After months of speculation and vocal criticism of the very concept of a reality television show set on Martha’s Vineyard, the ABC Family docu-soap The Vineyard premiered Tuesday night. While several cast members made appearances on national entertainment shows and tweeted live, cast member and Island resident Cat Todd sat at the Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Company surrounded by friends.

Despite months of vocal critiques and speculation, when the ABC Family docu-soap The Vineyard premiered Tuesday night, all appeared quiet in Oak Bluffs. Cat Todd sat at a bar surrounded by close friends and waited for the show to air.

Reality hit Martha’s Vineyard on Tuesday night as the new television show The Vineyard premiered on ABC Family.

Christine Todd, Oak Bluffs Association executive director and mother to cast member Cat Todd, hosted an informal premiere party at the Chowder Company in Oak Bluffs.

Bret Blakeney with 25/7 Productions told Edgartown selectmen Monday that filming started last week at a private property in Oak Bluffs for the “docusoap” reality show.

He reiterated that the premise of the ABC Family show is family-friendly; it will feature young adults between 18 and 26 years of age.

The cast and crew of the reality show The Vineyard has arrived on the Island and begun work on their docu-soap, set to debut this sumer on the ABC Family network. Film crews and cast members were spotted Friday morning filming on State Beach in Oak Bluffs before moving later in the day to Vineyard Haven

Filming in the town of Tisbury for the ABC Family reality TV show The Vineyard will be largely limited to the Black Dog Tavern, and will require producers to work at a breakneck pace in order to meet a midsummer debut, show producers told selectmen on Tuesday. Producers for the show met with the board to discuss the impact of filming in the town; executive producer David Broome, 25/7 Productions vice president Yong Yam, production editor Brett Blakeney and film producer Karina Fadden were in attendance.