Bachelor Pad

Review

Common Sense Media says

Dating show castoffs duke it out for love, money, and sex.
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

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this adult-oriented reality dating competition feeds on sexual tension between men and women in their 20s and 30s and actually seems to encourage hooking up, making out ... and more. There's also heavy sexual innuendo (including talking of "boning" someone) and salty talk (including bleeped instances of "f--k"), along with frequent social drinking that can lead to promiscuity. As with most reality dating competitions, there's some catty sparring, too, accompanied by iffy decision-making.

  • Positive messages0
    The game structure invites backstabbing, lying, and manipulation and suggests that getting sexually intimate with more than one person in a small group of people is standard practice.
  • Positive role models0
    Some participants refuse to play games. But many more openly admit that they came to the mansion to win the money, and they'll do whatever it takes to get it.
  • Violence1
    Some catty quarreling between contestants, etc., but nothing physical.
  • Sex3
    Contestants are scantily clad (ie., bare chests for men and bikinis for women) and talk openly about finding others "hot" or "sexy." They also share one large room equipped with co-ed bunks. There's some making out, too, with the implication that other things are going on when the lights are out.
  • Language3
    Characters use words like "a--hole," "jackass," and "bitch," plus sexual terms like "penis" and "bone." Stronger words, like "f--k," are bleeped.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    Characters use the seemingly endless supply of alcohol in the house to break the ice -- and help them hook up.
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What's the story?

Some of the most popular romantic rejects from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette are playing for love -- and $250,000 -- while living it up in the BACHELOR PAD, a posh mansion that doubles as a co-ed dormitory. Each week, the individual challenge winner earns a rose for immunity, along with the chance to invite three contestants on an intimate "date" away from the mansion. At the end of the date, the winner then awards a rose to the person of his or her choice, who also receives immunity for the week. That leaves the rest of the participants up for elimination, with the men deciding which woman gets voted off and vice versa. Chris Harrison hosts with assistance from former Bachelor contestant Melissa Rycroft Strickland.

Is it any good?

 

If watching The Bachelor or The Bachelorette is your idea of fun, then Bachelor Pad just might make your day. After all, the show rounds up some of the most loved -- and, apparently, hated -- participants in the reality dating contest's history and pours them into a professionally decorated fishbowl for your amusement.

But be forewarned: Knowing (and caring) that fan-favorite Tenley Molzhan almost won Jake Pavelka's heart on the 14th season of The Bachelor, only to have her own crushed when Jake decided that he really loved Vienna Girardi, is practically a prerequisite. And, for that matter, so is believing that it's possible to find true love on TV.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the relationship between dating and sex. How much emphasis does this show place on getting physical with someone you like? Do you think the presence of cameras influences the contestants' behavior?

  • How many contestants came for love? How many came for the money? Do you notice a difference between the male and female participants and how they approach the game?

  • Can you spot any positive role models among the participants? Is there anyone who avoids making iffy choices?

This review was written by Kari Croop
Kid, 12 years old
August 15, 2010
AGE
16
 
- -
Erm, I've never seen the show before, but it sounds like to me that it really isn't a great show for someone who is even 16... maybe 18 or 19. but anything under that is a no - no.
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Adult
August 16, 2010
AGE
14
 
Teenagers know this stuff
Dude you're 11 and you are rating it based on stupid common sense media. I bet you know swears and seen stuff like this online. Dude why aren't you informed on the topics that tons of teenagers have knowledge of by the age like 9.
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Helped me decide (2) | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind (2)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
March 6, 2012
AGE
14
 
Sex, Sex, Sex
If there is one thing that this show has a lot of... it's sex. Everyone on the show hooks up, makes out, kisses, etc. There are several sexual competitions and a lot of sexual references and sex talk. There are a couple of fights and the contestants do talk bad about each other. Swear words are used very often. For these reasons, Bachelor Pad isn't for kids or anyone in their early teens.
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This review was written by Kari Croop
TV rating:TV-14
Network:ABC
Cast:Chris Harrison
Genre:Reality TV
This review was written by Kari Croop
 

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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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