A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila (MTV)

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.