Longmont Public Media is playing Cupid

Longmont Public Media, or LPM, is playing Cupid, taking aim at the hearts of Longmont with the new “LoCo in Love'' dating show. Hosted by LPM Executive Director Sergio Angeles, the format is a simple and candid interview with the single Longmonter. After an initial interview, LPM will help the contestant find three potential dates and circle back for a follow up interview.

“The next piece is getting more people to watch, to apply to be on the show if they’re single or if they’re interested in the contestant, to sign up and go on a date,” Angeles said.

The first episode premiered Nov. 26, featuring Longmont bachelor Shakeel Dalal. Dalal wasn’t sure what to think when he went into the interview, he said, but was determined to be his most honest and least filtered self and was impressed with the end result.

“The truth is I just don’t have a lot of success (in dating), so I was willing to try out the show because it seemed like an interesting, fun and unconventional way to try and meet some people,” Dalal said.

Dalal’s interview ranges through his professional career, personal interests and favorite Longmont spots before delving into some personal and romantic questions. Dalal said he has measured expectations for whatever may come from “LoCo in Love” based on his prior dating experience, but he’s willing to see what happens.

One of the appealing factors of being on the show is giving himself an opportunity to share more than what is allowed in the limited text and photos of modern dating apps, Dalal said. Unconventional as it is, Dalal felt that “LoCo in Love” offered more for romantic prospects than trying to condense as much positive information as possible into an abbreviated dating profile.

“Hopefully it presents more of myself to someone who might be interested in that,” he added. “It was an opportunity to be myself — the best version of myself — in hopes that someone finds that attractive.”

Dalal went into the interview totally blind, he said, not wanting to know what the plan was, what the questions would be or anything else — Dalal just wanted to participate in the candid interview and hope for an honest portrait of himself.

Angeles said the premiere episode has already led to at least two people signing up to be on the show, with one viewer eagerly signing up to go on a date with Dalal. LPM staff and the contestant haven’t decided if the date itself will be filmed, though Angeles said that option is on the table if everyone involved consents. Longmont singles interested in signing up for the show — or dating a contestant — can find the forms through the Longmont in Love website.

The concept of a dating show or column had been floating around for a few years, back when Angeles was working with the nonprofit news site The Longmont Observer, he said. The idea of connecting people through a newspaper, outside of modern dating apps, had an old-school appeal according to Angeles.

The idea floated around in the back of his head but never came to fruition, Angeles said. Avoiding some of the dramatic qualities of national shows like “The Bachelor” or “Love is Blind,” Angeles said he wanted to produce something local that would be fun, engaging and also humanize the dating show contestant.

“In an era where all we do is swipe up and down on social media or left and right on dating apps, it's a new way to see the humanity in people,” Angeles said. “These are actual people who have feelings, who have a life and are looking for something.”

“LoCo in Love” is open to all genders and sexualities, so long as they are single and looking for love, according to Angeles. The idea is to present some of the typical “first date” questions, giving locals a chance to learn more about the contestant and decide for themselves if they want to go on a date. 

Spinning off of “LoCo in Love,” LPM is also readying a series called “Humans of Longmont.” According to Angeles, LPM member Bob Rosinksy was helping film Dalal’s interview and thought being interviewed would be a lot of fun — just not as a dating contestant.

“We all really felt like we’d learned more about Shakeel than we had before, so we started asking Bob these questions about who he is,” Angeles said. “It goes back to that humanity aspect. Let's just meet one of our neighbors and get to know them. We want to hear the stories of people in Longmont, what brought them here and help connect them through a different medium.”

Community engagement is a big draw for LPM and its upcoming slate of content. Chef Glynn Hatcherson has debuted the first episode of his LPM cooking series, “Shark Wit Da Fork,” with more episodes to come. Real estate broker Sarah Morrow also has filmed more episodes of her real estate talk show, “Proper Tea Time,” Angeles said.

“We’re continuing to look for and tell different types of stories here,” Angeles said.

Though much of LPM’s content is from members like Morrow or Hatcherson, Angeles said there is a drive in the organization to create more original content produced by LPM staff. The media makerspace is open to new concepts and ideas from residents, especially if the members of the community are interested in learning how to make the shows themselves. LPM boasts nearly 200 members across a range of interests — audio and video production, photography and more — eager to share their knowledge and collaborate with others, Angeles said.

“We’ve built this awesome media community here and people want to teach and help other people make cool stuff,” Angeles said.