Transamerican Love Story

infobox television
show_name = Transamerican Love Story


caption =
format = Reality
runtime = 60 minutes
creator =
director =
executive_producer =
starring = Calpernia Addams
Alec Mapa
Andrea James
country = USA
network = Logo
first_aired = February 11, 2008
last_aired = April 7 2008
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 8
website = http://www.logoonline.com/shows/dyn/transamerican_love_story/series.jhtml
imdb_id = 1152813
tv_com_id =

"Transamerican Love Story" is an American reality television program featuring transgender woman Calpernia Addams and hosted by Alec Mapa.cite web |title=Transamerican Love Story |accessdate=2007-02-17 |url=http://www.logoonline.com/shows/dyn/transamerican_love_story/series.jhtml |publisher=logoonline.com |quote= ] It originally aired on February 11, 2008 at 10pm on Logo, the LGBT television network. The show is similar in format to other reality dating shows in that each episode one potential suitor is eliminated.

The suitors

* Barry - a 45 year-old actor from Beverly Hills, California
* Blaine - a 47 year-old car dealer
* Jim - a 32 year-old transgender writer from Hilliard, Ohio
* Mark - a 34 year-old professional wrestler from New York City
* Mike - a 25 year-old personal trainer from Chicago, Illinois
* Peter - a 25 year-old media consultant from Encino, California
* Rich - a 37 year-old yoga instructor originally from New York City
* Shawn - a 33 year-old concert promoter from Ventura, California

Episodes

Episode One: Getting to Know You

Calpernia is introduced to eight bachelors, ranging from straight, pansexual and transsexual male. The men spend one on one time with Calpernia while her friend Andrea James entertains the other gentlemen. Later that night, Calpernia hosts a harem sleepover party while the men tend to her every need. Based on that evening, Calpernia decides to eliminate Blaine, who previously revealed that he had owned a transsexual porn business.

Episode Two: Something's Cookin'

Calpernia's friends are invited to a southern dinner prepared by the men. The men shop at a nearby kosher market and quickly realize that many Southern ingredients aren't kosher. The men initially get along while preparing the meal but things becoms more strained as the cooking progresses. Barry, having taken control of the cooking and organizing the men, earns a wine-and-cheese date with Calpernia. The guests arrive for dinner, several dishes of which are not well-prepared. The dinner party ends with a singalong initiated by Shawn. Shawn earns a few moments with Calpernia based on her friends' recommendations and they share a short kiss. Jim reveals to Mark that he is a transgendered man and is pleasantly surprised by Mark's positive reaction. At the elimination, Calpernia sends Barry home.

Episode Three: Love's a Beach

The six remaining suitors go through a "mini boot camp" with a female to male former drill sergeant while Calpernia and Andrea watch from a nearby yacht. Following the boot camp the men race to the yacht on two-man rubber rafts for the chance to win alone time with Calpernia. Shawn and Rich win the race and take the opportunity to get to know Calpernia better. Back on shore, Mark clashes with the other men, particularly Mike. The next day, Calpernia drops by to spend some alone time with Mark. Peter (who's worried about having had no alone time with her) and Mike crash the end of their date. Jim tells all of the remaining suitors that he is transgender and they are all very supportive. At the elimination ceremony, Calpernia eliminates Rich, saying they would make better friends.

Episode Four: I Love the Nightlife

Mark continues to come into conflict with the other suitors. Calpernia brings the men to a club where several of her friends (including original club kid James St. James) evaluate them. Calpernia performs her song "Stunning" and the men learn they will then perform for her. Mark is initially adamantly opposed, but eventually agrees to put on a performance. Mike wins the performance competition and earns alone time with Calpernia during a limo ride. The next day Calpernia finally spends some alone time with Peter but she's concerned that he's more interested in the mint juleps she's serving than in her. Calpernia eliminates Peter at that night's ceremony.

Episode Five: I Like the Way You Move

The episode begins with group interactions between the remaining four suitors. The country/western themed episode involves the suitors learning two-stepping at [http://oilcanharrysla.com Oil Can Harry's] and a "family dinner" at the mansion. The dinner becomes a shouting match, culminating in Calpernia's breaking down in tears. The next day, Shawn must leave the mansion to attend a funeral. Calpernia eliminates Mark at that evening's ceremony.

Episode Six: Meet the Folks

This episode stresses the importance of family. With Shawn absent for a funeral, only Jim and Mike are left to meet Calpernia's "drag mother", Chyna. Calpernia goes to Las Vegas with Mike to meet his mother and father, and to Ventura with Shawn to see his home neighborhood. Jim's parents and former roommates visit the mansion to meet Calpernia. At the end of the episode, there is an elimination ceremony in which Jim and Shawn are invited to stay. However, in a twist, Mike is also invited to continue, and Calpernia announces that all four of them are returning to Los Angeles for the final portion of the competition.

Episode Seven

Host Alec Mapa recaps the series so far, including clips from previous episodes and interviews with the remaining suitors and Calpernia.

Episode Eight: Season Finale

Calpernia and the three remaining suitors move to a luxury hotel and the suitors get makeovers. Calpernia calls Jim to her room and eliminates him. Mike and Shawn each make their final pitch for Calpernia's heart and in the end she selects Shawn.

Critical response

The "Washington Blade" praised the series, citing it as "refreshing for its lack of sensationalism." [cite news
last = Rosen
first = Zach
coauthors =
title = Springtime blossoms
work = Washington Blade
date = 2008-03-07
url = http://www.washblade.com/2008/3-7/arts/television/12179.cfm
accessdate = 2008-03-16]

Follow-up

As of June 2008, Calpernia and Shawn were still seeing each other, although she describes the relationship as casual. [cite news
last = Santoscoy
first = Carlos
coauthors =
title = Calpernia Addams On Love & Transgender Rights
work = On Top magazine
date = 2008-06-05
url = http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=1768&MediaType=1&Category=26
accessdate = 2008-08-01]

References

External links

* [http://imdb.com/title/tt1152813/ Transamerican Love Story] at the Internet Movie Database