Rocco Gets Real - TV-G

Celebrity chef helps the culinarily impaired.

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details

TV Rating: TV-G
Network: A&E
Cast: Rocco DiSpirito
Genre: Reality TV

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this family-friendly series features celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito as he teaches regular folks to prepare great food in their own kitchens. It promotes the importance of cooking meals as part of bringing people together and celebrating family. The content is all quite mild, although frustrated novice cooks occasionally swear out of frustration (any swear words are fully bleeped). Young chefs will enjoy the easy-to-follow recipes and cooking tips.

Families can talk about the popularity of cooking shows. Do shows like this one inspire people to cook more? Can regular people really make the dishes demonstrated on television? Families can also discuss how food is used in different cultures to bring people together. What kinds of food does your family eat on special occasions? Are there particular meals that you cook together?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Food and cooking are introduced as ways to bring people together and celebrate special moments. Occasionally the student takes a little too much credit for the teacher's work, but it's all in good fun.

Consumerism:

Celeb chef DiSpirito was featured on the show The Restaurant and has written a few books; the series was timed to help promote his book Rocco Gets Real.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Wine and champagne are consumed during meals; wine is often used as an ingredient. Frustrated cooks sometimes drink while cooking.

Violence

Sex

Occasional discussions about cooking romantic meals.

Language

Occasional swear words ("f--k"), usually said by frustrated cooks, are fully bleeped.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Melissa Camacho

ROCCO GETS REAL follows celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito as he helps the cooking-impaired fight their fears in the kitchen, teaching them how to prepare a great meal for events ranging from marriage proposals to just staying home for a nice dinner. He travels to people's homes to teach them how to make hearty meals, shop for easy-to-use ingredients, and serve up attractive dishes; helpful tips and easy-to-follow recipes provide a lovely garnish. After showing them the ropes, DeSpirito leaves them to cook up the meal themselves but is always ready to step in and help out if things don't go as planned.

Is it any good?

The family-friendly cooking series shows how food preparation can go from being a stressful, overwhelming chore to an achievable and fulfilling activity. It also shows how kitchen disasters can easily be turned into culinary delights with just a little creativity.

Unlike more traditional cooking shows, the series also mixes in humor as friends and family share their opinions about the novice chef's cooking talents. Watching the would-be cooks stumble through meal prep on their own also leads to some funny moments -- and on occasion, some strong language (but it's all bleeped out). Overall, the show's warmly positive message about cooking meals to bring people together and celebrate special occasions makes it a good family choice.