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Room 401

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Where to watch: MTV, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Punk'd with a horror twist.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    There's no escaping the fact that the show's humor is derived from watching other people squirm, which is cruel. Segments don't show the "victims" being told of what happened, so viewers don't get to see them unburdened of their fear.
  • Violence:

    The set-ups are horrific and aggressive: A chest "opens" up; a hand is ground to bits; a murder victim lies in a pool of (fake) blood; a bowling alley worker berates a scared couple. There's no outright violence but certainly some antagonism, even if it's doused with heaps of humor.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Bleeped language from some of the participants when they're scared or shocked.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Room 401

Parents need to know that though the show plays its stunts for laughs -- and for the most part it's funny -- the basic premise centers on the fact that someone is being put in an extremely uncomfortable or scary position. There's no running away from its mean-spiritedness, especially since viewers don't get to see the "victims" find out the truth and, perhaps, join in the fun by laughing at the situation themselves. Because the set-ups are meant to be realistic, there's plenty of gore, which could prove too scary for the young viewers who may be attracted to the show.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about whether it's really appropriate to laugh at someone else's expense. Is it cruel or harmless? Ultimately, is it really that funny? What other shows have made use of this premise to elicit laughs?

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