Flavor of Love Girls: Charm School - NR

Reality spin-off is tasteless and confusing.

TV Rating: NR Network: VH1 Cast: Mo'Nique Genre: Reality TV
Available on: Download

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this Flavor of Love reality spin-off is just as cringe-worthy as its crude parent series. Most of the women dress in tight, revealing clothes, and some act in sexually suggestive ways (such as getting up on a table and dancing sexily while wearing a schoolgirl outfit). Flashbacks to the original show include shots of the women making out and carousing in bed Flavor Flav. There's some discussion of drug use, and the women are sometimes seen drinking or talking about being hung over. They argue and threaten one another, and some scenes involve physical fights. Profanity is regular, though much is bleeped. Last but not least, the show sends confusing messages about "good" behavior, and the women get some intense criticism from each other and their judges.

Families can discuss why these women wanted to be on this show. What do you think their motivation is? What can you deduce about them from their behavior? Do you think they need or want to change the way they act? If they didn't act so wild, do you think they would be on the show in the first place? What purpose does a series like this serve? Is it just meant to be a guilty pleasure?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Sierra Filucci

Obviously, many people can't get enough of the cringe-worthy antics of the Flavor of Love women, judging from the spin-offs I Love New York, and FLAVOR OF LOVE GIRLS: CHARM SCHOOL. Hosted by comedian/actress Mo'Nique, Charm School takes an interesting -- if hypocritical -- tack with the wild women who once vied for Flavor Flav's affections.

Declaring that the female contestants' outrageous behavior on the original show was an embarrassing display of rude, tacky tendencies, Charm School purports to teach them how to behave better. During the course of the series, they attend etiquette classes and compete in challenges that are designed to strengthen their character and add a little class to their act.

But while Mo'Nique delivers moving speeches about self-respect -- most dramatically illustrated during a ceremony in which the crudely nicknamed women (Smiley, Bootz, Buckwild, etc.) discard their nametags and reclaim their given names -- other elements of the show point to continued objectification of the women for the sake of "entertainment." For example, when they prepare for their first elimination round, the contestants are given outfits that include short schoolgirl skirts, which many of them proceed to sex up as much as possible by hiking them up even shorter or pairing them with an unbuttoned shirt with rosary beads nestled in cleavage.

And Charm School delivers plenty of confusing messages both to the women and the audience. For example, the women are told that teaming up for a rigorous obstacle course challenge is an exercise in collaboration and sisterhood, but the team captain who chooses teammates based on friendship rather than their ability to win is punished. Then, when the same team later had to work together to help one member finish the course, their support went unrecognized.

In some ways, Charm School is an interesting study in class and race, though this aspect of the show isn't highlighted. For instance, when a white male judge tells an African-American female contestant that she should focus on the skills she's learning instead of the $50,000 prize, she scoffs, saying later in an interview that for her, $50,000 is like $5 million and could significantly change her life. Viewers who recognize how some of these women are being taken advantage of by the show and its producers might feel a little icky enjoying the strangely compelling car crash that is Charm School.

Fans looking for more guilty-pleasure viewing might enjoy America's Next Top Model. Or, for a more refreshing dose of reality, try Run's House.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Women often dress provocatively. Flashback scenes include women making out and playing in bed with a man. Some sexy dancing/moving. Lots of cleavage and some blurred nudity. Some mention of sex.
Violence Catfights, threats of violence.
Language Constant stream of profanity. Unbleeped words include "ass" and the very popular "bitch."
Message
	Social Behavior Confusing messages about behavior. Lessons designed to teach teamwork, sisterhood, and respect are marred by the large amount of attention paid to exactly the opposite behaviors. Some intense criticism from the judges. The women compete against each other and can get very nasty. They have some compassion for one another, but this is rarely acknowledged.
	Commercialism Promotion of other Flavor of Love-related shows. The women are eager for the $50,000 prize.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Some drinking, mention of hangovers; some discussion of drug use ("weed").