Hooking up, rolling eyes, smacking faces on the television screen

Though I'm as far removed from the life of a single female Manhattanite, I felt drawn to ABC's newest filler Hooking Up. The premise is simple: cameras (and producers, don't forget them) follow single women in Manhattan as they use online dating services to find the elusive Mr. Right. What annoyed me was a common world view shared by most of the women in this episode -- the post-Oprah, post-romantic-comedy over-self-aware belief that love is this nearly unattainable continuous state of euphoria. What they seem to want is beyond the "happily ever after" of previous generations.

While they still don't realize that "falling in love" can't be a permanent thing, they make more of a drama out of finding love than necessary. As one date aptly told one of the women, "It's not that serious." This was directed at the episode's designated bitch, whose callous heart was unveiled at the end.

Let me set these women straight. Love is not complicated nor is it simple. The feelings you feel when you first fall in love will fade but will be replaced with something I think is better -- a more "mature" kind of love. Those seeking love actively will rarely find it. Love is something that just happens, often to the surprise of both parties.

Here's some more unsolicited advice. To the woman who didn't like a date glancing at her chest: Don't complain when you wear a tattoo in your cleavage and wear outfits highlighting said cleavage. To the woman from South Dakota dating a stereotypical New Yorker: I hope you like running your fingers through gel-filled hair. To the doctor who deliberately obscured her profession and real first name to who appeared to be a genuinely nice guy (and also a doctor): Get over yourself, and it's not that serious for you, too. To all of you: Deep down you know you live in Manhattan because you want to make a "living" as a single New York woman with all the "woe is me" sophistication that comes with it.