Netflix's Perfect Match debuted on February 14, 2023, quickly gaining traction as fans watched favorites from reality TVs' past compete to find love. Or, as Nick Lachey puts it, their perfect match. Unlucky-in-love singles from shows like Love Is Blind, Too Hot to Handle, and The Circle, joined together in Panama to see if they could find someone to (hopefully) spend the rest of their lives with.
For The Circle Season 1 champion, Joey Sasso, that person was Kariselle (Kari) Snow. TheThings spoke with Joey about his reality TV appearances and where his relationship with Kari stands now.
Hey Kari, I Think I Wanna Marry You
Through compatibility challenges, dates, and temptation, Perfect Match put contestants through the emotional wringer. Couples were ever-changing as new stars were brought into the picture, turning heads as they waltzed through the villa doors.
Despite Kari having almost been Chased away, it was Joey and Kariselle whose relationship remained consistent, steadily growing throughout the show. So much so, in fact, that during the season finale, Joey got down on one knee and put a ring on Kari's finger.
We wanted to know whether Joey foresaw himself finding such a strong love on the show.
"Absolutely not! I expected to go and date and have fun. In the back of my mind these last few years I have been really wanting to take those next steps in life and get to a place where I was ready to settle down. I come from a huge family where everybody is married and in love and happy, so of course I would want those things for myself, but I never expected that it would come from being on this show."
While the couple beamed on FaceTime with Joey's mom before the credits rolled, when the screen went dark, their relationship changed, ultimately leading to the pair parting ways.
So, that begs the question:
Where Does Joey And Kari's Relationship Stand Now?
"I have nothing but the utmost love and respect for Kari... She is truly a one of a kind person with so much talent and a wicked big heart... Relationships in general are extremely hard... Going on a television show to put yourself out there for the world is a completely different sort of pressure. I’m not complaining, I know what I signed up for, but with that being said one thing I hold very close to me is my right to my privacy... So you will never see me saying anything negative about her or our relationship because it’s something that was hugely personal to both of us. Things did not work out. That’s life sometimes, but I know that we both have so much love and respect for each other."
The perfect relationship with your ex doesn't exis-...
Joey's Stints With Reality TV
Reality television shows typically fall under 1 of 4 categories: dating, gaming, competition, and family. Joey began his journey with the genre on Netflix's The Circle, walking away with the $100,000 grand prize.
Opting for a competition show from the jump, we asked Joey what made him want to apply for a dating show.
"The opportunity for the show came up when I was in a transitional period of being newly sober and had just become comfortable exploring opportunities that I may have been opposed to in the past. I never saw myself doing dating shows because I'm such a private person when it comes to relationships but as I thought it through it became clear that if I wanted to have an authentic experience on the show and gain something from it, I would have to hold nothing back and push myself past my comfort zone. I can now look back after watching everything back and say I am pleased with my experience, my personal growth and grateful to have learned so much about myself and share the moments that I did with Kari and everyone on the cast."
Success in the dating world - even on television - is predicated on authenticity and trust. Even on The Circle, a show where deception can trump honesty, Joey played as himself.
"For me that was the only way to play the game. The idea of being anybody else never even entered in my brain. I can truly say I wouldn’t change anything from my experience of being on that show. It was all great and a real blessing."
However, while Joey's experiences on reality television have proven his genuineness and credibility, Joey hosts talents that allow him to transform his character...through acting!
"I am currently back in acting classes and I have my film Young Lion of The West gearing up for distribution, which makes me so happy because it was such a labor of love to get it made. Truthfully one of my biggest uphill battles now is being taken seriously as an actor because I’m established in the reality television scene... People are always surprised when they meet me, to see my knowledge of cinema and film, that I have some experience as an actor, and... on the business side of it... Reality television was never my plan A, it just sort of happened... it really changed my life and opened my eyes to opportunities that I never considered... but deep down I'm always going to pursue my dream of one day being on the big screen. One thing I’ve seen is whenever I think I know what will happen next, I’m always wrong, so I’m anxiously awaiting to see what the next step will be."
Stigmas change as talents are recognized, and - with projects like Young Lion of The West coming to fruition - it's clear Joey is breaking out of the mold.
