Love Island (American TV series) season 1 explained

Bgcolour:
  1. D7B785
Season Number:1
Module1:
Num Days:32
Num Contestants:25
Winner:
  • Elizabeth Weber
  • Zac Mirabelli
Runner Up:
  • Dylan Curry
  • Alexandra Stewart
Num Episodes:22
Network:CBS

The first season of the American version of the television reality program Love Island began airing on July 9, 2019, and concluded on August 7, 2019. The 22-episode series was broadcast on CBS in the United States and CTV in Canada. Arielle Vandenberg hosted the series while Matthew Hoffman provided voice-over narration. On August 7, 2019, having received the largest quantity of votes from the public, Elizabeth Weber and Zac Mirabelli were crowned the winners and split the prize. Dylan Curry and Alexandra Stewart were named the runners-up.

The show's first season generally received mixed reviews from critics[1] and its ratings were not as high as CBS's expectations.[2] The series was renewed for a second season before the first had finished airing.[3]

Format

Love Island is a reality television program in which a group of contestants, who are referred to as "Islanders", are living in a villa in Fiji. The Islanders are cut off from the outside world and are under constant video surveillance. To survive in the villa, the Islanders must be in a relationship with another Islander. The Islanders couple up for the first time on first impressions but they are later forced to "re-couple" at special ceremonies in which they can choose to remain with their current partners or to switch partners. At the villa, the couples must share a bed for sleeping and are permitted to talk with other Islanders at any time, allowing them to get to know everyone.[4] While in the villa, each Islander has his or her own telephone, with which they can contact other Islanders via text and can receive text messages informing them of the latest challenges, dumpings, and re-couplings. While the Islanders might appear to have unmediated access to the outside world, they are limited in both their alcohol consumption and communication with the outside world.[5]

The Islanders are presented with many games and challenges that are designed to test their physical and mental abilities, after which the winners are sometimes presented with special prizes, such as a night at the Hideaway or a special date.[6]

Islanders can be eliminated, or "dumped", for several reasons; these include remaining single after a re-coupling and by public vote through the Love Island mobile app. During the show's final week, members of the public vote to decide which couple should win the series; the couple who receive the most votes win.[6]

At the envelope ceremony on finale night, the couple who received the highest number of votes from the public receive two envelopes, one for each partner. One envelope contains and the other contains nothing. The partner with the envelope may choose whether to share the money with his or her partner as a test of trust and commitment.[4]

Islanders

On June 30, 2019, the initial Islanders were revealed. These Islanders entered the villa on July 7. All of the other Islanders were revealed as the series progressed.[7] At the envelope ceremony, Elizabeth drew the envelope containing the $100,000 and decided to split the money with her partner, Zac.[8] [9]

IslanderAgeResidenceEnteredExitedStatusRef
Elizabeth Weber24New York City, New YorkDay 1Day 32[10]
Zac Mirabelli22Chicago, IllinoisDay 1Day 32
Alexandra Stewart25Los Angeles, CaliforniaDay 1Day 32
Dylan Curry25San Diego, CaliforniaDay 4 Day 32
Caroline "Caro" Viehweg21Los Angeles, CaliforniaDay 1Day 32Third place
Raymond "Ray" Gantt23Hillside, New JerseyDay 15Day 32Third place
Emily Salch21Groton, New YorkDay 21Day 32Fourth place
Weston Richey25Dallas, TexasDay 1Day 32Fourth place
Kyra Green22Los Angeles, CaliforniaDay 1Day 30
Jered Youngblood27Lakeland, FloridaDay 21Day 30
Aissata Diallo25Highbridge, New York[11] Day 15Day 26
Yamen Sanders24Inglewood, California[12] Day 1Day 26
Anton Morrow23Los Angeles, CaliforniaDay 21Day 24
Eric Hall27Toronto, OntarioDay 15Day 24
Kelsey Jurewicz25Newark, DelawareDay 15Day 24
Katrina Dimaranan26Day 10Day 20
Cashel Barnett27Sacramento, CaliforniaDay 1Day 20
Winston Hines29Lexington, KentuckyDay 11Day 18
Marlisse "Marli" Tyndall20Miami, FloridaDay 15Day 17
George Johnson30Beverly Hills, CaliforniaDay 15Day 17
Christen McAllister24Los Angeles, CaliforniaDay 10Day 12
Cormac Murphy26New York, New YorkDay 4Day 12
Alana Morrison21Day 1Day 11
Mallory Santic25Vancouver, WashingtonDay 1Day 11
Michael Yi29Miami, FloridaDay 1Day 6

Future appearances

Kyra Green appeared on the new MTV dating series Match Me If You Can in 2021. Ray Gantt & Caro Viehweg competed as a team on The Amazing Race 33,[13] prior to the suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they did not return for the resumption of that season.[14] [15] [16] Cormac Murphy briefly appeared on the 10th series of Celebs Go Dating. Gantt, Viehweg and Green appeared on the fifth season of MTV's Ex on the Beach along with Emily Salch.[17] In 2022, Green competed on along with Cashel Barnett.[18]

Ray and Kyra appeared on Love Island Games.

Coupling and elimination history

Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5
Day 1Day 3Day 6Day 11Day 12 Day 17Day 18Day 20Day 24Day 26Day 30Final
ElizabethZacZacZacSafeImmuneZacCashel & Katrina
to dump
ZacSafeFinalistSplit
the 100k
Winner
(Day 32)
ZacElizabethElizabethElizabethSafeImmuneElizabethCashel & Katrina
to dump
ElizabethSafeFinalistWinner
(Day 32)
AlexandraMichaelDylanDylanSafeImmuneDylan
to dump
DylanSafeFinalistRunner-up
(Day 32)
DylanAlexandraAlexandraSafeImmuneAlexandraCashel & Katrina
to dump
AlexandraSafeFinalistRunner-up
(Day 32)
CaroCashelSingleCormacCormacVulnerableImmuneRayCashel & Katrina
to dump
RaySafeFinalistThird Place
(Day 32)
RayVulnerable CaroCashel & Katrina
to dump
CaroSafeFinalistThird Place
(Day 32)
EmilyWestonSafeFinalistFourth Place
(Day 32)
WestonMalloryMalloryKatrinaSafeImmuneKelseyCashel & Katrina
to dump
EmilySafeFinalistFourth Place
(Day 32)
KyraSingleCashelCashelCashelSafeImmuneEricVulnerableJeredSafeEliminatedDumped
(Day 30)
JeredKyraSafeEliminatedDumped
(Day 30)
AissataVulnerableYamenVulnerableYamenEliminatedDumped
(Day 26)
YamenAlanaAlanaChristenVulnerableImmuneAissataVulnerableAissataEliminatedDumped
(Day 26)
AntonSingleDumped
(Day 24)
EricSafeKyraVulnerableSingleDumped
(Day 24)
KelseySafeWestonCashel & Katrina
to dump
colspan="6"
KatrinaWestonSafeImmuneCashelVulnerableDumped
(Day 20)
CashelCaroKyraKyraKyraSafeImmuneKatrinaVulnerableDumped
(Day 20)
WinstonImmuneImmuneSingleDumped
(Day 18)
MarliVulnerable Dumped
(Day 17)
GeorgeVulnerableDumped
(Day 17)
ChristenYamenVulnerableDumped
(Day 12)
CormacCaroCaroVulnerableDumped
(Day 12)
AlanaYamenYamenSingleDumped
(Day 11)
MalloryWestonWestonSingleDumped
(Day 11)
MichaelAlexandraSingleDumped
(Day 6)
Notes1none23none45678
Walkednonenone
DumpedNo
Dumping
Michael

couple up
Alana,
Mallory


couple up
Cormac
Islanders' choice
to dump
George
Women's choice
to dump
Winston

couple up

4 of 4 votes
to dump
Anton,
Eric


couple up

America's choice
to dump

America's choice
to dump
Emily & Weston
Caro & Ray
Christen
Islanders' choice
to dump
Marli
Men's choice
to dump
Alexandra & Dylan

Notes

Episodes

See main article: List of Love Island (American TV series) episodes.

Production

Development

On February 22, 2006, it was announced an American version of Celebrity Love Island was in development at My Network TV[19] [20] but the program was never produced.[21] On August 8, 2018, it was reported CBS had acquired from ITV Studios and Motion Content Group the rights to produce an American non-celebrity version of the show with David George, Adam Sher, and David Eilenberg serving as executive producers.[22] Simon Thomas, Mandy Morris, Ben Thursby, Richard Foster, and Chet Fenster later joined the series as executive producers in addition to the original three.[23] It was also announced Arielle Vandenberg would be hosting the series.[24] Matthew Hoffman was selected as the narrator for the series; his narrative style involved leveling sarcastic comments at the contestants in voice-overs.[25] [26] CBS budgeted $30 million to produce the season.[27]

On August 1, 2019, CBS renewed the series for a second season.[28] [29]

Filming

Filming started on July 7, 2019, two days before the Islanders entered the villa. Filming took 32 days and ended on August 7 during the live-to-tape finale. Rather than using a villa on the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca as the UK series does,[30] the American Love Island is filmed in a custom-built villa on an island in Fiji.[31] Series producers chose Fiji as a location because "it 'meant something to Americans' and 'feels like a place you would want to come and fall in love'."[32]

Villa

The villa features a two-story house in which the Islanders live; it has a communal bedroom and an outdoor kitchen downstairs.[33] The outdoor area has a pool, hot tub, gymnasium, outdoor bar, shower, and lounge areas,[34] and also a fire pit where most re-couplings take place.[35] There are seven queen-sized beds in the communal bedroom, which the couples share throughout the season.[36] [4] The second floor of the villa has a bathroom containing an infinity bathtub, dressing area, balcony, and a toilet, which the Islanders shared. Also upstairs is a room with four vanities and a balcony where the women could get ready.[33] Areas of the villa, including its garden, collectively contain 3,000 locally sourced plants.[37] Over a mile of neon lights are strung around parts of the villa.[38]

The Hideaway, designed by Jonathan Adler, is a secluded bedroom and outdoor area. Couples could earn the privilege of spending a night at the Hideaway by winning one of the games that are regularly played in the villa during the season.[39]

Broadcast

The series opened with a 90-minute premiere on July 9, 2019. From July 9 to August 7, 2019, 22 episodes were aired, each lasting around 60 minutes.[40] [41] The series was simulcast on CTV in Canada.[42] On Saturday, July 27, 2019, American television channel Pop broadcast a 14-hour marathon of the first fourteen episodes of the series.[43]

Prize

As part of the Love Island format, after the winning couple was announced, they were presented with two envelopes, one of which contained the prize; the other envelope contained nothing. They both chose an envelope and announced what was inside. The Islander who chose the envelope containing the prize money decided whether to share the money with the partner or take it all.[44]

Reunion

On October 17, 2019, starting at 7 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, the contestants of the first series of Love Island, including host Arielle Vandenberg and narrator Matthew Hoffman, attended a reunion party.[45] The reunion would have been the first time the entire cast of the series was together[46] but Mallory Santic, Cormac Murphy, Marli Tyndall, Winston Hines, Kelsey Jurewicz, and Anton Morrow did not attend.[47] Viewers could ask questions of the cast through social media.[46]

Reception

Critical response

Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the first American series of Love Island 55%, holding an average rating of 5.25 out of 10 with the consensus being "Crude, rude, but without that charming British attitude, Love Island fails to make a splash across the pond—though fans may still find comfort in its cynically familiar formula".[48] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gives the series a score of 56 indicating "mixed or average reviews".[49] After watching the pilot, Yohana Desta of Vanity Fair said the series "was a charmer in its first episode" but noted the differences between host Arielle Vandenberg and narrator Matthew Hoffman from their British counterparts Caroline Flack and Iain Stirling, respectively, stating Vanderberg is much more of a joker than Flack and that Hoffman had not captured the "snarky energy" of Stirling.[50] Eric Thurm of The A.V. Club called the series "pure chaotic evil" and said, "Love Island is about a bunch of hot people sitting by a pool bonding over the fact that they have nothing to do". Thurm also said the pacing is too quick, with Islanders doing nothing and everything in the same episode.[51] Reviewing the first five episodes, Kathryn VanArendonk of Vulture stated "Love Island is boring, but hard to escape",[52] but Ben Travers of IndieWire opined that the contestants were bland.[53]

Viewing figures

CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl told The Hollywood Reporter it was targeting a young, mostly female audience for the series.[54] It also said the average Love Island viewer is eight years younger than CBS' wider average audience. Kahl also said there was a large, social-media-based engagement with the series, noting it has created a large amount of enthusiasm at the network.[55] Despite regularly having generally poor viewing figures, CBS revealed Love Island was the most-streamed show on CBS All Access during the summer television schedule, outpacing other summer series Big Brother as well as other popular CBS series including Survivor and The Big Bang Theory.[56] [57] On August 29, 2019, Love Island averaged a 3.7% share in the 18-49 demographic and 2.7 million viewers per episode.[58]

Despite the first season receiving mixed reviews from critics[1] and less-than-ideal viewing figures,[2] the series was renewed for a second season.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Love Island USA: What did viewers and critics think?. McIntosh. Steven. August 8, 2019. August 12, 2019. BBC News.
  2. Web site: Love Island U.S. Will Crack on for a Second Season Despite Shaky Ratings. Desta. Yohana. August 1, 2019. August 12, 2019. Vanity Fair.
  3. Web site: 'Love Island' Renewed for Season 2 on CBS. Porter. Rick. August 1, 2019. August 12, 2019. The Hollywood Reporter.
  4. Web site: Phillips . Hedy . So You've Been Watching Love Island and Have a Few Questions — Let Us Help . popsugar.com . POPSUGAR . April 4, 2020 . July 16, 2019 .
  5. Web site: Sorren. Martha. Here's How "Love Island" Works, In Case You've New To The Villa. 2021-04-03. www.refinery29.com. en.
  6. Web site: Moylan . Brian . What to Know About Love Island Before Its U.S. Debut . vulture.com . Vulture . April 4, 2020 . July 8, 2019 .
  7. Web site: Real . Evan . CBS' 'Love Island' Reveals Its First Season Cast . Hollywood Reporter . 30 June 2019 . 2 July 2019.
  8. Web site: Piester . Lauren . Who Won Love Island USA? . E! News . 7 September 2019. 2019-08-08 .
  9. Web site: Rovenstine . Dalene . Love Island USA Recap: America's Favorite Couple Is… . TV Guide . 7 September 2019. 2019-08-07 .
  10. Web site: Who's In The Season 1 Cast Of Love Island?. July 18, 2019. CBS.
  11. https://www.bxtimes.com/mixing-traditional-guinea-culture-and-a-reality-show/
  12. https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/football/roster/yamen-sanders/1730
  13. Web site: Andy Dehnart . Andy Dehnart . Amazing Race 33 is now filming, and one team is a Love Island couple . realityblurred.com . Reality Blurred . February 29, 2020 . English . February 23, 2020 .
  14. Web site: Aguilera . Jasmine . CBS Suspends Production of Travel Competition Show The Amazing Race as Coronavirus Spreads . time.com . Time . February 29, 2020 . English . February 28, 2020 .
  15. Web site: Low . Elaine . Tangcay . Jazz . CBS Suspends 'The Amazing Race' Production Over Coronavirus Fears (EXCLUSIVE) . variety.com . Variety . February 29, 2020 . English . February 28, 2020 .
  16. Web site: Amazing Race: Why Caro & Ray Didn't Return After The Delay. Screen Rant. Long. Mackenzie. January 19, 2022. June 27, 2022.
  17. Web site: Jackson. Dory. Ex on the Beach Is Returning to MTV with a Sexy New Cast of Reality Stars — Watch the First Look. People. March 11, 2022. March 10, 2022.
  18. Web site: CBS' The Challenge: USA Cast Includes Big Brother 23's Xavier, Survivor 27's Tyson, Amazing Racers and Others. Mitovich. Matt. TVLine. June 8, 2022. June 8, 2022.
  19. Web site: News Corp. Unveils My Network TV. M. Higgins. John. Eggerton. John. February 22, 2006. July 9, 2019. Broadcasting and Cable.
  20. Web site: FOX to Launch My Network TV. February 22, 2006. July 9, 2019. The Futon Critic.
  21. Web site: Hibberd . James . Andreeva . Nellie . The top 10 biggest TV blunders of the decade . reuters.com . Reuters . March 16, 2020 . English . March 16, 2020 .
  22. Web site: CBS Secures U.S. Format Rights to International Smash Hit "Love Island" for New Series Order Produced by ITV Entertainment. August 8, 2018. July 9, 2019. The Futon Critic.
  23. Web site: U.S. Viewers Will Get Their Own "Love Island" This Summer. May 22, 2019. July 9, 2019. The Futon Critic.
  24. Web site: Actress and Comedian Arielle Vandenberg to Host "Love Island" This Summer on CBS!. June 20, 2019. July 9, 2019. The Futon Critic.
  25. Web site: Love Island Cast: Matthew Hoffman . CBS . 1 August 2019.
  26. Web site: Thomas . Leah . Who Is The Narrator On 'Love Island' U.S.? Matthew Hoffman Is Cracking Fans Up . bustle.com . Bustle . March 20, 2020 . English . July 12, 2019 .
  27. Web site: What are the major differences between the UK and US versions of Love Island?. Bond. Kimberly. July 10, 2019. April 4, 2020. Radio Times.
  28. Web site: 'Love Island' Renewed for Season 2 at CBS. Thorne. Will. August 1, 2019. August 1, 2019. Variety.
  29. Web site: CBS Renews "Love Island" Season Two for Summer 2020. August 1, 2019. August 1, 2019. The Futon Critic.
  30. Web site: Westbrook . Caroline . Where is the new Love Island villa – where is the 2020 series filmed? . metro.co.uk . Metro . March 16, 2020 . English . January 13, 2020 .
  31. Web site: Love Island USA: First look inside Pacific villa that has got UK fans 'jealous'. Brinsford. James. July 9, 2019. August 12, 2019. Daily Mirror.
  32. Web site: Where is Love Island USA filmed?. Lindsay. Jessica. June 11, 2019. August 12, 2019. Metro News.
  33. Love Island USA: Host Arielle Vandenberg Gives Fans A Tour Of The Villa. July 7, 2019. August 12, 2019. YouTube.
  34. Web site: Love Island USA's villa is completely different to the UK version – see the pictures. Griffiths. Emmy. July 10, 2019. August 12, 2019. Hello Magazine.
  35. Web site: Love Island USA: See Pics of the New Villa!. Hatchett. Keisha. August 12, 2019. TV Guide.
  36. Host Arielle Vandenberg Reveals All… Of The Stunning "Love Island" Villa!. July 8, 2019 . August 12, 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200316151153/https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=53023 . March 16, 2020 . CBS Press Express.
  37. Web site: Take a Picture-Perfect Look Inside the Luxurious Love Island Villa in Romantic Fiji. Bloom. Mike. July 8, 2019. August 12, 2019. Parade.
  38. Web site: Before Love Island's premiere, here are some things you should know. Andy Dehnart. Andy Dehnart. July 8, 2019. August 12, 2019. Reality Blurred.
  39. Web site: Love Island: Tour the Stunning Fiji Villa That Will Be Home to the First American Islanders. Corinthios. Aurelie. July 8, 2019. People. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190709102220/https://people.com/home/love-island-usa-fiji-villa-tour/ . July 9, 2019 . March 16, 2020.
  40. Web site: How to Watch Love Island Online for Free. Dibdin. Emma. July 8, 2019. July 9, 2019. Oprah Magazine.
  41. Web site: Shows A-Z - love island on cbs.
  42. Web site: Love Island . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190709162338/https://www.ctv.ca/Love-Island . July 9, 2019 . July 9, 2019.
  43. Web site: Pop TV Sets a Scorching Marathon of Every Episode to Date of CBS' Reality Romance "Love Island" on Saturday, July 27 from 9:00 AM to Midnight. July 25, 2019. August 1, 2019. The Futon Critic.
  44. Web site: What's The Prize On 'Love Island' U.S.? Coupling Up Is More Than An Emotional Investment. Marilla Thomas. Leah. July 16, 2019. August 6, 2019. Bustle.
  45. loveislandusa. 1183805061433942017. October 14, 2019. You're cordially invited to the official #LoveIslandUSA Reunion 2019....
  46. Web site: Lewis . Rachelle . Love Island USA cast spills island secrets at reunion party . monstersandcritics.com . Monsters & Critics . December 1, 2019 . October 18, 2019.
  47. loveislandusa. 1185015673165991936. October 17, 2019. Family photo! #LoveIslandUSA.
  48. Web site: Love Island: Season 1 (2019). February 20, 2024. Rotten Tomatoes.
  49. Web site: Love Island (2019). August 12, 2019. Metacritic.
  50. Web site: Love Island USA Premieres: The Charm Is There, but Will It Last?. Desta. Yohana. July 10, 2019. August 12, 2019. Vanity Fair.
  51. Web site: The American Love Island doesn't quite land like the original. Thrum. Eric. July 10, 2019. August 12, 2019. The A.V. Club.
  52. Web site: Love Island Is Boring, But Hard to Escape. VanArendonk. Kathryn. July 15, 2019. August 12, 2019. Vulture.
  53. Web site: 'Love Island' Is Drowning in Indecisiveness. Travers. Ben. August 1, 2019. August 11, 2019. IndieWire.
  54. Web site: 'Love Island' Renewed for Season 2 on CBS. Porter. Rick. August 1, 2019. August 1, 2019. The Hollywood Reporter.
  55. Web site: Love Island Season 2 Set for Summer 2020 on CBS. Harnick. Chris. August 1, 2019. August 1, 2019. E! Online.
  56. Web site: 'Love Island' Renewed for Season 2 on CBS. Porter. Rick. July 27, 2019. August 1, 2019. The Hollywood Reporter.
  57. Web site: Love Island renewed for season 2 despite modest ratings. Hibberd. James. August 1, 2019. August 1, 2019. Entertainment Weekly.
  58. Web site: The final consolidated ratings are in . itvstudios.com . ITV Studios . March 20, 2020 . English . August 29, 2019 .