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Sandhogs

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Chickie Donohue, Morgan Curran, Richie Fitzsimmons, Where to watch: History)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Engaging show about dangerous, rarely seen work.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The Sandhogs take great pride in their jobs. They demonstrate a strong work ethic and are clearly very dedicated to this dangerous -- and largely unsung -- profession. There are very few women on the show, but that's an accurate reflection of the Sandhog workforce. The Sandhogs are a fairly diverse bunch otherwise.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    No fighting or violence, but plenty of explosions. Using dynamite properly is an important skill in this career, and the show explains how and why the men blow things up -- including plenty of detail on how they carefully plan each blast and the safety measures required to properly set off explosives.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Miners aren't known for their delicate speech patterns, and the Sandhogs are no exception. Strong language is bleeped often.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    No drugs or drinking shown, but the men do sometimes talk about drinking after work.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Sandhogs

Parents need to know that this reality series shows what it's like to work deep underneath New York, digging the tunnels that deliver water to the city. The Sandhogs, as these miners proudly call themselves, are tough men doing a tough job, and the show takes pains to explain the dangers, thrills, and camaraderie of their rarely seen profession. There's some (bleeped) swearing both on the job and off duty, and a lot of explosions as the men blast through solid rock. Working with explosives is an important part of this job, and the Sandhogs explain how to use them safely.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why the media tend to focus more on some careers (medicine, law, etc.) than others. Which do you find more interesting -- movies and TV shows about jobs you already know about or those you've never heard of. Why do you think this particular work appeals to the Sandhogs? How do you think being a Sandhog compares to other physical jobs, such as construction work or other kinds of mining? Why do the Sandhogs think what they do is so special? Would you like to do it? Why or why not?
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