Indigenous dating show Rezervations for Two premieres on APTN and APTN+ on Monday, June 15, and casting is open for season two.
“Lovable singles of all identities go on blind dates, guided by two iconic besties who serve fashion, humour and heartfelt dating advice,” the network says of its new show.
Cabin Radio spoke with co-hosts Kairyn Potts and Scott Wabano about how they got involved in the show and their favourite parts from filming.
“I always like to say it was an act of reclamation, as we’re kind-of reclaiming our roles as two-spirit people in the community where they help people find love,” said Wabano.
“It’s exciting for us to watch the show back now, because it’s like watching it through a fresh perspective,” said Potts, talking about the sometimes 15-hour shooting days over the two weeks of filming.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
Potts said the show is a “first of its kind.” He said it felt exciting to build something that he didn’t see in film or media growing up.
“It’s always exciting to get to witness something that wasn’t there before,” said Potts. “For me, watching a healthy representation of Indigenous love in a popular media format was just something that never really happened.”
Potts said he and Wabano were cast as hosts for the show after a pop culture podcast they started together took off.
“One of the outcomes of that success was that a lot of people were seeing Scott and I as a duo that were for hire for all types of hosting,” said Potts.
Advertisement.
Advertisement.
When they got the call for Rezervations for Two, Potts said APTN was “just looking for the final kind of puzzle piece” for a show that had been in production for a few years.
“Scott and I are just matchmakers trying to set up these bachelors and bachelorettes on some really fun dates and see if they find their forever snag,” he said.
Wabano liked the “really wide range of representation” the show featured in its first season, and wants to see that in future seasons.
“Indigenous communities are very diverse and it was really nice to have different identities and different individuals who showcased all of the beauty that is Indian Country,” Wabano said.
The show is casting for its second season, which will be filmed in Toronto in July. Potts said while the show is open to any gender, the producers are hoping for more Indigenous men to audition.
“There might be a misconception that it’s a queer dating show just because Scott and I are queer, but that’s not the case,” said Potts.
“We have people who are guests on the show who come from all different genders and sexual orientations, and it’s just really a show about showing love in all of its forms.”
Jasmine Nasogaluak contributed reporting.
