for this. It’s bonkers in all the right ways. First and foremost, I love the modernized interpretation of period costumes. They’re so colorful and vibrant. Second, the competitive tasks will be far more entertaining. And I love the court weighing in from the get-go. Nothing will knock the swagger out of some of these suitors quicker than family and friends’ opinions. Nicole may be trying to be nice, but her court won’t be. That’s why they’re there. They don’t show much of Mom and Dad in the trailer, but I hope that keeps these guys on their toes. Plus: A castle. Things are always better with a castle, right? So even if you’re not into the show, you can live out your fantasy of living in a castle wearing cool clothes.

This is inspired. Whoever answered the “Someone give me my Bridgerton!” call from NBC with this idea deserves all the raises they’re about to get. Obviously, this high school play realism won’t be incorporating the stifling unfair societal system that was actual courtship during the Regency period. I don’t think anyone would sign up for that, regardless of how pretty the dresses are. So they get the best of all worlds: all the draping of another time, with the sanitized and romanticized version of chivalry, and without becoming outcasts for banging in the library. It’s a new take on The Bachelor format that’s been done to death, so I say huzzah! May the best man win.

There are two things I am most curious about. The first is the guest stars. Will that be more people for Nicole’s court or like, people who’ve actually appeared in Regency dramas? Maybe historians will come to correct them. The second is when they take the guys back to the modern world. Will they do a Willy Wonka psychedelic tunnel sort of thing that deposits the jilted lover on a London street corner in riding britches? I have got to talk one of my single friends into doing this show and making me a member of their court. Maybe I can wait until The Engagement, set in the Medieval Era, where the betrothed gets a corner of Normandy in the deal.

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16 Responses to “NBC is getting a Regency era dating show that’s like Bridgerton meets The Bachelor”

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  1. Becks1 says:

    I have never watched an episode of the Bachelor in my life (or any other dating show that I can think of for that matter, maybe Singled Out back in the day) but I will watch the hell out of this. Period dress, a castle, the family weighing in on every interaction?? It sounds so delightfully cheesy and escapist. And it premieres a few weeks before the new season of Bridgerton, which is perfect timing for NBC.

    • Case says:

      LOL Becks, my thought exactly! I have zero interest in dating shows, have never watched The Bachelor. But this looks like so much fun. I love Regency era, Jane Austen type stuff.

  2. Lucky Charm says:

    I don’t normally watch dating shows (I’ve seen probably a total of five episodes in the last 20 years) but this actually sounds intriguing. I may just have to watch it.

  3. Ipetgoat2 says:

    Whoever pitched this is a genius. I don’t watch either of these shows but that’s a sure to be successful premise

    • HelloDolly! says:

      Yes, this is such a unique mixed-genre show! I mean, they are making literal the performative aspects of reality television—if reality television is a performed version of reality or “the real,” why not change the setting and time as well? Brilliant.

  4. Abby says:

    I haven’t watched the bachelor in years, although I used to watch every episode.

    But. I WILL WATCH THIS. I think this looks so fun and probably will be entertaining.

    Plus I’m really missing Bridgerton. Can’t wait for March 26.

  5. BW says:

    PBS (BBC?). did The Regency House Party back in 2004. It’s worth a watch. 5 men and 5 women lived as Regency era people and attempted to hook up. In the end I think one of the gentleman fell for the governess (which would have been a huge scandal back in Regency era), and 2 of the servants became a couple. Bathing became a real problem as I believe the Countess got the first hot bath and then everyone afterwards had to share her used bath water.

    • LWT says:

      I remember this! They did a few versions: Regency, Victorian, and then there was an American frontier version as well. It was a lot of fun to watch people have to acurately live out the lives of their fictional counterparts. Spend the whole damn day making a single loaf of bread. All the kids in the same classroom, regardless of age. And yes, the shared, filthy bathwater. It was memorable and educational.

  6. Genevieve says:

    I’m in, but only if they have to dance a quadrille and drink ratafia.

  7. JoiLuv says:

    Yaaasss! I’m here for it! Especially with a leading black girl I love it.

  8. Cee says:

    I need this. I hope someone buys the right for Latin America!

  9. Christine says:

    I guess I’m in the minority that I find this incredibly cringe.

    • amilou says:

      Same. And is that yellow prom dress what they’re passing off as regency fashion?
      Because NO.

    • Lionel says:

      I think it looks entertaining, but I also think we’ve got to stop calling this (selling this as) “reality” TV. There’s nothing real about this clearly scripted nonsense!