The reality television shows of VH1's Celebreality programming block has received an interesting retrospect by the masses in recent years. Dating game shows such as Rock of Love saw a resurgence in streaming viewership and popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the general perspective of these series is humorous, there have been numerous scenarios that are now deemed problematic.
Celebreality ended in 2010 with I Love Money 4, taking with it a bevy of unique personalities and wild antics. However, in VH1's Celebreality reign, there are quite a few shows that have been forgotten by pop culture.
The Pickup Artist (2007-2008)
Finding love and reality television is a tale as old as reality TV's inception, but detailing the art of seduction is another story entirely. Mentalist and author Erik von Markovik, also known as Mystery, hosted The Pickup Artist, in which he taught a group of unlucky-in-love men the lesson to pick up artistry.
Similar to other dating game shows, The Pickup Artist had a multitude of challenges leading up to being crowned the ultimate pickup artist. The show ended in 2008 with season 2 and has seldom been discussed since going off the air.
I Know My Kid's A Star (2008)
Many children aspire to have an acting career similar to outstanding child actors Jodie Foster and Christian Bale. Other times it's the parents that have aspirations, vicariously living out their dreams through their children. VH1 premiered I Know My Kid's A Star in 2008, hosted by former Partridge Family star Danny Bonaduce.
The show is a competition series in which the child winner would receive $50,000 and a year-long contract with a Hollywood agent. I Know My Kid's A Star was highly problematic for being more focused on the antics of the stage moms rather than the children's talents.
Hogan Knows Best (2005-2007)
Terry "Hulk" Hogan is known for his groundbreaking career as a professional wrestler, greatly revolutionizing the sport. Hogan would add reality television star to his resume in 2005 with Hogan Knows Best. Until 2007, the show followed the everyday lives of Hogan, his wife Linda, and their children Brooke and Nick.
Hogan Knows Best was a hit for VH1, spawning a two-season spinoff entitled Brooke Knows Best, which chronicled Brooke Hogan's life and singing career. Despite immense popularity in the early 2000s, both shows are nothing more than a VH1 memory in 2022.
Tool Academy
In its three-season run, Tool Academy had an equal intensity to one of the best reality competition shows, Hell's Kitchen. Similar to VH1's Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School, Tool Academy's objective was turning men (and later women) considered to be "tools" into proper gentlemen, with the winner graduating from the Academy and receiving $100,000 cash prize.
The show had some outrageously funny moments, but its showcasing of extreme toxic masculinity is jarring in hindsight. Tool Academy crowned Jacob "Neander Tool" as the winner of the final season in 2010, with a UK adaptation following shortly afterward.
Scott Baio is 45... And Single (2007-2008)
Actor Scott Baio is best known for his roles on Happy Days, Joanie Loves Chachi (A spinoff of Baio's Happy Days character Chachi Arcola) and Charles in Charge. The former teen heartthrob segued into reality television with Scott Baio is 45... and Single.
In season 1, Baio attempted to tackle the commitment issues present within his romantic relationships. A second season, Scott Baio is 46... and Pregnant, chronicled Baio and his now wife Renee as they prepared for the arrival of their baby girl. As Baio currently has a decreased star value, this could be why the show is considered forgettable.
Scream Queens (2008-2010)
Scream Queens, an over-the-top reality show, aired on VH1 from 2008-2010. The show was a collaboration between VH1 and Lionsgate Television in a search for the next silver-screen scream queen, with the winner receiving a breakout role in the Saw film franchise.
Each week, the contestants would participate in reenacting horror movie scenarios, bordering on downright terrifying to absolutely grotesque. Even though Scream Queens had Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad's James Gunn directing the girls in their horror scenes, the show has become lost in time.
Frank The Entertainer... in a Basement Affair (2010)
Frank "The Entertainer" Maresca first came to prominence on I Love New York 2, vying for the heart of reality television hero Tiffany "New York" Pollard. After his attempts to find love during his appearances on ILNY2 and the first two seasons of I Love Money failed, Frank was offered his own dating competition show by VH1.
Frank The Entertainer... in a Basement Affair was unusual for having the girls living at the Maresca family home during the competition rather than a luxurious mansion. As the show was near the end of Celebreality's reign, the forgettable factor makes sense.
America's Most Smartest Model (2007)
A common misconception surrounding models is that they were gifted with good looks over high intelligence. America's Most Smartest Model put this theory to the test in 2007, proving that models could be equipped with both beauty and brains.
Hosted by actor/political commentator Ben Stein and renowned fashion/beauty expert Mary Alice Stephenson, America's Most Smartest Model revolves around a group of models competing in challenges to test their skills in academics and beauty. The show only lasted one season, with male model Van "VJ" Logan winning the $100,000 cash prize and a featured VO5 ad campaign.