NBC Bets On Love

NBC is hoping the countless single heterosexual men and women in America will tune into two new shows that demonstrate the many facets of modern love and what people do to find it. Or should we say lust. Based in Chicago, one new show, Friends with Benefits, stars five young adults searching for love, and satisfying lust cravings, sometimes, all in the same night.

The show comes from Executive Producers Brian Grazer and David Nevins of Parenthood and Arrested Development, Director David Dobkin of Wedding Crashers, and writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber of 500 Days of Summer. The storyline follows the hunt for love by the five protagonists: Ben, Sara, Hoon, Aaron and Riley, who often act as more than friends. If you’ve ever gone on a date, been disappointed, and then texted your friends with benefits partner from the bathroom to plan a post-date rendezvous, you’ll likely cozy up to this half-hour sitcom.

Another new show, with an impressive cast of producers and directors, is Love Bites. However, despite the impressive team and common theme, the acting seems forced and the writing predictable. Based in San Francisco, the one-hour drama from Cindy Chupack of Sex and the City and Working Title Films (Love Actually and Bridget Jones) is a new show about the fibs people make and games people play for love and sex, from fiances learning to use sex toys to pretending to be a virgin. The show stars Becki Newton, Greg Grunberg and Constance Zimmer with Executive Producers Chupack, Marc Buckland of My Name Is Earl and Felicity, Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan of Love Actually and Bridget Jones films, and Shelley McCrory. Both are new for the 2010-2011 season.