Hallmark's dating show “Small Town Setup” sends singles home to find love

Hallmark is ready to play matchmaker in real life.

After becoming the leading name in romantic TV movies, the Hallmark brand is branching out into reality TV romance with the new dating show Small Town Setup. Hosted by Ashley Williams and premiering on Hallmark+ Thursday, January 2, the series centers on a classic Hallmark-movie trope: The single gal (or guy) from the big city who comes home to their small town and finds love with a local.

But in Small Town Setup, it's the townsfolk — not cupid — doing the matchmaking. According to the series' official description, "In each episode, we are introduced to a different set of small town parents faced with a challenge — their successful adult child has made it in the big city, but has yet to find love. Concerned, the parents rally their neighbors to try and find three potential matches for their child. When the singleton arrives home for a visit, they are presented with dating options curated by their hometown. After three dates, will they find love in their hometown? Or head back to the big city? All is revealed at a big town hall event, full of heart, warmth, and a few laughs along the way."

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Watch the full trailer below.

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Small Town Setup is the second series on Hallmark+ to incorporate elements of the network's signature films into a reality TV format. In October, the streamer launched Finding Mr. Christmas, a reality competition in which 10 handsome guys vied for a lead role in a Hallmark holiday film. The winner, Ezra Moreland, will make his Hallmark Channel debut on December 21 in Happy Howlidays, co-starring Jessica Lowndes.

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