NOW Magazine Why we really needed reality dating shows in 2020 Because casual dating was a no-no this year, reality shows became essential viewing for those missing love connections By Glenn Sumi Love Is Blind's Giannina (Gigi) sums up how singles felt about dating in 2020. Since casual dating, sex and even flirting with strangers were mostly forbidden this year because of the pandemic, those of us who weren’t in steady relationships had to find a suitable replacement. Enter the cheesy reality dating show, which maintained its guilty pleasure status but during lockdown suddenly became a way to experience, vicariously, the highs and lows of romance.