Getting a tattoo used to be such a stigma until MIAMI INK came along and turn the trend around. Now anyone can get inked and at the same time get a chance to recount their sob stories. Ah! The beauty of reality TV, no?
Three seasons have come and gone. We're all familiar with Ami and Chris Núñez, who co-owned the shop. My favourites however are Garver (the quiet Maestro) and the adorable, ever-endearing Darren Bass. Not forgetting the sidekick apprentice, Funnyman - Yoji (Do not confuse with Funny cartoon character, Yogi Bear.) And the ephemeral appearance of Kat von D.
Fans of channel 16 ought to have known of the fall out between Ami and Kat (is it real or staged?) that prompted the latter to set up her own LA INK. Currently running its third episode in Singapore, we wanna know who's rooting for which camp. Me? I find myself waiting for LA INK to air every week...
Now as if the US ink series is not enough, do you know there's LONDON INK as well? Yeah! Yet another spin-off from Miami Ink, this UK reality show features Louis Molloy (David Beckham's tattooist - remember that controversial angel?), as he manages a tattoo studio in Britain with three others.
Miami Ink has leaked and smeared into a testosterone-pumped, monotonous repetition, with each episode always showing some hot beach babe/hunk wanting to get inked for some obscure, forgettable reasons. Also funny is how we never see Yoji advance (or do anything) in the studio or never heard anyone complain that "No! I HATE this tattoo"...
Sometimes we might be treated to weird characters wanting their five minutes of fame (like a vampire-wannabe or some gypsy "artist") or budding singers-from-a-band getting free PR by coming in for tattoos. Fake to the max, no one bothers to conceal it. Miami Ink is without current day media-farce, you say? But whatever it is, after three seasons of more or less the same boring stuff, we gotta warn ya, Miami Ink is running out of steam. Come on.. Even an octopus has more ink!
LA Ink is thus a refreshing spin-off. Note, I said spin-off, which implies the lack of creativity and individuality. However, it does have certain special flavors of its own. Girly - check out that hot pink studio with a photo booth!
...(and naturally more bitchy), so far it felt like a more complete reality show as we get to peer into the artistes' lives as well as those usual fame-hungry commoners. LA Ink's selling point I reckon, is the occasional celeb-peeks, inevitable cat-fights and perhaps all the hype Kat von D is stirring with viewers wondering, "Damn! Did she go under the knife?"
All we can hope now is for the already-lagging-behind Singapore Discovery Travel and Living Channel to realise the Ink series won't be complete without its British counterpart hence, we could only pick our fave when they decide to air London Ink here as well. After all, we could all use a lil' Brit accent, no?
But for now, if you can't get enough of all the goss and tabloids, check out the on-going, frequently-updated REALITY INK!
And in case you don't have an INKLING what we've just talked about, LA ink airs every Wednesday at 10pm (and repeats on Sunday, 12mn). Get Inked.
- the Fad girl
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