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Pop Up Video

(Rated TV-PG, Music videos, Where to watch: VH1, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Poking fun at videos works for teens and up.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–14

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Much depends on which song is getting the pop-up treatment, but behavior in videos can include everything from drinking to destruction of property and other more serious crimes. The show's writers sometimes resort to poking fun at the performers when they run out of good trivia.

  • Violence:

    The violence depicted in music videos isn't as graphic as that on TV shows, but, nevertheless, you can see anything from fist fights to shootouts.

  • Sex:

    Considering how many music videos feature sex-related material -- lascivious lyrics, scantily clad dancers, Madonna! -- it's no surprise that sex is a common theme in nearly every episode. Runs the gamut from innuendoes to partial nudity.

  • Language:

    Some songs contain offensive language ("damn," "bitch") and often their "pop ups" do, too.

  • Consumerism:

    Yes, from actual products to the music itself. In general, though, commercialism isn't as rampant as in other shows.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some video performers/characters imbibe and indulge in some/all of the above (drugs, alcohol, tobacco), sometimes to excess.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Pop Up Video

Parents need to know that this addictive trivia/music video show is, above everything else, all about the laughs. Sometimes those laughs are quite cheap, somewhat bawdy, and even downright mean. Still, for viewers with the maturity to get the jokes, it's quite fun.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about music videos in general and how powerful they are at getting the message of a song across. Why do some videos seem to not have anything to do with the actual lyrics? Who comes up with their themes? What types of issues do they address? As for the pop-ups, do they come from left field? How do ideas connect from one to the next? Do the pop-ups make you pay more attention to the video than you might have otherwise? What effects does that have on your viewing?
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