Paradise City - TV-14

Reality soap manages to make Vegas seem boring.

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Common Sense rates it

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details

TV Rating: TV-14
Network: E!
Genre: Reality TV
>Available On: Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this unscripted reality soap opera follows the relationship dramas of a real group of Las Vegas twentysomethings. Plots revolve around dating decisions, gossip about hook-ups, and friendships lost and found. Cast members drink socially, kiss, and talk about sex. The frequent curse words are muted, rather than bleeped, which actually draws less attention to them.

Families can talk about the show's version of twentysomething life. How realistic do you think it is? How much of what happens do you think is engineered (even if it's not scripted) for the camera? How "real" are most reality shows? Families can also discuss healthy relationships. What do teens expect from their 20s -- to be single, dating, in a steady relationship, married? Parents, where were you when you were in your 20s? What expectations do you have for your teens as they get older and possibly start dating more seriously?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

There's a mix of both shallow relationships and people trying to relate to each other in healthy ways. The people seem earnest and genuine, and they're mostly pursuing things that are important to them. Lots of gossiping, some deceitfulness.

Consumerism:

Mention of Interscope Records, shot of an Audi, soda bottles like Coke in the background.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Good deal of social drinking.

Violence

Verbal arguments.

Sex

Kissing, discussion of sex and hook-ups; almost constant relationship dynamics.

Language

Plenty of cursing, but the words are muted (not bleeped), which makes them less obvious.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Sierra Filucci

PARADISE CITY is a reality show set in Las Vegas that tries to show the city from the viewpoint of the folks who live and work there. The cast members are all twentysomethings who are attractive, fit, and often overtly sexy. Episode plots follow the group's love lives and professional accomplishments -- including aspiring rock star Rick's decision to go solo or remain loyal to his band and the release of writer Molly's female-oriented Vegas guidebook.

Is it any good?

Soap opera fans might enjoy following the good-looking gang's hook-ups and break-ups, but most viewers will likely find the dialogue inane and the self-involved characters hard to care about. As in MTV's sem-reality show Laguna Beach, the Paradise characters are real people but the action and dialogue sometimes feel staged.

Scenes filled with kissing and discussions about sex -- as well as regular social drinking -- make Paradise City pretty iffy for younger viewers. Teens might be attracted to by the show's eye-candy factor, but the focus on rather dull grown-up dynamics will probably turn them off.