WHY SHOULD YOU SUPPORT THIS WEB SERIES?...

Because you, too, have either been unfavorably affected by online dating...or know someone who has been!

Online dating, while opening so many new doors to finding that one true love, has its drawbacks. And as great as it has been for a huge number of American daters, let's face it: most men love it, while new app after new app tries to convince women to give online dating one more try!

Then there's black women...who have an entirely unique experience with dating apps. And that's the story you will see in this web series! 

"First Dates" tells the story of Samantha, a late-20's black woman, recently divorced and ready to find love with someone who's not her crazy, country-singing ex-husband. Unfortunately for her, she's dating in 2016, when the dating scene is largely confined to an app on your phone. 

While we all know dating can be rough, it's particularly rough on the black woman. Study after study has shown that online dating sites don't give black women a fair shake. What does this result in? Obviously, it means fewer online options for black women to choose from. And how does that play out? Well, that's what "First Dates" wants to continue to explore with you! 

In season 1, you saw (or still can see on YouTube!) what it was like for Samantha (a.k.a, Sam) to take her dating game to the internet! You watched Sam go on dates with foot-fetishing entrepreneurs, egotistical doctors and playboy wine connoisseurs. We also saw her responses to these guys, which included wearing an earpiece on a date with a deaf guy, standing up to a pill-popping little person, and holding Ben Wa balls in her vagina during a date with a gynecologist. And that was just 3 of the 10 episodes! 

In season 2, you will get to experience not just what it's like for this black women to take on online dating, but what it's like to be her! You will go beyond the dates she goes on and dive deeper into the people that make Samantha who she is. Starting with Samantha herself, who as a political consultant, can be extremely matter of fact. So not unlike riders of the New York City subway system, when she sees something, she says something. And because she is so smart and savvy, most of the time, her first inclination is right. But when it's not, and she blows up on a date, friend or waiter, it often blows right back up in her face. However, where does that snap to judgment come from? Why does she feel the need to tell people about themselves? You will find out this season by going behind the curtain and into some of Sam's personal moments and career objectives. 

Of course, there is a helluva support system around Samantha, and it starts with her best friend Elaine. Elaine is driven by, apparently, alcohol and men. She loves a good time, loves to have fun, and loves to have sex. Her desire for the last one is interesting, because as much as she clamours for a relationship, she often gives heed to something a little more temporary. But that's okay, because she's invested in Sam's love life. But what about her own? In Season 2, we'll be sure to take a closer look at what drives Elaine, and how she sees herself moving beyond the professional shadows of her career-oriented best friend. 

Then there's Dave, her well-meaning, but oft unbelievably wrong, ex-husband. After divorcing Sam in Season 1, he looked to make a career for himself in the country-music game. How did that pan out for him? But more importantly, how has his life changed post-Sam? Is it a decision he regrets? Is it one he needed at that time in his life, but now could really use someone like Sam to support him? Or is Dave simply going to remain his silly self, keep singing those Harlem-based country songs, and be on his merry way? In Season 2, you will see just how Dave's country-singing ways went, and how it all may affect his relationship with Sam.   

And last but not least, there is Ricky, that waiter, that much to Sam's chagrin, is more a part of her life than even some of her friends. Ricky just happens to always be there when Sam is on a date with a sex-addict, a righteous do-gooder or a racially-ignorant nice-guy with a black brother. The two of them don't get along--but it's probably because they're so much alike. But if they're anything like one another, then that means Ricky certainly has career aspirations that take him beyond working behind a bar in Harlem. What does Ricky want out of life, and why does his persona at Sam's favorite restaurant seem so angry and mean? Is there another side to Ricky? You will get to see what underground life Ricky is living, and more, in Season 2!  

Yet with all that character exploration you will get to see, don't be fooled, this is still a comedy! So you will still have tons of fun watching this season, and we won't get all too serious on you. Sam will continue to go on dates that blow your mind, and yet for many a black woman out there, those experiences will ring far too true to life. Elaine will continue to make suggestions that seem intelligent at first, but ultimately result in foolishness. Dave will be the clown character that he is, bringing joy with his positivity, and delivering forehead-smacking bewilderment for his choice of careers. And Ricky--well, Ricky will be Ricky, levying insult after insult on his way to making it as hard as possible for Sam to find love in his presence. 

So if you're up for a season full of dating, love, friendship, career growth and shenanigans, Season 2 of "First Dates" is where it'll all go down. Join the journey, be a part of the ride, and together, we'll make one heck of a series that shows a slice of life that's not often told! 

WHY SHOULD WE BE THE ONES TO MAKE THE SERIES...

The co-creators, myself (Uzo Ometu) and Talibah Newman, truly love episodic content. We're both huge fans of great TV shows like House of Cards, Power, Real Husbands of Hollywood and Orange is the New Black, so the idea of creating characters and worlds of our own is something we love, and a passion we think you will see in our work. 

However, we're simple people, who just love to laugh too. Which is why we appreciate comedy in all forms, including the web series! And we love the great web series out there that explore characters of underrepresented ethnicities, like Hello Cupid, Awkward Black Girl, That Guy and The Pursuit of Sexiness. And in that same vein, we wanted to make First Dates not just a funny dramedy about life, but one that explores diverse characters and situations, and does so on the web for an audience that can truly appreciate it. 

So if you liked Season 1, we hope you trust us to do even better in Season 2. And if you haven't seen Season 1, you should watch it, and know that Talibah has done tremendous production work on big budget films like Soul Men, and she has won a Director's Guild Award for Busted on Brigham Lane. Hopefully those bona fides let you know that Season 2 can only get better, and that you will want to join us for the ride now!  

WHY SHOULD YOU SUPPORT THIS AT THIS TIME?...

Plain and simply: it's time. First Dates came out last summer (2015), and we're overdue in bringing you a second season. Our actors have gone on to do bigger and better things, but we now have a window where we can get them back together, so we want to raise the funds now so we can make this happen. And if you do join us in this campaign, we should have the resources we need begin shooting in November and have the season premiere out in January!