Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that most of this game show's "problem" areas are pretty mild -- for example, one of the audition tunes is "Like a Virgin," but none of the more explicit lyrics are used. Other songs reference drinking, and the participating companies (1-800-Dentist and JetBlue, for instance) are mentioned by name, which sort of falls into the "product placement" category. But overall this is a fun, family-friendly show that's fine for tweens and up.
Families can talk about why companies would want their employees to participate in this show. Do you think they see it as a way to advertise/promote their business? Do you think they're right -- i.e., do you feel like hearing the companies' names multiple times per episode makes you remember them more? Or does it end up just being "background noise"? Also, would you want to participate in a contest like this? Why or why not? How do you think your family would do if it was families competing instead of companies?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Anne Louise Bannon
Operating under the assumption that in every workplace there are at least a couple of folks who whistle their way through the day, each episode of THE SINGING OFFICE sends hosts Joey Fatone and Mel B. to two different companies, from national operations like 1-800-Dentist and JetBlue to local L.A. workplaces like Allen Edwards Salon and the L.A. Zoo. There each selects a team of five people who have to pull together a song and dance routine; the two teams then go head to head in a competition. Ultimately, the winning teams of each matchup will compete in an eight-way finale.
With so many competition/game shows out there these days, comparisons are inevitable. Some viewers might feel like The Singing Office falls pretty low on the scale simply because the talent level is uneven at best. But the show actually seems more positive than some of its fellow talent-competition brethren, and it's oddly charming in its own way. It helps that the participants aren't in it for fame and fortune -- the grand prize is $50,000, shared among the five winning team members -- so it's more about having fun and letting loose.
The other thing that's really good about the show is the singers' very ordinariness. Some are definitely talented, but these folks aren't buffed-out beauties -- nor are all of them great singers. But none of that stops them from trying, and that's really the lesson in the whole exercise. Too often folks get intimidated because they don't sound or look like professionals, robbing themselves of the joy of singing and dancing for the sheer joy of it. Maybe shows like this can get ordinary folks out there singing on their own again.
Fans might also like The Singing Bee, Don't Forget the Lyrics, and Master of Dance.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentSong lyrics are occasionally suggestive (one of the audition tunes is "Like a Virgin"), but not even close to explicit. |
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LanguageRare use of words like "ass," and some bleeped-out stronger terms. |
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Social BehaviorIn spite of some good-humored trash talking, the overall message is about working together. The participants are a diverse bunch, with lots of ages, sizes/body types, and races represented. |
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CommercialismThe names of the competing companies (1-800-Dentist, for example) are mentioned, but the show doesn't go into detail about what they do. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoSome bottles of wine seen, and some song lyrics reference drinking. But not much use actually shown. |
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