Handpicked by Our Editors

True Jackson, VP
Age 8+
3

True Jackson, VP

Why We Recommend It

The aptly named heroine of this show demonstrates how to overcome obstacles by staying true to yourself.

Read our full review
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Industry TV ratings aren't much help when it comes to finding good family TV. It's hard to translate television ratings that look like a string of letters into good choices, and the TV ratings themselves aren't so reliable when you realize that the people who make the shows provide the ratings. So whatever your concern -- sex, violence, or all the ads -- our TV ratings help you find age-appropriate shows and manage the messages that our kids get from them.

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showing: reality tv
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Find My Family (ABC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is one of those rare reality shows that parents and children can watch together without having to worry about strong language, violence, alcohol, and other iffy stuff. Because the series follows real people grappling with real ... read more

Age 12+
Find My Family
4
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Chef Academy (Bravo)
Parents Need to Know...

that, in general, this cooking reality show features positive role modeling, with participants putting their talents and energy toward a worthy goal: learning how to cook like a professional. That said, there's some bleeped swearing ... read more

Age 14+
Chef Academy
3
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Ghost Hunters Academy (Syfy)
Parents Need to Know...

that this entry in the popular Ghost Hunters franchise combines paranormal investigations with an elimination-style reality competition, giving it a little more edge than earlier series. The Atlantic Paranormal Society is looking for new ... read more

Age 12+
Ghost Hunters Academy
2
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Platinum Babies (WE)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series follows soon-to-be parents who spend extraordinary amounts of money on high-end baby products and services. The moms- and dads-to-be clearly love their babies, but the show's focus is really on how much they're spending ... read more

Age 10+
Platinum Babies
2
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Flowers Uncut (TLC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this is one of many series in a long line of reality shows that focus on ultra high-end services. Star/floral designer Jeff Leatham spares no expense when he designs flowers for an event ... but that's what his customers are paying ... read more

Age 11+
Flowers Uncut
3
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Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew (VH1)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series about celebrities' struggles with sexual addiction includes frank discussions about various sexual compulsions and past sexual trauma, plus occasional scenes of various sexual activities. All of this content is offered ... read more

Age 17+
Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew
3
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Styl'd (MTV)
Parents Need to Know...

that this fashion-centric reality series about up-and-coming junior stylists features some catty, sneaky behavior as the stylists vie for a prized contract with an L.A. agency. But the cast members also learn lessons about ... read more

Age 13+
Styl'd
3
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Pit Bulls and Parolees (Animal Planet)
Parents Need to Know...

that this reality series -- which supports the rehabilitation and adoption of pit bulls -- offers positive messages about rescuing animals and giving people (and animals) a second chance at life. Aided by sometimes-graphic images, rescuer ... read more

Age 14+
Pit Bulls and Parolees
2
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Monica: Still Standing (BET)
Parents Need to Know...

that this reality series -- which follows R&B singer Monica as she records a new album and juggles her personal life -- has positive messages about family, motherhood, and being true to yourself. Compared to many reality shows, the ... read more

Age 13+
Monica: Still Standing
3
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Ultimate Parkour Challenge (MTV)
Parents Need to Know...

that this reality competition series -- which showcases the underground sport of parkour -- includes some stunts that are potentially very dangerous (like leaping from rooftops). Sometimes they go awry, and the show makes it clear that ... read more

Age 12+
Ultimate Parkour Challenge
3
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Lobstermen (Discovery Channel)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series, like The Deadliest Catch and Lobster Wars before it, offers a candid look into the lives of professional New England fishermen. Like its sister shows, it highlights the many real-life challenges associated with off-shore ... read more

Age 11+
Lobstermen
3
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Mary Queen of Shops (BBC America)
Parents Need to Know...

that, like many British shows, this reality import -- in which independent clothing businesses are made over with the help of fashion retail expert Mary Portas -- has its share of strong language (though the strongest words are bleeped ... read more

Age 14+
Mary Queen of Shops
3
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Alaska State Troopers (National Geographic Channel)
Parents Need to Know...

that this behind-the-scenes reality series about the Alaska State Troopers features lots of incidents that involve drinking -- sometimes way too much drinking. There are wild, drunken parties and extremely drunk people causing trouble, ... read more

Age 14+
Alaska State Troopers
3
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The 100-Mile Challenge (Planet Green)
Parents Need to Know...

that this green-themed docu-series -- which challenges Candian families to follow a diet limited to locally produced foods -- is full of interesting information, recipes, and tips. But it also heavily promotes the commercially successful ... read more

Age 10+
The 100-Mile Challenge
3
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Gone Too Far (MTV)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series -- which follows Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein as he attempts to help drug addicts turn toward recovery -- is haunted by the reality of Goldstein's August 2009 death from a drug overdose. Because of that, the show ... read more

Age 14+
Gone Too Far
3
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Leave It to Lamas (E!)
Parents Need to Know...

that there's not a whole lot in this "celebreality" show that's "good" for kids to see, although Shayne's attempts to repair her brother and father's fractured relationship is admirable. Sexual innuendo is pretty ... read more

Age 15+
Leave It to Lamas
2
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I'm Alive (Animal Planet)
Parents Need to Know...

that this reality series features real people sharing their stories about life-or-death situations. Since the survivors are telling their own tales, there’s little doubt about the outcome -- though the details of these harrowing ... read more

Age 11+
I'm Alive
2
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Man Shops Globe (Sundance Channel)
Parents Need to Know...

that Man Shops Globe follows a buyer for the Anthropologie brand (which specializes in high-end women's clothing but also sells antique display pieces and specialty home items) on an extended shopping spree around the world. He wants to ... read more

Age 13+
Man Shops Globe
3
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Ghost Lab (Discovery Channel)
Parents Need to Know...

that the stars of this reality show hope to prove the existence of ghosts by visiting allegedly haunted houses with a variety of scientific gear. While there's nothing particularly age-inappropriate for older tweens (words stronger than ... read more

Age 12+
Ghost Lab
2
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SuperFetch (Animal Planet)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series about "extreme" dog training is a fun choice for the whole family. Professional trainer Zak George takes on each new challenge with excitement and shows respect and affection for every animal he works with -- ... read more

Age 6+
SuperFetch
4
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Re:Evolution of Sports (Cartoon Network)
Parents Need to Know...

that in addition to highlighting the mental and physical challenges associated with extreme sports (as well as what inspires athletes to participate in them), this stunt-heavy series frequently shows athletes falling and getting hurt ... read more

Age 11+
Re:Evolution of Sports
3

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