There are 9 norske deltakere (participants) in an upcoming reality tv-show series that Nordisk Film TV will present about Norwegian Americans looking for kjærlighet (love).

Single Norwegian Americans from the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area, San Fransisco, and Seattle areas were encouraged to send in a søknad (application) to be a deltaker in the show.  Criteria for the selection was very little.  Whether one´s parents or great great grandparents were from Norway or whether one speaks Norwegian or not makes little difference.  As long as the kandidater had Norwegian blood and convinced the judges that he or she has a strong personal connection to Norway and was genuinely looking for kjærlighet, they were good kandidater.

I really like this statement from MPR, Minnesota Public Radio, the organization that helped promote the show and channel the søknader:

´Norwegian Americans, this is your chance to reverse the mistakes of your ancestors who left behind the country that now enjoys the highest living standard in the world.´

4 Norwegian Americans were chosen.  One of them, Bjorn Carlson, graduated a couple years later than me from Northfield High School and attended St. Olaf College at the same time as me.  Actually, my mother babysat his dad and siblings 40 years ago.

So the way the show works is just like other reality TV shows you´ve seen, such as the Bachelor.  Last Thursday Norwegian TV aired an episode which introduced the 4 Norwegian Americans.  Single Norwegians were then encouraged to go online and send date requests with an explanation of why they want to date him or her (and upload a video of themselves as well).  Each of the 4 Norwegian Americans will select 8 Norwegians who they want to get to know better.  The 32 Norwegians will be flown to the U.S. all at the same time to go on dates with the Norwegian Americans in or near their hjemsteder (hometowns).  Some will be group dates and some single-Bjorn Carlson will take his date(s) to the tennis court and to Lake Calhoun for some time on the water.  The Norwegians will be here in the U.S. for several weeks.

As the show proceeds, the Norwegians will be voted off of the show by the viewers, one by one. Finally, the 4 Norwegian Americans will select which Norwegian they want to continue to see.  The Norwegian Americans will then be flown to Norway-all expenses paid-to get to know their selected Norwegian better-on his or her own turf.

Here is a link to the article from my hometown newspaper, the Northfield News.  The writer interviews Carlson and his family.

And here is a link to a local Northfield website that has a video of a newscaster in the Twin Cities area explaining the show.

And finally, a link to an Aftenposten article discussing the details of the show.

It should be fun following the developments of this show!  Especially with a familiar face on it!