‘Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta’ is now a monster hit for VH1
Joseline has become a stand-out presence and focal point of controversy on "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta." CREDIT: VH1
Take that, “Real Housewives of Atlanta”!
America now has a new trashy local show critics can complain makes Atlanta look bad: “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” on VH1.
The reality show – which focuses on local hip-hop musicians and their twisted love lives – is now pulling in more viewers than “Real Housewives of Atlanta” did in its fourth season.
This past Monday’s episode hit a series-high of 3.5 million viewers, with another 2.1 million who caught the repeat at 10 p.m. The show has seen steady growth after opening at 1.9 million in its first airing in June. The 18-49 rating has jumped from 1.1 to a 2.0 over five weeks.
Through six episodes, the show has averaged 2.9 million viewers, comparable to the original “Love and Hip Hop.” In metro Atlanta, the show draws around 150,000 viewers.
The show is also lifting the fortunes of “Single Ladies,” the Atlanta-based scripted relationship drama despite the departure of Stacey Dash. “Single Ladies” hit a series high 2.66 million viewers this past Monday.
I solicited comments on my Facebook page about the show. Tarryl BrotherTee Rosier sampled one episode and dubbed it “pure trash.”
“I dislike VH1 even more now that they are showing that program on their station,” Rosier wrote. “Even though, I don’t like both programs, I will say that RHOA has more class than LHHA.”
Demeeka Mhoon likens the show to “a wreck on 285 u see miles ahead, but u still look once u pass by. Its absolutely horrible as a TV program.”
Juanita Vann willingly admits she enjoys it: “A lot of people who watch it are ashamed to say so because they feel it portrays African-American’s and Atlantans in a negative light. I watch it EVERY week! It’s funny, entertaining and oh so ratchet. People who are calling for boycotts of it need to have a seat. This is ENTERTAINMENT. If you don’t like it, just don’t watch it. The simple fact that it’s pulling in such strong numbers is a testament that somebody likes it. By the way, I feel it is more trashy than RHOA, and the “housewives” have lost a bit of their edge. I was totally bored with the last season. I hope the next season can capture some of the craziness from prior seasons that made it so much fun to watch!”
Nyssa Green, on Twitter, simply called it “a hilarious train wreck.”
I resisted but now that it’s clear this show isn’t going away, I will begin writing recaps Monday.
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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126 comments Add your comment
???
July 26th, 2012
8:35 pm
I read all of the posts and I’m still confused about the outrage and embarrassment some of you are feeling. People, lighten up! The LHHA show will not change any opinions of Atlanta, Black People or the south. No one changed their opinions of Italians after watching Jersey Shore, Housewives-New Jersey or Mob Wives. Why are you so bent out of shape over a tv show that depicts the real lives specific people in Atlanta? Change the channel! This show will not set anyone back and it will not slow down the progress of Black people. MLK is not shaking his head in disgust because he knew people just like the characters on LHHA. He did not judge or scold them….He tried to help them. Some of you should consider avoiding tv all together. The extreme over-reactive personalized responses you gave are more troubling than any tv show….even the one about red necks in England.
Latashi
July 26th, 2012
8:53 pm
Honey’s, we need to breathe…the people on the show are so funny,stupid and strictly entertaining…En-ter-tain-ment!
Erin Harper
July 26th, 2012
10:12 pm
VH1 Protest Organizer Explains Why She is Full of Hate http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-harper/boycott-love-and-hip-hop-atlanta_b_1621567.html
Tia
July 27th, 2012
4:09 am
I TOTALLY LOVE LHHATL !!! THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT, SO STAY FOCUSED PPL!!!!
THE WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL AND THE MEN ARE SEXY !!! LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!
PS. STOP SAYING YOU DON’T LIKE IT, BUT YOU SEEM TO BE TUNED IN TO EVERY EPISODE!!! LMAO AT ALL OF YOU !!!!
MIMI.....
July 27th, 2012
4:12 am
WE LOVE THAT SHOW!!!
DIAMOND :)
July 27th, 2012
4:12 am
LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK!!!!
COURTNEY BLAZE
July 27th, 2012
4:13 am
I LOVE THE HIGH FASHION AND BEAUTIFUL HAIR!!! TOTALLY ROCKS!!!
6 CHAINZ LESLIE
July 27th, 2012
4:14 am
I LOVE MYSELF SOME STEVIE!!!!
NYC STUNNER
July 27th, 2012
4:15 am
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND ATL IS A FABULOUS PLACE!!! THESE PPL ARE BALLERS WITH NO BUDGET AND I TOTALLY LOVE IT!!!
ATL SHORTY
July 27th, 2012
4:16 am
LOVE THIS SHOW TO THE DEATH OF ME….. ATL IS SO RICH IN CULTURE AND THESE PPL ARE NOT EVEN FROM THE ATL BUT I LOVE THEM ANYWAYZZZZZZZZ!!!!!
TAJ
July 27th, 2012
4:18 am
BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND SEXY CLOTHES!! LOVE IT!!!
LOLLI
July 27th, 2012
4:18 am
TOTALLY CUTE!!!
JOSH
July 27th, 2012
4:19 am
I LOVE MYSELF SOME BLACK WOMEN AND THESE GIRLS ARE BEAUTIFUL !! STOP HATING!!!!!!!!
mark
July 27th, 2012
7:31 am
lol, shows you how ignorant people can be. your statement comparing the Cosby Show t this crap.. Ok, so in your words, ” The Cosby Show didnt represent black America”. perhaps it would have been a good blue print to study… instead you have uneducated, greedy, low class idiots representing your demographic… must make you quite proud… quite frankly, I dont blame Bill Cosby for ‘ calling out ‘ the younger generation of black americans. you are not acting ‘ white ‘, by portraying doctors instead of talentless rappers, etc. Yes, talentless.. I shoot photos of these mindless fools.. it’s sad, but i laugh AT you.. No, it’s a very small part of what I do, so dont think i am ‘ exploiting ‘, nice try…
Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Ratings Hit For VH1, Casting Changes Next Season | Rucuss
July 27th, 2012
4:30 pm
[...] seen a steady spike in ratings since its opening at 1.9 million in its first airing in June, the Access Atlanta reports. The website even revealed that the show is pulling in more viewers than Bravo’s Real [...]
Kate
July 27th, 2012
5:10 pm
This is television what do you expect. Everyone has an option about everything good or bad. I absolutely love watching this show because it’s entertaining and as mugglemikki said how is it any worse than MOB WIVES especially. LMAO constantly…..
More relationship advice from Love and Hip Hop Atlanta | Your high education waits for you!
July 28th, 2012
6:57 am
[...] some people are still in awe of the portrayal of women in this show, the show is popularity has millions of viewers watching the show every week. With all the arguing and table shaking, there are still relationship [...]
Magic Tam
July 29th, 2012
1:52 pm
I love this show Love and Hip Hop Atlanta. It shows what is really going on. We all grew up on General Hospital and Days of our Lives, this show runs circles around those soaps. Let’s support our people as they entertain us….
Queens NY
July 29th, 2012
2:47 pm
Black people why do we continue to allow white America to exploit us like this!! Don’t you want to see the best of what we represent as a people and as a culture? I mean really?!! I hate VH1 and all of you stupid, ignorant blacks folks on the show and those who watch shows such as this hot ghetto, no class, low life mess!
Truthpaste
July 29th, 2012
11:14 pm
I love Hip-Hop. THAT is not Hip-Hop.
Upplekray
July 30th, 2012
4:39 pm
I do not understand why people are acting like some parts of the A are not hood! We have all types of black people in Atlanta, and just because the people on Love & Hip Hop do not act you, doesn’t mean they are a disgrace to black people.
LVR56
July 30th, 2012
8:03 pm
Enter your comments here 3.5M viewers. This show makes me laugh. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Stevie J. needs to watch out because like it or not Joseline is going to be a super duper moneymaker. If he blinks, some major label is going to steal her and he and Mimi will be standing on the highway watching their meal ticket ride off into the sunset. LMBO. I love K. Michelle, Rasheeda, Mimi, Shay, Momma Dee ( crazzy). Nightime soap opera. That’s all it is folks.
‘Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’ recap, season 1, episode 7 | Radio & TV Talk
July 30th, 2012
10:59 pm
[...] Fans have dubbed this a guilty pleasure, pure and simple entertainment. Foes consider it an abominat…. [...]
Camay
July 30th, 2012
11:49 pm
T.V. was invented to be a mindless distraction so it’s really only fulfilling it’s purpose. Get outside do some exercise, read a book (before they become completely obsolete) use your money to travel the world and see how other cultures live so you can have a more clearer perspective on life as whole. When you value your time here on this planet you will not want to waste it watching other peoples problems when you really need to get on with fixing your own. Not judging anyone that watches the show it is what it is.
Negast
July 31st, 2012
12:00 am
Lets not fool ourselves the show really is trash, but it’s no more trash then any other reality show, daytime soap’s been trash. As a matter of fact the sister is right when she wrote “T.V is a mindless distraction” it is a few (wasted) minutes being entertained by other peoples fake rehearsed drama. Dame! 3.5 million viewers… if this is what life has become then please let the Mayan prediction be right that way it will all be over soon fokes.
realitycheck
July 31st, 2012
5:34 pm
Why is it always about the African American reality shows. Has anyone checked out some of the other reality shows that are not predominantly African American. They fight, cheat and drink all the time, not to mention backstab and some of these are family members.