It's a freakshow because that's what people want to watch. If they did make it about actually trying to get couples to fall in love while behaving like adults and being respectful to each other everyone would say it was boring. I mean, all anyone wants is dinnerparties because that's where shit goes down.
All this 'having a support system is an important part of the experiment' shit that John spouts is complete bullshit, they want interaction because interaction either causes tension or lust for another bride/groom.
Same with the photo ranking, it's an important part of the experiment says John. Do fuck off John, it's drama dressed up as science and you know it.