 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
- NBC
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
The Apprentice with feminine flair.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents should know that their teens will see contestants gossiping about each other and arguing face-to-face. There is lots of talk in the intro about Martha's many brands (and her logo is all over the show).
What's the story?
The formula here is the same as with Trump's version: Each week two teams compete in weekly business projects. At the end of each episode, the leader of the losing team and two teammates face elimination, and at the end of the series, one lucky person will win a vague job working for a well-known CEO. The big difference: this time, it's Martha Stewart doing the hiring and firing, and instead of using Trump's "You're fired!" line, she goes for "You just don't fit in," a choice that somehow conjures up mean-spirited elementary school girls icing a former friend from their clique. In the series' most brilliant touch, Martha also pens a personal note at the end of the episode to the loser -- what impeccable manners!
Is it any good?
Overall, this is pretty familiar stuff: Frantic teammates, lots of in-fighting, and whispered politicking back at the beautiful New York City loft the contestants share. There's the obnoxious guy, the gay guy, the girl-next-door, blah, blah, blah. It's embarrassing to watch them paste on smiles for Martha, and annoying to watch them fight in front of her.
In the end, there's not a whole lot that's new here. Martha's personality certainly isn't as big as Trump's, but even with her stiff exterior she's somehow alluring. Maybe we're just drawn to her because we all know her backstory and want to see if she'll ever mention her time behind bars (not promising considering how this was all but skipped over during her bio at the beginning of the show). But really watching her -- and seeing her craft her note -- is about the only reason to tune in.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about Martha Stewart herself. The show describes her rise to fortune, but focuses little on her brush with crime. Why do you think that is? Why do you think the press and public was gleeful about her fall? Did that have more to do with her gender or her personality? Do you think her time in jail had anything to do with her getting her own show? Did it improve her reputation?
- Show:
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- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
The Biggest Yawn On Television
Jim Lehrer (on PBS) is more charmismatic and interesting than this iteration of The Apprentice.
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AGE
Like Trump's Apprentice, this reality show is about people who are given business tasks. There are two different teams competing against each other, and one the winning team gets something good, and one of the people from the losing team gets fired. The contestants' overall goal is to become Nartha's apprentice. It's interesting at times, but not one of my favorite shows. You probably don't want kids watching this show because of the themes and the disrespectful behavior from the contestants (but unlike Trump, Martha isn't as rude)
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | NBC |
| Cast: | Alexis Stewart, Martha Stewart |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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