SERIES HISTORY
Overview: a Date with Deante is an American video series created and hosted by entertainer Deante Young in 2008. Originally a web series, it evolved into a direct-to-DVD franchise with select titles available as early as the fall of 2010. Beginning in Season 4, the series became available exclusively on DVD. It is produced and distributed by Young's production company Dirty Truth Films.
Concept and Creation: In the Spring of 2007, Young became eager to produce his own television show. With limited finances and industry connections, he decided to create a talk-show style series for broadcast online. He filmed one interview with two girls in March '07, but never used the footage until 13 months later when it was used for most of the debut episode's footage. By the time the inaugural episode aired, Young had brainstormed and developed several concepts for the series including writing and performing a theme song and producing the opening credits.
He subsequently titled the show a Date with Deante after other ideas fell flat. He wanted his name in the title to make himself "brand identifiable" as more people learned about the show. The first episode debuted on MySpace.com and YouTube.com on April 18, 2008.
Popularity and Criticism: Young began receiving heavy criticism for the show's content almost from the start. He was accused of exploiting and objectifying his female guests, accusations that he denied by reminding everyone that his guests are adults with a choice. Many also condemned the show for its heavy use of racial epithets, particularly towards Blacks (Young himself is a Black man). As the series cultivated a notorious reputation of crass language and its guests' often shocking behavior, it became increasingly popular and polarizing, particularly in Season 2.