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Armed & Famous

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Erik Estrada, La Toya Jackson, Jack Osbourne, Where to watch: CBS)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Celeb cops on patrol in quirky guilty pleasure.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–15

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Mixed messages: The show paints police duties as serious work to be done responsibly, but putting celebs in cops' place pokes fun at both. Lots of jokes at Jackson's expense. Racial and gender diversity.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    The show details real police work -- restraining, handcuffing, searching, arresting people. Cops have guns that they point at people. Some incidents involve weapons -- a bloody knife is collected as evidence. Celeb cops display unrestrained glee during gun training. Osbourne jokes about shooting his sister.
  • Sex:

    Some sexual innuendo and heavy flirting. Brief shots of one celeb in revealing clothing.
  • Language:

    A range of mild expletives: "ass," "sucks," "testicles," etc.
  • Consumerism:

    Taco Bell seen in distance.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some police work involves investigating drug- and alcohol-related incidents. Shots of real crack and drug paraphernalia. Lots of smoking, by both cops and criminals.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Armed & Famous

Parents need to know that this "celebreality" series puts C-list celebs in real police situations like pulling over an intoxicated driver, arresting an elderly woman for drug dealing, physically restraining an alleged criminal, and comforting a family whose house just burned down. These scenarios can be intensely sad, disturbing, and sometimes frightening but are almost always brief. Celebrity cops handle real evidence, such as crack pipes and a bloody knife. The celebrities carry loaded guns, which they handle responsibly, though definitely with enthusiasm. One scene shows the celebs being trained in the use of tasers, and viewers see them being painfully zapped in the process. One celebrity acts like a ladies man and flirts frequently, posing for photos with busty female fans.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what might make this show appealing. How is it different from other reality shows? Which characters do you identify with most -- the celebrities, the cops, the citizens of Muncie? How much of the show do you think is real, and which parts are constructed for television? Does the fact that some reality television is staged influence your enjoyment of the shows? How? Do you think this is responsible television?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 1.0

    is an awsome show really entertainig and exciting wow cool!

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    Surprisingly Great Show

    I hate reality TV and this show totally changed my mind. It has heart, intelligence and I LOVE seeing the celebrities FORCED to be real people. Makes me feel as though they might just have something in common with us common folk. LaToya is a huge surprise. The cop with her is really funny. jack Osbourne could actually do the job - which is very cool. I'd like to know who will be in next season's cast. Will they keep the same cops? Or do we get to vote on who should become a reserve cop, next?

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0

    Not nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be - in a good way!

    Leading up to the premiere of the show tonight 1/10, all I heard were people complaining about the stars and what they were doing. When I sat down to watch the show I didn't know what to expect - but I looked at it with an open mind. I laughed, I cringed, I smiled - something about this show had a happy medium of everything a good show should, even if it is a reality show. It showed how they trained, how they handle situations, and yet how important team work is. With the first episode done I'm already finding myself wanting to see more of these celebs and their adventures as members of the police force.

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