Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this star-studded version of the classic game show Family Feud often references sex or encourages contestants to mention it with suggestive survey topics (like "something that's wet and slippery"). Some women wear (and flaunt) revealing clothing, and slang anatomical terms like "booty" and "Mr. Winky" are used -- though words like "penis" are edited. There are also frequent references to alcohol, but no one's actually shown drinking. Some celebrity contestants come across as shallow and self-absorbed, and the show itself often feels like a platform for their fame, which greatly overshadows the game's charitable angle.
Families can talk about it would be like to be famous. How do you think people who are famous view themselves and their status? What burdens and privileges accompany fame? How are celebrities perceived in our culture? What makes a person famous? Why do we revere stars so much? What do you think it's like to be related to a celebrity? How would it affect your life? Also, why do you think the families on this show chose to play the game? Do you think it's primarily for charity or primarily to get more time in the spotlight? Or both?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Emily Ashby
In CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD, stars and their loved ones face off as they try to guess the most popular responses to a series of survey-type questions. In each match-up, the contestants are asked to name possible answers for topics like "things mothers should teach their sons"; the teams accumulate points based on where their guesses rank in the list of the top responses. In other words, it's just like the classic game show Family Feud -- only this edition is hosted by Al Roker, and the famous contestants are competing, tournament-style, for a possible $50,000 prize for the charity of their choice.
Unfortunately, this show suffers setbacks that even popular stars like Raven-Symone, Wayne Newton, and Bill Engvall can't overcome. It fails to find a happy medium between tastefully reviving a classic and adding modern-day glitz to a show with a clearly dated format. (True, the reader board has gotten a makeover, but aren't those red plungers a bit past their prime?) In today's circle of flashy game shows like Deal or No Deal, this one gets lost in its own drabness.
Even more disappointing is that this version of Family Feud isn't entirely appropriate for family viewing. Survey questions often touch on sex in some way ("animal-related titles for a cheating boyfriend," for example) or lead to responses that do (hmmm, "something that's slippery and hard to hold onto"?). Tweens could get iffy messages from lighthearted references to drinking, too. Ultimately Celebrity Family Feud seems more like a platform for the celebs to flaunt their stardom than anything else, and even the quick-witted, exuberant Roker can't tone down the most obnoxious of them. While it's always fun to see stars removed from their element of fame, this show often feels forced and overacted. And it may be the charities that suffer the most, since they receive barely a mention at the start of the show.
Better competitions featuring celebrities include Dancing with the Stars, Million Dollar Password, and Celebrity Circus.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentLots of innuendos (in at least one instance, sex is described as a way to "quiet a man down") and use of slang references like "booty" and "Mr. Winky." More graphic references are edited out. Some female contestants wear revealing clothing. |
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LanguageWords like "jackass" are infrequently used as answers to survey questions. |
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Social BehaviorMany of the game topics infer references to sex, drinking, having affairs, and other iffy behavior. Some celebrities seem to enjoy flaunting their star status. On the plus side, the contestants' winnings are given to charity, so greed isn't an issue. And while there's a fair amount of playful banter among the teams, it's all in good fun. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoNo consumption shown, but references to drinking and booze are common. |
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