The First Season

I Love New York is a reality television series from VH1. The show is a spin-off series from VH1's Flavor of Love, which is similar to the popular reality series The Bachelor. In Flavor of Love, Public Enemy's Flavor Flav stars in a dating game show where a cadre of women are put to the test. Women who fail to meet Flavor Flav's "high standards" are eliminated. In both season one and season two, a girl by the name of Tiffany Polland was the runner-up. She was a domineering, tough beauty who took everyone by surprise. Polland, nicknamed New York by Flavor Flav, was given her own chance at love in I Love New York.

This series follows a similar premise and format to Flavor of Love, except a woman is being courted by twenty guys. In the first season, New York starts on a quest to find true love. What better way than a reality television game show? I can think of better ways, but it probably would not be nearly as much fun as watching New York's overzealous, over-the-top approach. Joining New York are Sister Patterson, her mother who is never afraid to speak her mind, and Chamo, her flamboyant assistant and greatest confidant.

In the beginning of the season, New York has twenty strapping young men to win her heart. As the season progresses, they begin to drop one-by-one. Eventually, she is left with Tango. He proposes to her and she accepts. It is happy times for everyone. Unfortunately, life isn't perfect. In the season one reunion show, which occurs six months after the end of the competition, New York is reunited with most of her contestants. Apparently, Tango called off the wedding and the abandonment has left New York heart broken. Fortunately, you can expect a second season of this over-the-top, full of attitude woman for another season of fun.

Overall, I Love New York is by no means quality television. If anything, it is a guilty pleasure. New York has a very colorful personality and her overzealousness works for the "oh my god, I can't believe it" factor. She is brazen and some of the things she puts her "contestants" through are ridiculous, albeit fun to watch. In the end, I Love New York has some pretty decent entertainment value and limited replay value.

Episode Guide

1. Do You Have Love for New York?: New York summons 20 single men to her mansion with the hope of finding true love. It seems like a party until Sister Patterson arrives--mom is in the house and ready to rumble. Sister Patterson gets in a shouting match with a man that New York is really feelin' and tells him that he is going to be eliminated. She gives New York an ultimatum--either he leaves the house or she will.
2. The Mangeant: New York announces that her 15 suitors will be competing in a mangeant--a male beauty pageant. The guys get waxed, plucked, strip down to the bare essentials and shake their asses. The next day, the winner and the two runner-ups take New York on a date to the Santa Monica Pier. But when New York gets back from her date, two guys have it out after one accuses the other of having a girlfriend. New York doesn't know who to believe.
3. Big Ballers: It's all about earning potential: New York likes to spend mad cheddar and she needs a man who can bring home the bacon. The guys put on their best suits and head to the boardroom. But one has a mental breakdown during his presentation and is tended to by EMTs. Later, after another breakout, Sister Patterson insists he e sent to the loony bin. The next day, the guys try to impress New York with massages and lap dances, but two more get the boot.
4. What's Up Doug?: New York wants a man who's good with his hands. The remaining guys break into teams of three and build doghouses for New York's Chihuahua, Her Majesty. Some work smoothly and others fight like dogs. All three members of the winning team get intimate with New York later that night. The next morning, Sister Patterson takes the guys to a church service, delivering a rousing sermon during which some cry--and one falls asleep.
5. Who's Got Game?: New York is down to her "Final 7" and she's lookin' for a baler. WNBA star Tamara Moore helps put the men to the test--and one ends up in the hospital! Later that night, New York proves that she's an equal-opportunity lover and gets busy with every man in the house. The next day, Sister Patterson does her best to incite a full-on riot by pitting the guys against each other at lunch.
6. Momma Said Knock You Out: New York informs the final six that they'll be hosting a party for ten screaming 11-year-old girls. New York takes the winner on a romantic Cinderella date while the losers cook dinner for Sister Patterson, who stirs up controversy once again. To release tension, New York takes the guys to a boxing gym so they can punch each other freely. And later that night, she kicks another to the cub.

7. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?: New York decides to do a background check on the final five, so she invites their ex-girlfriends to a day at the spa to dish the dirt. Later, at an uncomfortable dinner party with their exes, the guys get good and drunk, but one cracks under the pressure and has it out with New York. The next day, things heat up with a cooking date for the winner. But later that night, one more is sent home without dessert.
8. Gettin' Hot in the Dessert: New York takes the four finalists on separate overnight double dates to Palm Springs. The competition is at an all-time high and the guys bash each other in order to impress her. But New York s feeling love for all of them and she's not afraid to show it. After crashing a pimped out golf cart and burning her weave in a hot air balloon, New York makes her toughest elimination yet.
9. Momma's Boys: The last three standing bring their moms to the house and everyone does their best to impress New York and sister Patterson--but it ain't easy. Amid make-out sessions and screaming matches, New York's mom pulls one of the guys aside and makes an indecent proposal: $5,000 to refuse a chain and eliminate himself. Will he follow his heart and stay in the competition for New York's love?
10. How She Took a Chance and Learned to Tango: We began with 20 single men vying for New York's heart - and now we're down to the final two. From the competitive challenges to the drama-filled eliminations, it's been one crazy ride for our girl New York - so there's no better time to recap all the best moments from this past season.
11. The Final Adios: New York tells two men that they're goin' to Playacar, Mexico for an exotic getaway! Things get ugly fast when the guys threaten to kill each other and must be separated until the final elimination. But New York throws caution, and her fake eyelashes, to the wind and gets cozy with the last men standing - from yacht trips to fancy dinners to swimming with dolphins to making out on the beach. Then, back in Hollywood, New York makes the most difficult decision of her life as she chooses the man of her dreams. But does he feel the same way about her?
12. Reunion Show: Brace yourself, 'cause it's the first ever I Love New York Reunion Show! All the guys are back - except the ones in jail, recovery and/or therapy - and New York and Sister Patterson face them head on as they all square of and settle old feuds. Plus, New York and Tango are reunited for the first time since Tango's surprise proposal. Are they still on their way to the altar?

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in 1.33:1 ratio full frame color. The picture quality is pretty good. There are minimal distortions in the video with some traces of edge enhancement. Overall, it is an average looking TV on DVD release.

Audio:
The audio track included is in English Dolby digital stereo sound. The audio track is dialogue driven and audible throughout the presentation. There is also support for closed captioning.

Extras:
There are no extras included with this season one DVD release.

Final Thoughts:
I Love New York is a reality television show with Tiffany Polland, a.k.a. New York, in a dating game show. She searches for that special someone amongst twenty male contestants, who are willing to go anything length to win her heart. The show is entertaining, although far from a great production. If anything, it works as a guilty pleasure. New York is charming with her overzealousness and over-the-top attitude, which clash with the contestants and those closest to her. In the end, I Love New York's first season is a lot of fun (if you enjoy this caliber of reality television). However, while I did enjoy the season one episodes, I foresee limited replay value. Still, it comes recommended.