NY Ink is an American reality documentary television series that debuted June 2, 2011 on TLC.[1] TLC renewed the series for a second season in August 2011, also noting that the series' first season averaged 1.3 million viewers per episode.[2][3] Filming for the third season started in August 2012[4] with the season premiering on April 4, 2013.[5]
Premise
After Miami Ink (2004–2008) ended, tattoo artist Ami James moved to New York City in 2011 to fulfill his dream of opening a new tattoo studio, which he named the Wooster St. Social Club (now called Five Points Tattoo, located on 127 Lafayette Street. Open everyday from 12pm to 8pm). James was joined again by producers David Roma and Charlie Corwin to detail the proceedings in the shop on NY Ink.
Opening
The series intro is narrated by James:
I'm Ami James and I'm a tattoo artist. New York is the greatest city in the world. And to compete here, you have to elevate the game. So I've hand-picked the finest tattoo artists around. Because I don't want the best tattoo shop in New York, I want the best shop in the world. There's millions of stories in New York City, and our job is to tell them all... in ink.
In the first episode, former Miami Ink tattoo artist Ami James returns to New York to fulfill his dream of opening his own tattoo shop in New York City along with some of the best tattoo artists he knows joining his team.
With the shop's rough opening week, Chris is causing problems with the shop managers and tattoo artists making Ami decide whether to fire his first employee already.
Megan's partying the night before is affecting her work, making her miss a scheduled client. Tim's easy-going attitude is interfering with the business when he does not make appointments.
Ami's' apprentice and best friend, Billy, is reaching breaking point at the shop especially when Ami asks his brother Shai about becoming an apprentice as well. When Megan finds out her boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend, Chris seizes an opportunity for romance.
When Ami realizes his shop is not doing as well as he had hoped, shop manager Jessica tries to help by confronting him about his financial situation, but ends up doing more harm than good.
After skipping out on her duties to work a magazine photo shoot, Jessica talks about sex position at the shop and Ami has to have a talk with her. Floor manager Robear gets fed up with Tommy's relentless pranks.
Ami's reaches his breaking point with Chris. Megan finds herself caught in the middle and the future of the crew is in limbo. The youngest female winner of Survivor, Jenna Morasca, comes into the shop.
Ami's struggles have paid off and the Wooster Street Social Club is the hottest tattoo shop in NYC. But, more success means more problems. Ami needs to keep it all together and tries to find the time to balance work and family life.
Ami hosts an event to celebrate the success of the shop but Megan chooses to invite Chris, which displeases Ami. Jessica takes risks that can jeopardize the business.
Risque photos of Megan spread around the office, causing a stir among employees. Ami has been allowing Billy to do a small tattoo for a short time and now it is his chance to work on a more elaborate one. Tila Tequila wants a tattoo to memorialize her parents.
After a hectic few weeks, Ami heads to South Beach to spend some much-needed time with his daughter and hangs with the gang from Love/Hate. The crew back at Wooster Street goofs around while Ami is on vacation.
Deciding to give back to the community, Ami invites a group of teenagers to the shop for some fun after being inspired by a touching tattoo. But when ribbing from the crew drives Robear to the edge and his wrath, a damper sets in on the party.
Tensions finally give way as Billy storms out of Wooster Street after Ami confronts him. Hoping to have some fun, the girls at the shop set Robear up for a speed dating event. Billy is forced to choose between his career and old friendships.
After walking out on his job at Wooster Street, Billy needs some help from Chris to get his own business off the ground. After realizing her true feelings for a close friend, Megan wonders if pursuing it is worth jeopardizing their friendship.
Megan begins to move into her New York City pad. Missing his native California, Tim drags Ami out to the beach to go surfing. Jessica shows Tommy some of the tattoos she's been inking on the side, but not everyone is happy about it.
Ami is faced with a difficult decision when he learns what Jessica has been doing behind his back. Megan plans to move into her own apartment, but her new boyfriend Joey might derail her plans. Tension builds when a secret is revealed.
Upset with Chris trash talking the business to anyone and everyone, Ami confronts him. Tim must step up to help keep Wooster Street running smoothly. Megan struggles to decide whether or not to follow her newest guy or keep building her career.
Ami introduces the newest staff to the shop. Brantley Gilbert stops by to have Tommy Montoya complete a sleeve tattoo. Megan takes on a new client that doesn't speak English but she has the attractive recent new employee assist her. Later, Ami gets a visitor from his past and deals with the headache of artist Lee Rodriguez.
One of the newer employees, Lee gets orders from Tommy to help tattoo when the shop gets busy despite Ami stating that Lee isn't supposed tattoo real clients.
A female customer comes storming into the shop claiming that Lee offered her a free tattoo while he was drunk. Lee also has to deal with figuring out if he cheated on his girlfriend or not. A client informs Megan about her future with her boyfriend.
More than 100 customers have lined up to see Tim Hendricks but are annoyed after he does not show up. Tommy's tattoo skills are put to the test when an octogenarian comes for her first tattoo.
