The first episode of "The Bushwick Bachelor," a video series created to help Bushwick resident Elan Ashendorf find love, reached Youtube on Feb. 28.
Since then, the series has taken the internet by storm, appearing in People Magazine and the New York Times. Recently, its second episode aired May 13.
Between wearing masks and the fear of getting sick, the pandemic has made dating increasingly difficult.
“I was on Tinder and Hinge and I was just like ‘This is useless, none of this is working,’'' Ashendorf said.
Ashendorf and his friend Ashley Lagzial came up with a creative solution: “The Bushwick Bachelor” Youtube show.
The series models the format of ABC’s “The Bachelor.” Various female contestants compete to win the love of one man––in this case, Ashendorf.
Before the show, Ashendorf had never been in a serious relationship. Lagzial explained her friend only had “a few situation-ships, 6-8 months here and there.”
To recruit women to participate, Ashendorf hung posters around the neighborhood. He received around 35 submissions, which he narrowed down to nine contestants for the show.
“Everyone was very impressive,” Lagzial said.
In the first video, the group meets up at Queens Brewery to exchange introductions over pints of beer. Near the end of the show, he skips ABC's traditional rose ceremony. Instead, Ashendorf gifts cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer to the women he chooses to stay.
“The Bushwick Bachelor” will post future episodes to its Youtube, website and Instagram account.
