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That's Amore! (MTV)

common sense media says

Tila Tequila spin-off is hedonistic, demeaning.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this series is -- a spin-off of controversial dating show A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila -- features similar over-the-top behavior, including swearing ("bitch," "ass," and lots of bleeps), lots of drinking, endless cat-fighting, and strong sexual innuendo. Plus, the female contestants participate in demeaning challenges like wrestling in spaghetti, and ethnic stereotypes are used to justify many inappropriate behaviors.

Positive messages: Lots of hedonistic behavior. The women seem desperate as they work to get Domenico's attention. Ethnic stereotyping is used to justify some of Domenico's goofy behavior, as well as some of the challenges. The contestants are from various racial/ethnic backgrounds.
Violence: Yelling, arguing, pulling, pushing, shoving, scratching, slapping, punching, and all-out brawling between participants. Women are shown wresting in a giant bowl of spaghetti.
Sex: Strong sexual innuendo, as well as plenty of kissing, hugging, massaging, groping, and stripping. Includes discussions about virginity, as well as various sexual practices, but sexually explicit acts beyond making out aren't shown. That said, participants sometimes sleep in a communal bed, and at one point Domenico feels a woman's breast to see if it's real. The women are introduced to Domenico in bikinis; they often dress scantily. Occasional nudity (usually of women's breasts) is blurred out.
Language: Audible language includes words like "ass" and "bitch." Strong words -- like "bulls--t" and "f--k" -- are bleeped.
Consumerism: Some references to Tila Tequila.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Consumption of wine, beer, and hard alcohol is featured prominently featured, and the women are often seen drunk.
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More on That's Amore!

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about why people go on TV reality dating shows. Are they genuinely trying to win the hearts of people they've just met, or are they just trying to get their15 minutes of fame? Families can also discuss stereotyping. What are the different ways that television uses stereotypes for entertainment purposes? Should stereotypes ever be used to justify a behavior, even if it's supposedly "in good fun"?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In THAT'S AMORE!, 15 young women compete for a chance at love with rejected A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila contender Domenico Nesci. They vie for the young, goofy Italian's heart by shamelessly flirting and competing in crazy contests to win dates and demonstrate that they're worthy of becoming his true love. Each week, along with his American "brother" and fellow Tequila reject Ashley McNeely, Nesci decides who gets to keep trying to become the American love of his dreams.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Not surprisingly, That's Amore! takes its cues from its parent series and includes lots of drinking, endless cat-fighting, and hypersexualized behavior. But the show moves beyond hedonism to exploitation by asking the women to participate in challenges that are designed to be demeaning -- like wrestling for meatballs in a giant pool of spaghetti. Meanwhile, Nesci does things like ask his potential dates probing questions about their breasts and smell their armpits while reveling in the fact that they're willing to go all out for him. Even more troubling is the show's use of ethnic stereotypes to sanction most of these over-the-top performances.

That's Amore! offers some voyeuristic guilty pleasure for adults who enjoy this sort of thing. But the excessive behavior, the stereotyping, and the disturbing message it sends about what you have to do to find love makes it pretty iffy for teens.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: MTV
Cast: Ashley McNeely, Domenico Nesci
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: MTV
This review was written by Melissa Camacho
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

silly_samsters
teen, 17 years old
12
 
Great
This show is really funny! and i loved when he was on Shot at love with Tila Tequlia. I wish that another good show would come out similar to this!
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Bila
teen, 16 years old
 
Just by watching this I thought I caught an STD
That's Amore needs to be different than every other dating show. And I wanted to know when would That's Amore 2 come out.
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icebaby271
teen, 16 years old
 
NOT APPROPRIATE FOR UNDER 13
This show was ok. Some of the language, sexual behavior, and dissing other people was too much to handle. Although this show seems bad...it has some good drama. I think that you need to know your kid to let them watch this show.
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pinklady80lately
teen, 17 years old
 
lol, good stuff!
wow, i really dont know why nobody likes this show! u learn how to cook a pizza! good life lessons!!!
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