Television Review: A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this hyper-sexualized reality
dating series -- in which both men and women compete for the
affections of Internet celebrity Tila Tequila -- openly
discusses bisexuality and lesbianism. It pits lesbians against
straight men and exploits both gender and homophobic
stereotypes. Cast members fight, drink (a lot), and swear (the
strongest words are bleeped), and there's very strong sexual
innuendo. All of that makes this show pretty iffy for anyone
except adults who are able to recognize it as an intentionally
over-the-top guilty pleasure.
Families can talk about online fame. How do sites like My Space
create celebrities? What exactly do these "cyber celebs" become
famous for? Families can discuss how the media addresses
different sexual orientations. How does the media affect how
society views sexuality? What stereotypes do TV shows and
movies play up? Which ones do they counter?
In the reality dating competition series A SHOT AT LOVE WITH TILA TEQUILA, both men and women compete for the affections of Playboy model/cyber celebrity Tila Tequila (real name Tila Nguyen). Tequila, who is bisexual, invites a group of heterosexual men and lesbian woman to live in her house so she can get to know them better and decide whether her true love is a man or a woman. The houseguests must endure one another's presence while trying to secure Tequila's love. Each week, those who don't impress her are asked to leave; the last one standing wins the key to her heart.
The cast indulges in plenty of the kind of behavior we've come to expect thanks to similar reality shows like I Love New York and The Real World -- including excessive drinking, endless arguing, and all-around hedonism. But A Shot at Love takes it all to the extreme, from over-the-top partying to exploitative, vulgar sexual behavior. Behind it all is the flirtatious Tequila, who uses her trademark sex appeal to both arouse and antagonize her would-be lovers.
The show is groundbreaking in that it openly features bisexual dating and relationships. Unfortunately, it presents them in a circus-like atmosphere that makes them seem freakish and vulgar. It openly pits heterosexual men against lesbians, creating a tension based primarily on ignorant gender and homophobic stereotypes and contributing to social anxiety related to differences in sexual orientation. A Shot at Love is a hyper-sexualized, voyeuristic experience for adults who enjoy the guilty pleasure of indulging in these kinds of shows. But it isn't a great choice for teens.
MADEBeauty and the Geek
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
Member Comments On...
Television Review: A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila
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Totally inappropriate for young kids who can't yet understand the subtle nuances of this totally entertaining show. :) But seriously, I wanted Dani to win!
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