Farmer Wants a Wife: Season 1
  • Network: The CW
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 30, 2008
  • Season #: 1
Metascore
31 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 10 out of 14
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  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    30
    The American Farmer is more... American: another intermittently nasty competition dating show, with stunt challenges and a ritualized elimination at the end of every episode.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Misha Davenport
    25
    It's a few chickens short of a flock.
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    25
    Matt produces two products in surplus amounts: cheese and corn. And I'm not talking by-products of animal husbandry.
  4. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    40
    Farmer Wants a Wife feels about as "real" as "The Dukes of Hazzard," suggesting it should be viewed in much the same spirit.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Gillian Flynn
    42
    It's trying to be juicy, stupid fun, but it isn't smart enough.
  6. Slate
    Reviewed by: Troy Patterson
    40
    Farmer Wants a Wife moseyed onto the air last week bearing the best title of any pop-culture commodity of the year to date and, given its standard-issue inanity, a surprising subtextual richness.
  7. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Barry Garron
    40
    This farmer may want a wife but, in the end, the only guarantee is that he gets a reality show.
  8. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Storm
    30
    Viewers should figure out pretty quickly that manure is the main ingredient here, and though it might help the corn crop grow high, it's unlikely to do much to boost ratings at the struggling CW network.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    30
    Heavily produced, the series has some ratings potential by CW's chicken-feed standards but doesn't feel distinctive or titillating enough to keep 'em down on the farm.
  10. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Jennifer Frey
    30
    Finally, a reality show that doesn't even try to pretend it's not a big, cliched setup.
  11. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    30
    It's entirely paint-by-numbers, a formulaic dating contest colored in with all the too-familiar characters, from the butch Matt to each of the ladies, city gals looking for a real man who doesn't bother with all that metrosexual nonsense. This is reality by rote.
  12. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Ellen Gray
    30
    It's strictly entertainment. Assuming that's what you call it when one guy's ordering 10 aspiring brides through a series of ridiculously staged agricultural challenges to find the one who'll win the right to have her name mentioned in People magazine when they break up.
  13. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    30
    Despite its silly trappings, Farmer Wants a Wife is neither appalling nor unintentionally funny enough to merit sitting through yet another contrived dating show where the biggest prize would be for someone, anyone, to escape with a bit of their dignity intact.
  14. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    10
    American television networks have aired many ridiculous reality shows, but The CW's Farmer Wants a Wife is a master class in televised inanity.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.5 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 3 out of 12
  1. Melissa
    10
    How could they be so harsh on critizing this show? The only thing the critics are looking for is another version to the Bachelor or the Bachelorette but with all the drama in it. I loved watching 'Farmer Wants A Wife' and never missed an episode because I thought it was funny and that it was more of a REALITY tv show. The Bachelor, the Bachelorette, and all the other dating shows they have on tv have so much drama in it and have ridiculous challenges and the contestants constantly arguing because the wrong words or actions were said to each other. Reality doesn't have all the dramatic experiences that they choreograph into the shows a bit too much. 'Farmer Wants A Wife' was a wonderful, refreshing country twist to a Bachelor show and seemed to just be fun and enjoyable without being so fake.… Full Review »
  2. CherylC
    10
    I enjoyed the show and I too thought Brooke was the one from the beginning. Thanks for being different and offering a lifestyle that lots of people live day to day.… Full Review »
  3. CarolJ.
    10
    I felt the show was entertaining. Brooke was my choice from the beginning....they had a lot in common...I would like to see updates....it would be good to see if they really make it...just like I love New York or flavor of love.… Full Review »
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