American Loggers

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Gritty look at loggers' lives is intense entertainment.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this reality series -- which follows the crew of a Maine logging company -- offers an honest look at the hard work, financial uncertainty, and inherent dangers that come with the job. This gritty show often explores real-life issues that are too intense for little kids (a man loses his home to fire and barely pulls out of diabetic shock, for example), and loggers talk frankly about the injuries they've endured on the job. Tensions run high when the company's owners disagree, but overall the show celebrates their work ethic and determination.

  • The series shines looks at the hard work involved in harvesting the wood used for paper products. The workers -- many of whom are brothers -- sometimes disagree, but they work together to get the job done and ensure their financial security.
  • There are some re-enactments of past accidents and detailed, unfiltered accounts of injuries suffered both on and off the job. In one segment, for example, a man describes his head-on collision with a log protruding from an oncoming truck -- which resulted in his scalp being severed like the lid of a tuna can, which he could pull down and touch to his nose. Some verbal disagreements between the loggers.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

AMERICAN LOGGERS heads to the wilds of northern Maine to hitch a ride with the crews of Pelletier Inc., a family-owned logging business three generations old that's now operated by seven Pelletier brothers. The Pelletiers and their crews battle brutal weather, mechanical failures, and often bodily injury to harvest timber for surrounding paper mills and extend the primitive logging roads for better forest access. But despite their determination, the plummeting economy threatens the company's future -- and their family livelihood.


Is it any good?

 

This eye-opening series is a real-life underdog tale that pits gritty determination against the unrelenting forces of nature, fate, and economic uncertainty. Some viewers may find it hard to relate to these tough-as-nails loggers, but for all their roughness, their unwavering resolve is an inspiring statement on the world's current troubles. It's impossible to not get wrapped up in their personal and professional struggles, and you'll find yourself rooting for their success even as the odds stack against them.

That said, like many other "dangerous jobs" shows, this series isn't an age-appropriate pick for little kids and young tweens because of its honest portrayal of this perilous profession. While injuries aren't shown up close, some are re-enacted, and many are described in fairly gory detail by the victims (for example, a man talks about his scalp being severed from his skull and hanging like the lid of a tuna can). The guys also talk candidly about their career path and, in some cases, their apparent lack of alternative choices. Raw emotion plays out in some tense moments, and the real-life nature of the show could weigh on younger or particularly sensitive viewers.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the appeal of docu-reality series like this one. Why do you think viewers like shows about people going about their everyday lives? Is it because their "everyday lives" are more dangerous/interesting than most viewers'? Do you think these jobs are as dangerous in real-life as they seem on TV? Families can also discuss careers. How do geography and socio-economics affect someone's eventual career choice? What other factors go into the mix?


This review was written by Emily Ashby
Kid, 11 years old
May 25, 2009
 
7i67i
jukuyy

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Adult
January 5, 2010
 
best show on tv
This shows what does go on in the maine woods and that maine people are hard workers

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Adult
February 27, 2009
 
well put togather
i thought this show was great being that i have worked for them i know how tough this line of work is what you see happens every day even though its a reinactment of it it happens

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Parent
January 7, 2010
 
American Loggers
My favorite logging show on TV.

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This review was written by Emily Ashby
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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