Reality Bites Lisa Loeb Again

by Laura Evans

DALLAS — Looks like Dallas native, singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb has joined the reality TV phenomena. Her new show, #1 Single, which premiered January 22 on E!, lets us partake in her quest to find love, romance and marriage. Having been in two relationships, both lasting six years, Loeb finds herself (GASP!) in her mid-thirties and single. Not having much luck in Los Angeles, she moves to New York City to better her odds at finding Mr. Right.

As we all now, Lisa Loeb hit it big in 1994 with her single “Stay” on the Reality Bites soundtrack. Since then Loeb has released seven albums, including Grammy-nominated FireCracker (1999), and most recently, The Very Best of Lisa Loeb, which is scheduled for release January 24. She also had a culinary series on The Food Network in 2004 called Dweezil and Lisa that combined the couple’s love of food and music.

Those worried about Loeb’s reality TV show need not be. Unlike other celebrity reality shows, i.e. The Anna Nicole Show and The Simple Life with Paris Hilton and Nicole Ricci, #1 Single is not just another train wreck waiting to happen. Instead, Loeb is quite charming, funny and open about her life and relationships. Viewers not only see what it is like to be single in the city; they also get a glimpse into Loeb’s celebrity life of performing at concerts, writing new songs, and hanging out with other musician’s and actors.

The premiere of #1 Single holds nothing back. We follow Loeb as she shops and talks bikini waxes with her sister, discusses chicken cutlets (not the ones you eat, mind you) with her gal pal Stephanie, goes on an awkward and embarrassing blind date with a guy who thought it was a good idea to serenade Lisa with an awful rendition of "Stay" on a karaoke machine, and has a heart-to-heart with her mom about being single. And the cameos were already underway, with Loeb talking about love with friend and actor Adam Goldberg, and meeting actress Illeana Douglas.

It doesn’t look like #1 Single will be one of those shows where you have to change the channel out of absolute embarrassment for the person on the screen. Instead, Loeb seems quite heart-felt and sincere, and seems to be winning audiences with her quirky sense of humor and down-to-earth-nature. Who knows, maybe we’ll finally get a chance to see what she looks like without her trademark cat-eye glasses.

Check out #1 Single on E! Sunday nights at 9 p.m.