Back to the Basement with Ann Hirsch
Artspace, 2021.
In 2010, Ann Hirsch infiltrated VH1’s hit reality dating show Frank the Entertainer in a Basement Affair. Disguised as “Annie,” she performed as one of fifteen women competing for the affection of Frank Maresca, himself a former contestant on I Love New York 2 and I Love Money.
More than a decade later, Hirsch revisited her participation in A Basement Affair through a seven-week series blending an artist talk, a "watch with me" experience, and the popular YouTube “reaction video” format. This rewatch created a social atmosphere for viewers while offering a critical reflection on her performance and the nature of reality TV.
