Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County - TV-PG

"Real" OC is just like the fake one; mature teens.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
2
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-PG
  • Network: MTV
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • >Available On: DVD,Download

Parents need to know

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 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?

Message

Social Behavior:

Jealousy and petty behavior are common; characters have love triangles and talk behind each other's back; the cast is uniformly white and wealthy. Qualities that might make these kids good role models aren't highlighted. One girl has vowed to abstain from sex until marriage.

Consumerism:

The featured teens have expensive cars and clothes and more spending money than the average teen.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

The teens do a lot of partying and some of them drink -- they're never seen with containers of alcohol since they're underage, but it's implied. Teens appear to be intoxicated during a spring break trip to Mexico, as well as during parties.

Violence

Sex

High school girls dress as sexily as possible; constant focus on the opposite sex and who's hooking up with whom; sexual innuendos; love triangles.

Language

Slang and some mild profanity ("slut," "bitch," etc.) as teens speak in their "real," unscripted manner.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Betsy Wallace

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?

2
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.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 17 reviews.

4


Posted on 02/04/07 by heeheelove Kid contributor, age 13

5


Posted on 08/14/06 by filmfan232 Kid contributor, age 12

0

Posted on 05/06/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Awfull

This show is so bad how these girls parade around like life is nothing. All the poeple on this show are trust fund babies and think life is a joke. Their is NO moral value what so ever in this show.
Age 17+
0

Posted on 05/06/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

5


Posted on 03/21/06 by whatsupha Kid contributor, age 15

5


Posted on 03/05/06 by x5angelbaby5x Kid contributor, age 15

EXCELLENT

oh my god this show has to be the best show ever i cried at the last episode of every season...my favorite character is kristen i dont think i can live without this show, their lives are what real teenagers go through and i can relate to all of them.
Age 13+
3


Posted on 11/28/05 by katcoxswain25 Adult contributor

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.
Age 13+
5

Posted on 11/10/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

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.
5


Posted on 11/01/05 by Jody Lynn Kid contributor, age 17

Age 17+
0

Posted on 10/28/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

One of the worst, most unbelievable series on television!

See all 17 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

Age 17+
0

Posted on 05/06/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Age 13+
3


Posted on 11/28/05 by katcoxswain25 Adult contributor

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.
Age 13+
5

Posted on 11/10/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

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.
Age 17+
0

Posted on 10/28/05 by Anonymous Adult contributor

One of the worst, most unbelievable series on television!
Age 17+
4


Posted on 10/04/05 by carzcpt34 Adult contributor

life in the making

I believe that this series is something for the ages. The realistic issue that they are or were going through were something that many people can live in. Plus LC is one of the hottest chicks on the show
Age 17+
4


Posted on 09/14/05 by sexxxyabby Adult contributor

I was like Okay!!!!!!!!!!

Okay where should I start! The drama with Jessica and Alex...okay the upcoming show in Cabo with Alex being all pissed about Jessica and Jason is ridiculous! Alex has no place to call her or tell her she is a sl-t because obvisouly Alex did not give a crap about Jessica's feelings! Alex is a sl-t as well as a hypocryt. Jessica needs to get over Jason's playing ways. Jason is not all that hot!
Age 13+
1


Posted on 12/14/04 by teenlibrarian Adult contributor

See all 7 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

4


Posted on 02/04/07 by heeheelove Kid contributor, age 13

5


Posted on 08/14/06 by filmfan232 Kid contributor, age 12

0

Posted on 05/06/06 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Awfull

This show is so bad how these girls parade around like life is nothing. All the poeple on this show are trust fund babies and think life is a joke. Their is NO moral value what so ever in this show.
5


Posted on 03/21/06 by whatsupha Kid contributor, age 15

5


Posted on 03/05/06 by x5angelbaby5x Kid contributor, age 15

EXCELLENT

oh my god this show has to be the best show ever i cried at the last episode of every season...my favorite character is kristen i dont think i can live without this show, their lives are what real teenagers go through and i can relate to all of them.
5


Posted on 11/01/05 by Jody Lynn Kid contributor, age 17

5

Posted on 10/04/05 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

5


Posted on 09/25/05 by babyblu88 Kid contributor, age 17

I Love Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach is a great show for teenagers. Not maybe for children under 12, but other than language and partying the show is great. I love watching all the drama happen and trying to predict what will happen next in the season.
5


Posted on 02/27/05 by joe Kid contributor, age 2

5


Posted on 12/22/04 by aeroguy90 Kid contributor, age 14

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.
See all 10 kids reviews >
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