30 Days - TV-MA
TV Rating: TV-MA
Network: FX Cast: Morgan Spurlock
Genre: Reality TV
Available on: 
DVDDownload
Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this thought-provoking reality series was created by Morgan Spurlock, the director of Super Size Me, and follows in the documentary's footsteps by dissecting issues that face Americans every day. The show tackles some very controversial topics, including illegal immigration, job outsourcing, abortion, poverty, religion, and sexuality. As a result, most episodes feature plenty of confrontational exchanges as participants are forced to re-examine their personal beliefs and behaviors; some of the spirited "discussion" may make sensitive kids uncomfortable. But teens could learn a lot by watching -- particularly the importance of taking a close, objective look at your own values and world view.
Families can talk about the issues covered in each episode (there's certainly no lack of discussion fodder in this series, given the topics it takes on). How did the participants' beliefs change over the course of the episode? Was either side completely right or wrong? What did the participants learn from each other? What did you learn by watching them interact? Can teens think of a situation that would take them as completely outside of their own comfort zone as the people on the show? How do they think they'd react? Do you think shows like this can change society on a broad scale, or just one individual at a time? Is 30 days enough time to really make a difference in someone's core beliefs?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Betsy Bozdech
Morgan Spurlock, your fast food exposé Super Size Me was a huge success, earning an Oscar nomination for best documentary and wowing the crowds at Sundance -- where are you going to go now?
Nope, not Disneyland -- back into the filmmaking trenches, tackling societal issues like poverty, alcoholism, sexuality, religion, illegal immigration, job outsourcing, crime, over-consumption, and abortion for the reality series 30 DAYS. In each episode, creator/executive producer/host Spurlock follows a mostly average American who agrees to take part in a social experiment: Live outside your comfort zone for a month and see what happens.
Hence, a conservative straight man from the Midwest moves in with a gay man in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood, an atheist bunks with a Christian, a pro-choice believer lives at a pro-life maternity home, two materialistic Manhattanites roll up their sleeves at a sustainable eco-village, and so on. Spurlock even signs himself up for duty, living on minimum wage and behind bars for a month at a time.
Unlike many reality shows, which place people in uncomfortable situations just to incite petty drama and bickering, 30 Days' lifestyle upheaval has a purpose. By putting real-life human faces on controversial topics, the show aims to open participants' minds to all sides of an issue, hopefully bringing them closer to an understanding of how "the other side" lives.
For example, when a border-patrolling Minuteman is sent to live with a family of illegal immigrants, his hard-line stance starts to soften when they welcome him into their home and give him an up-close look at the truly untenable life they left behind in Mexico. Even when participants' overall views don't change, they generally walk away with more complex feelings about something that used to be black and white.
By its very nature, 30 Days encourages controversy and debate, and many episodes feature shouting matches and angry confrontations. That, combined with the edginess and complexity of the issues themselves, makes the show a better fit for teens -- who will find it eye-opening, no matter what side of a given topic they sympathize with -- than for younger viewers.
The series definitely leans to the left, and not all episodes are as worthwhile as the others -- for example, the ones that dealt with binge drinking and extreme anti-aging procedures came off as fluffy and, especially in the latter case, vain -- but overall 30 Days is mature, thought-provoking television.
Fans might also enjoy True Life and issue-oriented documentaries like An Inconvenient Truth and Bowling for Columbine.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentVaries according to episode topic, but, in general, not much to worry about beyond the occasional skimpy outfit and relationship discussion. |
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ViolencePlenty of hostility and angry confrontation, but no physical violence to speak of. |
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Language"Hell," "goddamn," etc. Stronger words are bleeped. |
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Social BehaviorThe series' primary goal is to open minds to new ideas and behaviors. Some participants react badly to being outside their comfort zone, and many stubbornly cling to their preconceptions and react confrontationally to others, but the overarching structure is all about changing society for the better. |
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CommercialismAt least one episode was designed to raise awareness about over-consumption and materialism. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoVaries widely depending on the episode; one was entirely focused on binge drinking. |
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