Do you remember when reality TV began? I do. First seasons of Survivor, The Bachelor, and American Idol all aired while I pretended to study for undergrad exams. My suite-mates and I watched Kelly Clarkson sing to stardom in our common room. When they decided to bring Trista Rehn back for the first season of The Bachelorette, we celebrated. Those were heady times.
Rusty Reality
Today the shiny newness has worn off reality TV. Having become an established media genre (like blogs or podcasts, BTW), reality programming must now earn an audience. Each show must merit attention to stand out from the million other options before our eyeballs. That seems logical, right?
Well, let me tell you, back in the early days, we would watch anything. Of course, lots of people today watch a show about a spoiled, rich family whose name begins with “K.” So, maybe nothing has actually changed.
New York Flavor
I confess, I have watched my share of junk reality programming. A more mature version of me generally abstained from Jersey Shore, despite its inclusion of a Staten Island girl. But back in the day, I watched most of a season of I Love New York. Yes, yes, feel free to judge me.
In case you don’t recall, I Love New York spun off from another VH1 series called Flavor of Love, which served as a more niche version of The Bachelor starring rapper Flavor Flav and…
You know what, it ain’t worth recapping.
Spit Shined
Suffice to say, expectoration made a cameo in key episodes of both Flavor of Love and I Love New York. You might even say that spit thematically linked the two chapters in Tiffany Pollard‘s romantic story. And though suppressed for nearly 10 years, the memories below jumped right to the front when I got ready to write about elephants never spit.
Flavor of Love
I Love New York
Our archivists have only grainy footage, but a chronicler of the age recounts how a later suitor staged a rendition of the above incident while competing for Ms. New York’s affection.