For the Love of Ray J was a dating show on VH1 that featured hip hop singer Ray J.[1][2][3] The program had a format similar to Flavor of Love, I Love New York, and Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.[4] One source noted that it would "be produced by the same geniuses" as those shows, 51 Minds.[5] In reference to the series, Ray J said:
I've been in this game a long time... I've been with a lot of women but I'm ready to get out. I want to do this show to find a ride or die chick, a chick that makes me want to get out of the game.[6]
The show, which premiered on February 2, 2009, followed Ray J and his entourage of female suitors to clubs in Los Angeles, to Las Vegas where they partied with his friends, and to Ray's childhood home where they met his family and older sister Brandy Norwood.
According to one commentator, the concept of the show involved pampering the contestants with "upscale trips throughout the series" and Ray J being "so in love" he had "already given participating girls names like Cashmere, Unique and Hot Cocoa."[7][8]
First aired February 2, 2009
Multi-platinum hip-hop artist Ray J has traveled the world and lived the life of a superstar, but now he's ready to find true love. 14 lovely women join Ray at an exclusive concert in Hollywood where Ray performs his hit single "Sexy Can I". After the stunning performance, they are whisked away to Ray J's palatial mansion and treated to a sumptuous dinner, as well as more and more drinks. After one-on-one interviews marked by stripper splits, drunkenness and tears, Ray sends two of the girls home.— VH1 episode summary[12]
Multi-platinum hip-hop artist Ray J has traveled the world and lived the life of a superstar, but now he's ready to find true love. 14 lovely women join Ray at an exclusive concert in Hollywood where Ray performs his hit single "Sexy Can I". After the stunning performance, they are whisked away to Ray J's palatial mansion and treated to a sumptuous dinner, as well as more and more drinks. After one-on-one interviews marked by stripper splits, drunkenness and tears, Ray sends two of the girls home.
First Aired February 9, 2009
Because Ray is on the road as a performer so much, he's looking for a woman who can keep him interested and entertained while he's away from home. So Ray challenges his ladies to impress him with a "video chat." Almost all of the ladies do just that, but the three that impressed him the most go on a sexy yacht date where he learns from them that one of the girls in the house may still have a boyfriend at home. At eliminations, Ray realizes not just one, but two more girls aren't fit to stay in the house and must go home.— VH1 episode summary[13]
Because Ray is on the road as a performer so much, he's looking for a woman who can keep him interested and entertained while he's away from home. So Ray challenges his ladies to impress him with a "video chat." Almost all of the ladies do just that, but the three that impressed him the most go on a sexy yacht date where he learns from them that one of the girls in the house may still have a boyfriend at home. At eliminations, Ray realizes not just one, but two more girls aren't fit to stay in the house and must go home.
First aired February 16, 2009 (2.254M viewers)[14]
Ray J's house has quickly become divided between the diva/party girls and the darling/conservative girls. In search of a girl who really knows him, Ray creates a challenge to test the girls - The Foxy Feud Challenge. Ray splits the girls into the two cliques in the house - the Divas and the Darlings - to see who's been paying attention. Pushed to know the most about Ray, one team easily wins the challenge. The captain of the winning team and Ray go out for a personal and romantic evening that goes perfectly until she reveals information that shocks Ray and makes him think about what he is really looking for. At eliminations, the situation becomes tense when some girls are called out and another girl is sent home.— VH1 episode summary[15]
Ray J's house has quickly become divided between the diva/party girls and the darling/conservative girls. In search of a girl who really knows him, Ray creates a challenge to test the girls - The Foxy Feud Challenge. Ray splits the girls into the two cliques in the house - the Divas and the Darlings - to see who's been paying attention. Pushed to know the most about Ray, one team easily wins the challenge. The captain of the winning team and Ray go out for a personal and romantic evening that goes perfectly until she reveals information that shocks Ray and makes him think about what he is really looking for. At eliminations, the situation becomes tense when some girls are called out and another girl is sent home.
Ray J has the girls play a game called "Foxy Feud" which is a parody of Family Feud.
First Aired February 23, 2009
Ray's down to 9 girls, so he challenges them to see if they can be a part of his musical life with a Motown-inspired singing challenge! The girls will be judged on singing ability, choreography, style and overall performance. One girl's questionable relationship is revealed and another's advances prove too much for Ray's taste -- and yet another young lady is sent packing.— VH1 episode summary[16]
Ray's down to 9 girls, so he challenges them to see if they can be a part of his musical life with a Motown-inspired singing challenge! The girls will be judged on singing ability, choreography, style and overall performance. One girl's questionable relationship is revealed and another's advances prove too much for Ray's taste -- and yet another young lady is sent packing.
First Aired March 2, 2009 (2.434M viewers)[17]
A lot of tension has been building in the house between the girls so Ray decides everyone needs to blow off some steam for the next challenge. With the help of renowned boxing trainer Jack Mosley, the girls get a lesson in boxing basics before they take on one another in some very intense ring fighting! The winning team gets a night at a hot dance club with Ray for some fun and craziness. Feeling the freedom of getting out of the house some of the girls get a little too loose on the date...leading Ray to once again weed through the girls who are there for the wrong reasons.— VH1 episode summary[18]
A lot of tension has been building in the house between the girls so Ray decides everyone needs to blow off some steam for the next challenge. With the help of renowned boxing trainer Jack Mosley, the girls get a lesson in boxing basics before they take on one another in some very intense ring fighting! The winning team gets a night at a hot dance club with Ray for some fun and craziness. Feeling the freedom of getting out of the house some of the girls get a little too loose on the date...leading Ray to once again weed through the girls who are there for the wrong reasons.
First aired March 16, 2009 (2.701M viewers)[19]
Tensions continue to rise as the cliques in the house clash even further. Ray asks to find out about the girls' passions and it turns out that four of them love to be scantily clad, no matter what they're doing. Later Ray takes all the girls out on a date and finds out a shocking secret about one girl's past. The next day, Ray takes two girls on a steamy pool date, and one girl is pushed to her emotional limit, leading to a stunning tear-filled ending.— VH1 episode summary[20]
Tensions continue to rise as the cliques in the house clash even further. Ray asks to find out about the girls' passions and it turns out that four of them love to be scantily clad, no matter what they're doing. Later Ray takes all the girls out on a date and finds out a shocking secret about one girl's past. The next day, Ray takes two girls on a steamy pool date, and one girl is pushed to her emotional limit, leading to a stunning tear-filled ending.
First aired March 23, 2009 (2.346M viewers)[21]
If Ray is going to choose one of the girls to be his one and only, she's going to have to not only work well with children but also cook a mean meal. So Ray sets up a challenge to test just that, he asks the girls to cook and raise money for his favorite charity -- The Norwood Kids Foundation. Things of course spiral out of control but a winning team emerges and they are treated to a special date where Ray learns even more about the other girls. Backstabbing and general sneakiness prevail as another girl is sent home for ultimately being the wrong girl for Ray.— VH1 episode summary[22]
If Ray is going to choose one of the girls to be his one and only, she's going to have to not only work well with children but also cook a mean meal. So Ray sets up a challenge to test just that, he asks the girls to cook and raise money for his favorite charity -- The Norwood Kids Foundation. Things of course spiral out of control but a winning team emerges and they are treated to a special date where Ray learns even more about the other girls. Backstabbing and general sneakiness prevail as another girl is sent home for ultimately being the wrong girl for Ray.
First aired March 30, 2009
To help with his next challenge Ray invites someone he trusts the most to ask the toughest questions of all the girls through a lie detector test. When the truth is laid bare, everyone is shocked by what they hear and nothing in the house will be the same. At eliminations Ray explains that everyone has a past and instead of eliminating one for a checkered past she is celebrated for her honesty — but still another girl is sent home, but this time not for the usual reasons.— VH1 episode summary[23]
To help with his next challenge Ray invites someone he trusts the most to ask the toughest questions of all the girls through a lie detector test. When the truth is laid bare, everyone is shocked by what they hear and nothing in the house will be the same. At eliminations Ray explains that everyone has a past and instead of eliminating one for a checkered past she is celebrated for her honesty — but still another girl is sent home, but this time not for the usual reasons.
Episode Notes
First aired April 6, 2009 (3.164M viewers)[24]
Ray is down to his final three girls and he pulls out all the stops by introducing them to a grilling by his closest friends and then an intimate yet brutal dinner with his mother and father. One girls' story may be too controversial for Ray to accept but in the end his decision shocks the girls so much - one is rushed to the hospital in an ending that is unforgettable!— VH1 episode summary[25]
Ray is down to his final three girls and he pulls out all the stops by introducing them to a grilling by his closest friends and then an intimate yet brutal dinner with his mother and father. One girls' story may be too controversial for Ray to accept but in the end his decision shocks the girls so much - one is rushed to the hospital in an ending that is unforgettable!
First Aired April 13, 2009
In this hour-long special, Ray sits down with the viewers to reveal never-before-seen footage of moments in and out of the house. Also, Ray revisits some of the classic moments from the series including play-by-play commentary. He'll show you extended clips from your favorite scenes and all the stuff you wanted to see but couldn't show you. From cat fights to all night parties to your favorite banana split...this clip show will be the ultimate recap of your favorite TV show.— VH1 episode summary[26]
In this hour-long special, Ray sits down with the viewers to reveal never-before-seen footage of moments in and out of the house. Also, Ray revisits some of the classic moments from the series including play-by-play commentary. He'll show you extended clips from your favorite scenes and all the stuff you wanted to see but couldn't show you. From cat fights to all night parties to your favorite banana split...this clip show will be the ultimate recap of your favorite TV show.
Never Seen Clips
First aired April 20, 2009 (4.22M viewers)[27]
After the three remaining girls were given a chance to meet all of Ray's friends and family, Ray decides he needs to flip the script and go and meet their families. But the journey for Danger has become too much and she must leave the house before they go any further. In a shocking farewell, she packs her bags and says goodbye, but that this matter is far from finished!. The show must go on however, so Ray and the remaining two girls pack their bags. Unique's turn is first, so she gets on Ray's private jet to travel to Cleveland, Ohio to meet her parents. Meanwhile, arrangements are made for Cocktail to fly to Sacramento, California to be ready at the airport when he arrives. After quite an intense experience with Unique's family, Ray J leaves in his private jet for Sacramento to meet up with Cocktail, leaving Unique behind in Cleveland, but arranging for her flight to Las Vegas to meet later. Ray's goal of getting a better understanding of the two remaining girls works when he learns more than he ever expected. His experience with Cocktail's family is quite a different one from Unique's family! After meeting the ladies' families Ray decides that it's time to finish things right...so he and Cocktail get back on the jet and head to Vegas, where they meet up with Unique, much to Cocktail's buzzkill. So Ray spends quality time with each girl.— VH1 episode summary[28]
After the three remaining girls were given a chance to meet all of Ray's friends and family, Ray decides he needs to flip the script and go and meet their families. But the journey for Danger has become too much and she must leave the house before they go any further. In a shocking farewell, she packs her bags and says goodbye, but that this matter is far from finished!. The show must go on however, so Ray and the remaining two girls pack their bags. Unique's turn is first, so she gets on Ray's private jet to travel to Cleveland, Ohio to meet her parents. Meanwhile, arrangements are made for Cocktail to fly to Sacramento, California to be ready at the airport when he arrives. After quite an intense experience with Unique's family, Ray J leaves in his private jet for Sacramento to meet up with Cocktail, leaving Unique behind in Cleveland, but arranging for her flight to Las Vegas to meet later. Ray's goal of getting a better understanding of the two remaining girls works when he learns more than he ever expected. His experience with Cocktail's family is quite a different one from Unique's family! After meeting the ladies' families Ray decides that it's time to finish things right...so he and Cocktail get back on the jet and head to Vegas, where they meet up with Unique, much to Cocktail's buzzkill. So Ray spends quality time with each girl.
Reasons for Elimination
First aired April 27, 2009 (3.753M viewers)[29]
Ray J and all of the women gather to relive the highs and lows of a season that changed their lives forever. Along the way, voices will be raised and tears will be shed. This is one reunion show you can't miss!— VH1 episode summary[30]
Ray J and all of the women gather to relive the highs and lows of a season that changed their lives forever. Along the way, voices will be raised and tears will be shed. This is one reunion show you can't miss!
Bonus Clips
Host: La La Vasquez
On June 10, 2009, Cocktail announced on her MySpace page that she and Ray were no longer a couple, and had "not been together for a while now."[31] Two days later, she alleged in an interview that Ray J had hurt her by lying to her about whether there would be a second season of the show, and that the "breaking point" came on tour when she realized that he was still "hooking up" with other girls. But when Ray J realized that she was serious about the relationship, he was honest with her and told her that it was "not going to work out."[32][33]