Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Trivia guessing game has lots of low-brow humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
ARE YOU NORMAL AMERICA? is a game show that asks contestants to decide whether certain behaviors in intimate, provocative, and often embarrassing situations are normal. Hosted by Barry Poznick and Kim Coles, the series teams together two strangers who together must decide whether the majority of people surveyed across America have engaged (or continue to engage in) weird and/or embarrassing acts, like urinating in the shower or stealing toiletries from a hotel. Footage of people around the U.S. admitting whether or not they behave this way is also included. Follow-up questions require contestants to identify people who have engaged in these activities from a group of studio panelists. Each correct answer brings them closer to a $100,000 prize.
Is It Any Good?
The series is basic trivia guessing game that relies on bathroom humor, sex jokes, and conversations about things that most people are too uncomfortable or embarrassed to talk about publicly in order to make it funny. It also oversimplifies the idea of what is normal behavior by categorizing it as a statistical majority.
Some viewers may find the questions (and the answers to them) humorous or surprising. However, because there's no real strategy needed to play the game, it gets a little tiresome. It isn't for everyone, but folks looking for some lighthearted entertainment will find it here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about game shows. What makes a game show entertaining? Is it the strategy needed to play the game? The questions? The reactions of the players? What about the hosts? Do you find yourself rooting for contestants, even if you don't know them? Why?
What do you think about the idea of "normal" as presented on this show? Who decides what's normal? What kinds of reactions do people have to behavior they don't consider normal?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 3, 2012
- Cast : Barry Poznick , Kim Coles
- Network : OWN
- Genre : Game Shows
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 24, 2022
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