If there's one genre of television that is the very definition of polarizing it would most assuredly be reality TV. From Survivor and Big Brother to Bachelor and Amazing Race there is always some form of reality on at some time on some channel. The quality of these shows is all over the map and extreme saturation has arguably killed the concept. No reality idea is fresh these days and creativity turned out to be kind of a moot point given the recent writer's strike. With that being said MTV jumped on the bandwagon because, after all, they have virtually nothing to do with music anymore.

Now, I love trash TV as much as the next guy. Every once in a while it's nice to sit back, shut your brain off, and appreciate uncultured entertainment for what it is. With that being said 2007's A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila is about as lowbrow and trashy as you can get which is kind of surprising given the series' seeming popularity.

The show's concept is quite simple really and it's not too different than the likes of Bachelor or something to that effect. Sixteen guys are vying for the affection of all around Asian cutie and floozy Tila Tequila. They'll compete with each other for a chance at hooking up with her but the "shocker" here is that Tila is bisexual (Say it isn't so!). That means sixteen lesbians are also brought into the mix to shake things up. It's a battle of the sexes between 32 contestants and trust me when I tell you that this show is every bit as distasteful and offensive as that description may lead you to believe.

With eleven episodes under its belt the first season of A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila actually turned out to be a success among its target demographic; horny teenagers and viewers with low standards. Anyone coming to this series looking for an entertaining look at the depravity of people who will do anything to get on television will be sorely disappointed. Each of these contestants is shallow, disgusting, and idiotic beyond reproach. Then again I suppose that may maintain some kind of appeal to many would-be watchers.

The 32 contestants go through these eleven episodes falling all over themselves in order to get some attention from Tila. It's rather pathetic at times and you'd really feel sorry for these people if they weren't the dregs of society handpicked by the show's producers. Sure most of them are reasonably attractive and yes, there is a certain sex appeal that is attached to the show but quite honestly if you're looking for something sexy open up a Victoria's Secret catalog. I'm sure it'll be more entertaining than this series and you won't feel the urge to wash filth off you when you walk away.

Ironically most of my distain for this series doesn't even have anything to do with the concept. On paper it's rather entertaining in the aforementioned lowbrow kind of way and in all honesty Tila is rather deserving of the spotlight. She's cute as a button despite her promiscuous nature and seems like the kind of person you could sit and have a few drinks with. A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila is ruined by the cast of losers collected to be its contestants. They act obnoxiously at every moment, they behave like children, and in most instances these are people you wouldn't want to associate with. If true beauty is on the inside then the 32 guys and gals assembled here virtual scrape the bottom of the barrel.

After a few episodes I found myself not caring about any of the contestants and only continued to watch for Tila herself. How she could put herself through some of these situations and maintain a smile and bubbly personality is beyond me. To make matters worse if you are even remotely interested in the series and are watching because you are curious who Tila is going to pick in the end the DVD packaging kind of spoils it for you by telling you the two remaining contestants.

In the end A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila is not a good show and it certainly does not come recommended. If you're of the MTV generation and appreciate toilet humor, trashy TV, and watching stupid people in action then chances are decent you may find something to like about this series. Unfortunately as open-minded as I am I found this show to be abusive and idiotic in almost every conceivable way. Don't waste your time on this wreck.

Presented with a 1.33:1 aspect ratio A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila is a decent looking TV show. The picture is vibrant with some fine contrast and a transfer that is benefits the series but presumable it doesn't look a whole lot different than the broadcast. There is an abundance of grain in the image and details are much softer than they should have been. This leaves the series looking slightly underwhelming but all around the transfer here is better than average which isn't saying much.

With a 2.0 Dolby Digital presentation A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila offers audio quality that is comparable to the video. Considering this reality show is mostly dialogue driven there doesn't need to be an immersive experience. What's here suits the show just fine but it comes across as much flatter than it should have. Some of the sound is muted as well but those instances were few and far between.

The third disc in this three DVD set includes some bonus material to peruse should you feel so inclined. Eight extended scenes make an appearance here and combined they clock in at a little under 54 minutes. The scenes include Girls Cat Walk, Guys in Heels, Foam Party, Car Wash, Ashley vs. Marcus Poolside, Brandi & Rebecca Make Out, Brandi vs. Vanessa, and Brandi vs. Vanessa Elimination. The material is all virtually identical to what you'd expect to see from watching the show but with just a little more than what was broadcast.

Six deleted scenes are available here as well and like the extended scenes they are on par with the expectations set by the program. Spin the Bottle, Waxing, Strip Club, Brandi & Vanessa Shower, Ashley vs. Bobby, and Ashley vs. Marcus are the deleted bits. These scenes clock in at almost 36 minutes and feature stuff that's equally disgusting as the show had to offer.

A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila is a terrible show in almost every way possible. The basic concept is completely unoriginal and the contestants are all people who you would want absolutely nothing to do with. This is the epitome of lowbrow television and it has absolutely no redeeming qualities. Then again I suppose there are some out there who will appreciate the show for what it is; I'm not one of them. Don't bother with this show unless you want to be disgusted, insulted, and bored all at the same time.

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