By Jae-Ha Kim
Amazon.com
November 9, 2007
No one loves New York as much as Tiffany Pollard, the trash-talking Flavor of Love contestant who made for such good TV that she not only appeared on two seasons of that reality dating show, but also won her own VH1 series–I Love New York.
Nicknamed “New York” by Flavor Flav–the would-be Lothario who had a difficult time remembering the female contestants’ actual first names–Pollard sticks with that sassy moniker as she plays the starring role and selects from 20 men who are vying for her attention and love.
The fact that Season Two of the series premiered on VH1 in October 2007 (shortly after the release of this DVD set) proves that love has been short-lived and elusive for New York. But really–when have these dating shows ever been more about love than getting your 15 minutes of fame–or infamy?
I Love New York is as trashy as the role Pollard plays. Unlike ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, which at least goes through the motions of picking suitable contenders, VH1 has stacked the deck against New York (and, let’s face it, the men). Their nicknames (Token, Trendz, White Boy) are more interesting than they are. And while New York proclaims to be shocked that some of them are on the show for other reasons than to win her over, the audience isn’t.
Of course these wannabe actors-models-singers are hoping the series is their springboard to fame. Why would anyone want New York? Or at least the New York that Pollard presents?
Besides being a high maintenance super diva with little to offer, she also comes with an equally overbearing mother (who, to her credit, is hysterical in her assessment of the men).
On the plus side, it is refreshing to watch New York dismiss her suitors with vigor and little remorse. Unlike other shows where there may be tears or a polite explanation as to why a potential lover has been rejected, I Love New York is succinct. There’s little room for misinterpretation when Pollard says, “Get the f— out of my house.”
Oh, snap!
