Australian 'Love on the Spectrum' participant to star in new TV series
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382811)
Rockingham, Australia
June 8, 2024 6:17am CST
There has been an entertaining series running in Australia called ‘Love on the Spectrum’. The shows follow people on the autism spectrum who are taking their first steps into the dating world and trying to form relationships with the opposite (or same) sex.
The young people have mentors who help them define what they’re looking for and also help them develop social skills. It’s an interesting show. The participants often have few filters, and the viewers must surely feel for the young adults struggling through their first ‘dates’.
One of the participants, Michael Theo, has inspired a new comedy drama called ‘Austin’. Austin, played by Michael, has autism and is on a quest to find out who his father is. Michael and his mother worked with the show’s writers to ensure the dialogue was authentic.
Ben Miller and Sally Phillips, Roy Billing and Gia Carides also star in the series. The first episode screens tomorrow and we just might watch this one.
Photo of some of our amazing gum/eucalyptus trees.
11 people like this
10 responses
@wolfgirl569 (136160)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Jun 24
That can help people understand better
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (209326)
• United States
8 Jun 24
I am quite sure Friend is on the spectrum, although when he was growing up people who were only mildly afflicted were not diagnosed as such. He still managed to get a college degree in a difficult major, and he does have friends as not all find his bull in a china shop personality off putting. He is a wonderful person in his own way, but most of what he does is to keep people in his corner. I guess he adapted fairly well to his shortcomings. The show sounds interesting.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (209326)
• United States
9 Jun 24
@JudyEv He hasn't had an easy time of it.
2 people like this
@AliCanary (4459)
•
8 Jun 24
It's good that people can see neurodivergent folks represented in media more and more. It really helps show that they are people, too, and that they just experience the world differently.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382811)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Jun 24
We have found the shows intriguing and certainly educational. Employable Me was about finding jobs for people with challenges. Not all were autistic. There were some with cerebral palsy, vision/hearing loss, and Downs Syndrome. I was also in awe of their parents.
2 people like this
@Orson_Kart (8334)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 24
There are loads of reality dating shows here in the UK, and we even show some of yours, in case we haven’t enough of our own. 
I never watch any of them. However, I did see a clip of one called, ‘Nevermets’. These are people of having only been ‘dating’ online but never met in the flesh. The couple I saw was a young 17 lad from the UK, who flew to India to meet his 28 yr old ‘girlfriend’, Veena. Apparently they had been ‘dating’ since they met in a chatroom when he was 15. Her family were very welcoming and cooked lots of food for him. I didn’t like any of it though as he preferred sausage rolls. 
Her father said, that the next time he came to visit, he must set a wedding date! 
There are so many things wrong with this, but it makes good tv. Apparently! 
I never watch any of them. However, I did see a clip of one called, ‘Nevermets’. These are people of having only been ‘dating’ online but never met in the flesh. The couple I saw was a young 17 lad from the UK, who flew to India to meet his 28 yr old ‘girlfriend’, Veena. Apparently they had been ‘dating’ since they met in a chatroom when he was 15. Her family were very welcoming and cooked lots of food for him. I didn’t like any of it though as he preferred sausage rolls. Her father said, that the next time he came to visit, he must set a wedding date!
There are so many things wrong with this, but it makes good tv. Apparently! 1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382811)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 24
I think you're right about most of the dating shows.
I never watch any of these normally but I watched one where mentors were helping challenged youngsters get employment. Then we went on to watch another programme about others trying to find friends/potential partners.
@psanasangma (7910)
• India
9 Jun 24
I need to check out for this show on Youtube
to understand better
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382811)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jun 24
It does give a good insight into those who are on the autism spectrum.
@LindaOHio (223055)
• United States
8 Jun 24
I'm glad that society has been working toward employing more autistic people and learning more about the challenges that they face. Have a good weekend.
2 people like this
