James Reveals How He Felt About Competing For Love On Temptation Island - Exclusive
It's easy to tune into shows like "The Bachelor" and say, "Well, I would never make that decision," or, "Why can't she see how awful he is?!" But in reality, it's incredibly difficult to know how we would behave if ever given the chance to compete on a reality dating show. The idea of competing for love is odd but entertaining, and it begs the question of what it's really like to find yourself in such a unique environment. With Season 4 of USA's "Temptation Island" attracting viewers due to its unique premise and engaging cast members, we just had to find out what it was really like to be on the show.
"Temptation Island" is not your typical dating show. Established couples make their way to a gorgeous setting to put their love to the ultimate test, as hopeful singles mingle and merge their way into the hearts and minds of seemingly dedicated partners. To say it's a unique setup is an understatement, and we had to ask competitor James Patterson what it was really like to compete for love. Patterson is easy on the eyes, a self-described "Army brat" who is charming and easy to talk to — the recipe for a perfect guy, right? Well, Patterson's experience on "Temptation Island" wasn't all smooth sailing, as he revealed to us in an exclusive interview.
James 'underestimated' the dedication that the established couples had for one another
USA's "Temptation Island" stands out on the dating show circuit — putting established couples to the test with all these gorgeous singles dancing around them is a sight to see, and for James Patterson, the experience wasn't as much of a "walk in the park" as he imagined. In our exclusive interview, Patterson told us that competing for love came with some surprises, as he thought the experience would be easier.
"I underestimated the bond between the couples," Patterson said. "Beforehand, coming to the island, I thought that it would be a walk in the park. The girls would see me and they'd be feeling me right away, and I really wasn't thinking about the other dudes, but when you get into the situation, you've really got to play your cards right, play your game right, and stay in it for the long haul because it's not going to be that easy."
Patterson recalled that trying to win over women who already have boyfriends was incredibly challenging, as they were already "heavily invested" in their relationships. "At the same time, you're going against 11 other dudes," Patterson continued. "I would say I underestimated it, but it was interesting for sure."
There isn't a show like Temptation Island on television, according to James
While competing for love on "Temptation Island" wasn't nearly as seamless as James Patterson initially thought, the reality star told us that USA's dating show is incredibly unique in what it does for the established couples. When asked what sets the show apart, Patterson revealed that it was the therapy work with host Mark L. Walberg that really hit home, as the contestants spent ample time trying to work out their differences.
"People watching the show on the outside, they're thinking, 'Is this really real?' Yes. These couples come to this island and they're really trying to figure themselves out and figure out if their partner is the one for them," Patterson told us. "They're doing that through meeting the [singles], talking with Mark, and watching how their partner acts on the other side. That's what sets it apart to me."
Telling us that "there's no show like it," Patterson revealed that the "journey" that they all went on forced the contestants competing for love to grow in ways that were unexpected. But what does Patterson's love life look like now? We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
You can catch new episodes of "Temptation Island" on USA on Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET.