Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County
(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, Talan Torriero, Where to watch: MTV, DVD, Online)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
"Real" OC is just like the fake one; mature teens.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 15–18
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County was written by Betsy Wallace
Parents need to know that this show offers plenty of mild profanity, sexuality, and other possibly objectionable content, as well as general silliness. Even teen viewers may take offense at how empty and shallow the minds and lives of the cast members appear to be. Alternatively, teens may be easily swayed by the lavish, lax lifestyle of these teens who shop, lounge, and tan on their parents' dime.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about what's important in their lives vs. what seems to be important to the teens on the show. What parts of their lifestyle are appealing? Which ones aren't? Is anything on the show similar to your own teens' life? What impression does this program give your kids about Southern California -- or teenage life in general?
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More on Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County
What’s the Story?
Set in the famously wealthy Southern California beach community, MTV's reality series, LAGUNA BEACH: THE REAL ORANGE COUNTY, follows the lives of real kids attending high school in Laguna Beach -- most notably Lauren "LC" Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, and Tallan Torriero. Some of the teens have graduated and gone off to college, allowing for underclassman to take center stage. MTV's cameras were not granted access on school grounds. Rather than following the reality show format of having cameras on the cast at all times, isolated segments are presented in a dramatic format (as if they were scripted), complete with musical score.
Is It Any Good?
The isolated segment approach makes the show feel like soap opera, but one in which even less happens per episode. Wildly different camera angles of the same scene should leave audience members wondering exactly how many takes were shot to get the latest confrontation, just right. The problem with adding dramatic conventions to a reality show is that there's no drama in the sense of crafted characters, conflicts, and resolutions. Episodes feature the recurring characters talking and going places -- and preparing for important rites of passage like prom and graduation -- but meandering, meaningless scenes stack up to produce a show about nothing.
Most are college-bound, but the show only features their leisure time. As a result, they come across as more careless and flaky than they really might be. Some teen viewers will enjoy watching two girls vie for the same cute guy's attention (as well as seeing the guy switch back and forth). But this love/lust/flirtation triangle grows boring quickly, and a critical teen viewer may wish for more characters and more variety in subject matter.
Our Members Say
See all 17 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Its an awesome show!
Laguna Beach is an awesome show! Overall, there might be a few things that I don't like, such as cussing, but they keep that to a minimum on the show. They have a lot of hot girls on there ... thats a plus! =) but it's just not a show of teens fantasies ... its a show people can watch, and see the true life of someone ... Its an awesome show, and I think that people shouldn't take it the wrong way. If you really watched the show, and were a teen, you'd understand this show a lot better.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
I find the whole idea very sad
I find it sad that being spoiled and shallow is "in" these days. Laguna Beach joins its peers "Rich Girls" and "My Sweet 16" on MTV and "The Simple Life" on FOX with Paris Hilton in celebrating a life that focuses purely on material gratification. MTV is often shameless in its glamorization of aimless, spoiled teenagers. Granted these characters may be real people, but this can deceive young adults into thinking that this display somehow represents normal life.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
not so bad
Well Ive been watching the show with my oldest daugher and Im ashamed to admit that it is addicting. I actually really enjoy this "reality show" even though I am quiet sceptical in how much reality is true. The "drama" seems scripted but is much more PG then it got credit for in the review. And whatever they go through is no different than my worries and concerns that I had in high school... who likes who, who said what and whose going with who to prom. All in all its a good show.
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