Flavor of Love

Flavor of Love is an American reality television dating game show starring Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy.[3]

Flavor of Love
Created byCris Abrego
Mark Cronin
StarringFlavor Flav
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes39
Production
Executive producersCris Abrego
Mark Cronin[1]
Ben Samek
Running time60 minutes
Production company51 Minds Entertainment
DistributorUSA: Paramount Television (original)
Debmar-Mercury (syndication, 2006-present)[2]
Worldwide: Endemol (2008–)
Release
Original networkVH1
Original releaseJanuary 1, 2006 (2006-01-01) –
May 26, 2008 (2008-05-26)
Chronology
Preceded byStrange Love
Followed byI Love New York
Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School
I Love Money
External links
Website

While not a direct spin-off, the show was a result of Brigitte Nielsen and Flavor Flav's failed relationship on Strange Love, as well as The Surreal Life.[4] Those two series as well as Flavor of Love (Seasons 1-2 only) have aired in repeats on TV Guide Network. The third season of Flavor of Love began on Monday February 11, 2008 at 9/8c.[5]

On May 14, 2008, it was announced that Flavor of Love 3 would be the final Flavor of Love. After 3 seasons, Flavor Flav chose to not marry or date any of the winners from any of the three seasons. Instead, it was revealed that he would marry Liz, the mother of his seventh child, Karma, on the Season 3 reunion show.

The show was a ratings success for VH1. The Flavor of Love 2 finale was the second highest-rated non-sports basic cable show of 2006.[6][7]

Show format

The show was part of VH1's Celeb-reality lineup and its format is similar to that of The Bachelor.[4] Twenty different ladies compete for Flavor Flav's heart as they live together in a mansion in Encino, California.[1][4] He is helped in his quest by his bodyguard and chauffeur named "Big Rick."[8] He was also assisted by his mother, as well as his former romantic partner Brigitte Nielsen in the first season,[8] and Tiffany Pollard in the second. The show also helped spin off a string of similar VH1 "Love" shows, including I Love New York,[9] Rock of Love, and Real Chance of Love. There were secondary spin-off shows featuring contestants on Flavor of Love, such as Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School,[10] and I Love Money.

In the show, each contestant is given a nickname by Flav and is referred to by that nickname for as long as she remains in the competition, as Flav says he can remember nicknames more so than real names. Flavor of Love features a clock ceremony where contestants who are not eliminated receive gold clocks to wear around their necks with their picture and nickname behind the hands of the clock. When a contestant is eliminated, her real name is then revealed, followed by a champagne toast.

There are a few basic elements of the show's format that have been consistent through each season of production. Throughout the season the contestants compete for intimate dates with Flav by competing in various challenges. Also, Flav brings the few remaining women's parents on in the third or second to last episode. Finally, the season finale takes place in a tropical destination. The two finalists and Flav spend the last two days at a luxurious resort preceding his final decision.

The week following the finale an all-cast reunion is typically aired. The host, La La Vazquez, spends this time reviewing the most memorable moments and interviewing the contestants after they have seen the season. This is also when the viewer finds out if Flav is still with the woman he chose and what they have been up to since the season wrapped.

VH1 has also introduced an internet component into the show. Viewers can create profiles, interact with contestants and other fans, and stay current with news at flavorofloveworld.com. In season 3, fans even got to vote online to elect five of the contestants, though Flav sent four of them home in the premiere episode.

Series overview
Season Number of episodes Season premiere Season finale Winner Runner-up Number of contestants Destinations
1 11 January 1, 2006 March 12, 2006 Nicole Alexander
"Hoopz"		 Tiffany Pollard
"New York"		 20 Las Vegas, Nevada;
San Diego, California;
Palm Springs, California;

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

2 12 August 6, 2006 October 15, 2006 Chandra Davis
"Deelishis"		 20 Long Beach, California;
Napa, California;
Placencia, Belize
3 16 February 11, 2008 May 19, 2008 Tresha
"Thing 2"		 Candace Cabrera
"Black"		 25 Miami, Florida;
Paris, France;
Monaco;
Cannes, France
^[a] One supposed contestant, "Eyez," was actually an impostor hired by the producers. "New York's" re-entry into the competition officially increased the contestant count to 20.
^[b] Although there were 21 contestants originally, there were only 20 clocks, as two contestants, "Thing 1" and "Thing 2", shared a clock. Also, nearly halfway through the season, 4 new contestants were brought to compete. On episode 8, Flav split up the twins.

Cast
See also: List of Flavor of Love contestants
Flavor Flav
Main article: Flavor Flav

William Jonathan Drayton Jr. (Flavor Flav of the rap group Public Enemy) is the bachelor looking for love.

Hoopz
Main article: Nicole Alexander

Nicole Deannae Alexander is the winner of the first season. After the show, she started acting and modeling. Hoopz and Flavor Flav broke up soon after the show ended. She has since gone on to compete in the VH1 series I Love Money, winning the grand prize of $250,000.[11] She dated Shaquille O'Neal.[12]

Deelishis
Main article: Chandra Davis

Chandra Davis is the winner of the second season. She has her own line of jeans called D-Cut, and will participate in a 2009 national tour of the Vagina Monologues with an all-black cast, most of whom are also former reality show contestants.[13] Davis also appeared on I Love Money 3 along with Buckeey.

Thing 2

Tresha is the winner of the third season. Tresha entered the competition with her sister Trisha (Thing 1, who was eliminated after the "Never-Wed Challenge"). Although Tresha eliminated in episode 12, she was brought back in episode 13, and subsequently won the competition. She was dumped on the reunion show when Flav decided to reunite with Liz, the mother of his son Karma.

Liz

The mother of Flav's youngest child, Karma. Flav said she was the right one the whole time and proposed to her on the reunion show of Season 3.

Big Rick

Big Rick is Flavor's assistant and bodyguard. He and Flav met in 2004 while in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino while shooting for Flav's other show, Strange Love. Big Rick used to work at a detention facility in Florida.[14]

New York
Main article: Tiffany Pollard

Tiffany Pollard was the runner up of both the first and the second seasons. After the show, she appeared on her own reality dating show, I Love New York, which aired for two seasons, as well as New York Goes to Hollywood and New York Goes to Work.

Pumkin

Brooke Thompson finished in third-place on the first season. She gained notoriety after spitting on Tiffany Pollard shortly after her elimination. After the show, she received the Best Fight Award (with Pollard) at the Fox Reality Awards in 2006.[15] She now has a clothing line called Pumkin Apparel, which includes a shirt that reads “Pumkin spit on me and I like it…”[16] She appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School and I Love Money. She has also appeared on Judge Jeanine Pirro, the Family Feud as a member of the Gardiner family, and Playboy TV's "Foursome" in 2009.

Saaphyri
Main article: Saaphyri Windsor

Saaphyri Windsor was disqualified in the first episode of season two after fighting with another contestant. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, winning the competition. She currently has her own lip balm line called Lip Chap and her own brand of weave hair called Saaphyri's Ultimate Indian Hair. She placed fifth on VH1's I Love Money 2. It can also be noted that Windsor holds the record for being the only contestant in the series that did not receive a nickname.

Buckwild

Becky Johnston appeared on Flavor of Love 2. She threw her shoe at Tiffany Pollard during the After the Lovin' reunion, almost hitting New York. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School and I Love Money 2.

Toasteee

Jennifer Toof appeared on Flavor of Love 2 where she was eliminated on the show's fourth episode after Flav discovered she had posed in a pornographic magazine. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School and the first season of I Love Money.

Black

Candace Cabrera is the runner-up on the third season.

Bootz

Larissa Aurora appeared on Flavor of Love 2. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School. Later on, during the show's reunion special, she got into an argument with Charm School's "headmistress"' actress Mo'Nique. In Flavor of Love season 2 she finished in fourth place.

Buckeey

Shay Johnson appeared on Flavor of Love 2. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School. Then later was a contestant on the unaired 3rd season of I Love Money 3, along with Deelishis.

Myammee

Angela Pitts appeared on Flavor of Love 3. After the show, she won I Love Money 2

Hottie

Schatar Taylor appeared on Flavor of Love, where she gained notoriety for trying to microwave a raw chicken. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School.

Serious

Cristal Steverson appeared on Flavor of Love. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School and worked as a temporary radio personality for Hot 107.9, where she interviewed Crunk&B trio, Taurus.

Smiley

Leilene Ondrade appeared on Flavor of Love. After the show, she was the runner-up of Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School and later appeared on I Love Money 2.

Wire

Jesselynn Desmond appeared on Flavor of Love 2. After the show, she appeared on the VH1 Big Awards.[17][18]

Like Dat

Darra Boyd appeared on Flavor of Love 2. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School.

Krazy

Heather Crawford appeared on Flavor of Love 2. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School. In Flavor of Love season 2 she finished in third place.

Goldie

Courtney Jackson appeared on Flavor of Love. After the show, she appeared on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School. In Flavor of Love season 1 she finished in fourth place.

Rain

Thela Brown appeared on Flavor of Love. After the show, she was the first contestant to get expelled on Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School

Nibblz

Domenique Majors appeared on Flavor of Love 2. After the show, she appeared on the first season of I Love Money, where she was eliminated on the second episode, placing 16th.

Direct spin-offs

I Love New York
Main article: I Love New York

After the second season of Flavor of Love, VH1 first aired a spin-off series entitled I Love New York, featuring the twice rejected Flavorette Tiffany "New York" Pollard.[19] The first season premiered in January 2007, following a similar format to The Bachelorette and Flavor of Love. After the first season concluded, a second season premiered in October of the same year.

Charm School
Main article: Charm School

The first season, Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, premiered on April 15, 2007, featuring 13 contestants from the first two seasons of Flavor of Love. The contestants strive to develop proper etiquette and to become strong women, with the ultimate prize of $50,000 and the title of "Charm School Queen". Season two, Rock of Love: Charm School, premiered on October 12, 2008, featuring contestants from Rock of Love. Season three, Charm School with Ricki Lake, premiered May 11, 2009, featuring contestants from Real Chance of Love and Rock of Love Bus. Season two and three doubled the prize money to $100,000.

I Love Money
Main article: I Love Money

A number of contestants from Flavor of Love, Real Chance of Love, Rock of Love and I Love New York are brought together in a mansion in Huatulco, Mexico to compete in a co-ed battle of mental and physical challenges to win $250,000. The first season's winner was Nicole "Hoopz" Alexander. The second season's winner was Angela "Myammee" Pitts. The fourth winner was Mindy Hall. The canceled third season winner was Ryan Jenkins, but it has never aired.

See also

References
  1. Cronin, Mark (June 3, 2020). "The Real Apprentice". Columbia Journalism Review. In 2007, I produced Flavor of Love, a show on VH1, in which 20 women competed to date the Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav (another Howard Stern Show regular). Those women believed he was rich—after all, he was famous—and that they were living in his mansion. In fact, he was not long out of jail for not paying parking tickets. He had very little income. We rented the mansion from a nice family in Encino.
  2. Nordyke, Kimberly (10 August 2006). "Debmar-Mercury gets a 'Life'". The Hollywood Reporter. 395: 3. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  3. Stanley, Alessandra (August 8, 2006). "On 'Flavor of Love' and 'Secret Lives of Women,' Jail Brides and Would-Be Rap Molls". The New York Times.
  4. Ogunnaike, Lola (1 October 2006). "A Ladies' Man Everyone Fights Over". The New York Times. p. 1. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  5. "Flavor Flav Continues His Search for "The One"". TV Guide. February 11, 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  6. Ho, Rodney (19 October 2006). "TV RATINGS: VH1's still loving 'Flavor'". Living. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. E3.
  7. "Corrections". News. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 20 October 2006. p. A2. A Living story about TV ratings Thursday incorrectly stated that the finale for "Flavor of Love 2" had the highest ratings this year among non-sports, basic cable networks, using information from VH1. An episode of TNT's "The Closer" had higher ratings in June.
  8. "Flavor of Love: About Series". VH1. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  9. Strauss, Gary (27 April 2007). "Flavor's shows clock in on VH1". LIFE. USA Today. p. E.7. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  10. Strauss, Gary (27 April 2007). "Plenty of pupils are focusing on 'Charm School'". LIFE. USA Today. p. E.7. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  11. "Hoopz Biography". Hoopzonline.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
  12. "Keeping Up With Shaq", The Boston Globe, February 3, 2011 (retrieved February 5, 2011).
  13. "Reality Stars Will Perform in the Vagina Monologues". Reality Blurred. 5 February 2009.
  14. "Big Rick Biography". Reality Shack.com. Archived from the original on 30 January 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
  15. "FOX REALITY'S FIRST ANNUAL THE REALITY REMIX REALLY AWARDS CELEBRATED WHAT REALITY TV IS REALLY ALL ABOUT" (Press release). Fox Reality Channel. 1 November 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  16. "Pumkin". TV.com. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
  17. "VH1 Big in '06". Getty Images. 2 December 2006.
  18. "VH1 Big in '06". Getty Images. 2 December 2006.
  19. Daly, Erin (March 5, 2007). "Has I Love New York's New York Found True Love?". TV Guide. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
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