Tough Love

Much like the expression, Tough Love is a VH1 reality show where a son and mother coaching team work with women who have admitted difficulties with the opposite sex. Using a stern approach, the women explore how their own behavior has affected their inability to find a long term mate. Many of the women have marriage in mind, however, the focus is to learn more about themselves as they meet and date various men on the show.

The shows hosts feature Philadelphia based Master Matchmakers, Steven Ward and his mother JoAnn Ward. Mr. Ward is seen much more than his mother on camera.

The women participate in dating 101 classes in which they face their personal challenges. The women's behavior is evaluated by both the coaches and the men they date. In addition, focus groups of men critique behavior in a variety of settings. Surprises and traps are set in an effort to get to the root of why the women face difficulties with men. Often, there is behavior that they are engaging in that they are unaware is affecting how they are perceived.

This reality show boot camp based upon love features brutal honesty with an advisory approach. The classic character personalities displayed include titles such wedding obsessed or gold digger." The goal is that realizing and correcting their worst personality traits will allow them to change in order to attract the best men available.

Season One of Tough Love featured eight women who agreed to accept relationship advice from the hosts and coaches. Season Two featured nine women in a similar setting as Season One.

Tough Love Couples was the third season of the reality series and featured six couples in search of relationship advice from the hosts. Much like the other seasons, the couples were encouraged to face how their personality traits affect their relationships and what could be done to change the situation by altering their behavior.

Featuring a setting in Miami Beach, Florida, a new set of eight women confront their love problems with the hosts and matchmakers, Steven Ward, and mother JoAnn Ward in much the same way as the other seasons. Season Four also includes women from the New Orleans region.

Many of the seasons focus on the same love issues. However, because each season includes different women, they all react differently to the advice that is administered and experience varied results.