Chatting Cheating with 'I'm Sorry Melissa'

When I first watched I’m Sorry Melissa I thought it would be along the lines of those websites where scorned lovers can sexually sanction unfaithful exes by revealing humiliating details of their past relationships. Unfortunately for the voyeur in me, the series is more of a straightforward relationship saga than the format would like you to believe, without any of the sordid pieces of intimate intel.

Created by Wayne Parillo and produced by On the Leesh, it’s mostly home video style talking heads, like The Blair Witch Project of romantic comedies.

The series begins with Wayne apologizing to his ex-girlfriend Melissa for cheating on her. Wayne thinks he deserves another chance, because unlike “most guys” he came clean without being caught, making his cheating more of a misdemeanor than a felony.

Wayne attempts to prove this theory by posting videos of other men confessing much more scandalous infidelities. Melissa ain’t buying it.

Being completely gullible (I believed Dark Side of the Moon was a legitimate documentary until the last twenty minutes), I was excited to think that this was real (and almost ready to send in some stories of my own…if I had any….). But while based on a true story, the action in this series is about as real as anything you’d see on The Hills.

There’s a developed cast of characters, and though their stories might be real, everything feels a bit too contrived. Wayne’s gay friend Michael believes they should get back together, but that Melissa should make Wayne suffer a bit first. Wayne’s friend Mark, Devil’s Advocate, doesn’t believe Melissa should forgive Wayne and constantly hints that he would like a shot at this amazing, football-playing chick.

Melissa also makes an appearance in a video response of her own, asking Wayne to take her mother off his MySpace. It’s one of the funnier and more relatable moments in the series:

Originally created for TV at the 2007 New York Television Festival and transported to the internet, fans can express their personal opinions on monogamy and influence Wayne’s actions. But interaction from real users doesn’t compensate for the show’s general over dramatization. The series operates on a fantastic premise, but I’m Sorry with Melissa toes the line between scripted drama and believable faux-reality, never to find its footing.

Perhaps a compilation of cheating videos that feels genuine with just a touch of context to make it relevant to Wayne’s situation would make for a more fulfilling series. A collection like these bad dog videos, except with philandering lovers instead of mischievous canines: