Teen TV Shows Handpicked by Our Editors

SciGirls
Age 7+
5

SciGirls

Why We Recommend It

This show introduces viewers to real tween girls using their science prowess to explore (or change) the world.

Read our full review
Is family TV a thing of the past?

Finding appropriate teen TV is a huge challenge. They're too old for kids' TV. and teen TV like Gossip Girl is too full of drinking and sexual activity that impressionable kids could do without -- especially during this turbulent time when their bodies are beginning puberty and their hormones kick in.

A good place to start: Shift the notion of family TV to shows you can watch and talk about together. It may be less about entertainment than finding "teachable moments."

TV Reviews

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Show Reviews for:

New TV Reviews for Early Teens (ages 12-14)

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TRANSform Me (VH1)
Parents Need to Know...

that this makeover series -- in which a trio of transgendered fashionistas transform a woman's look -- involves a fair amount of discussion of the trangender experience, including some brief, though frequent, conversations about the ... read more

Age 13+
TRANSform Me
3
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The Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this version of Donald Trump's famous reality show -- which features celebrities competing for cash to donate to their favorite charitable organizations -- contains more iffy content than its predecessor. While it sends positive ... read more

Age 14+
The Celebrity Apprentice
3
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Sons of Tucson (Fox)
Parents Need to Know...

that there are some iffy messages here for a show that seems to be targeting kids and their parents, including the central premise that kids can largely take care of themselves without any adults around. The brothers' desire to stay ... read more

Age 13+
Sons of Tucson
2
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Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty (VH1)
Parents Need to Know...

that this reality series, which is hosted by singer/actress Jessica Simpson, looks at the different ways women around the world think about and pursue outer beauty. The show occasionally features women who have been physically hurt by ... read more

Age 12+
Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty
3
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Hoarding: Buried Alive (TLC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this show is not intended for kids. The hoarding shown in the reality program gets pretty ugly and while the actual filth (with attendant vermin) gets played down, the scenes of clutter might be confusing to younger viewers. The ... read more

Age 14+
Hoarding: Buried Alive
2
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The Guard (ION)
Parents Need to Know...

that this drama about members of the Canadian Coast Guard follows all the standard formulas for high-stakes rescue dramas. There’s plenty of life-or-death action when the characters are on duty, and plenty of personal drama when they ... read more

Age 14+
The Guard
3
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Pretty Wild! (E!)
Parents Need to Know...

that this voyeuristic reality series, which centers on a former Playboy model and her three uninhibited teenage daughters, is drawing a lot of attention thanks to the unexpected criminal charges filed against one of the young women. It ... read more

Age 14+
Pretty Wild!
1
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The Cutting Edge: Fire & Ice (ABC Family)
Parents Need to Know...

that the developing relationship between Alex and James in this TV movie makes for plenty of innuendo and some sexual content. One scene shows the young couple engaged in a game of strip poker, which (predictably) ends with both of them ... read more

Age 14+
The Cutting Edge: Fire & Ice
3
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The Marriage Ref (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that some of the disagreements up for debate in this game show aren't kid-friendly, such as an ongoing argument between a husband who wants to install a stripper pole for a little fun in the bedroom and his wife, who adamantly refuses. ... read more

Age 13+
The Marriage Ref
2
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Madman of the Sea (Animal Planet)
Parents Need to Know...

that this ocean adventure reality series features extreme fishermen engaging in some dangerous stunts. Viewers are warned (and rightly so) that they should never try these stunts themselves, but the show sends some problematic messages ... read more

Age 13+
Madman of the Sea
2
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Parenthood (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this show concerns a large extended family -- including grandparents and some young children -- but the focus is squarely on the problems of adult characters in their 30s. Kids are central to the plot, but that doesn't mean it's ... read more

Age 13+
Parenthood
4
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If I Can Dream
Parents Need to Know...

that this earnest online reality series -- which features five twentysomethings trying to break into the entertainment industry -- connects viewers with the show's website that streams nonstop footage of cast members at home. Sometimes ... read more

Age 13+
If I Can Dream
3
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Police Women of Maricopa County (TLC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this reality series shows real women doing police work, which means they encounter criminals, drug dealing, domestic disputes, and people on the edges of society. The language is raw, and includes words like "ass" and ... read more

Age 14+
Police Women of Maricopa County
3
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WWE NXT (Syfy)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series features wrestling matches choreographed to look violent and painful. As is typical with this kind of entertainment, it also includes lots of yelling, insult hurling, shoving, and occasional face slapping. Words like ... read more

Age 13+
WWE NXT
2
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Peak Season: Vancouver (VH1)
Parents Need to Know...

that this trendy Canadian reality doc features continuous conversations about relationships and infidelity, and lots of making out between men and women. Reality characters drink (beer, wine, mixed drinks) a lot, and the combination of ... read more

Age 14+
Peak Season: Vancouver
2
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Survivors (BBC America)
Parents Need to Know...

that this post-apocalyptic drama -- which follows a band of survivors who struggle to retain their humanity after a plague has wiped out 99 percent of the world’s population -- includes terrifying scenes involving the realization that ... read more

Age 14+
Survivors
4
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Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public (MTV)
Parents Need to Know...

that this MTV special looks at sexting -- the act of sending sexually suggestive photos by text message -- and at the emotional and legal consequences this behavior can have on those who engage in it. It also offers some limited advice on ... read more

Age 13+
Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public
4
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Famous Crime Scene (VH1)
Parents Need to Know...

that this documentary-style program uses authentic footage, computer animation, and eyewitness and expert interviews to re-create infamous crime scenes and unsolved murders, like that of Michael Jackson and Anna Nicole Smith. Due to the ... read more

Age 14+
Famous Crime Scene
3
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Past Life (Fox)
Parents Need to Know...

that this police procedural is heavy on the paranormal and includes in-depth discussion of reincarnation, past lives, and how these concepts intersect with mysterious deaths. The investigations sometimes uncover vicious crimes -- which ... read more

Age 14+
Past Life
3
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The Black List: Vol. 3 (HBO)
Parents Need to Know...

that the third installment in this inspirational documentary project -- which profiles and celebrates iconic African Americans -- offers positive and constructive messages about the black experience in the United States. It also touches ... read more

Age 14+
The Black List: Vol. 3
5
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Ten9Eight (BET)
Parents Need to Know...

that this documentary about inner-city teens participating in a national business plan competition offers lots of positive messages about staying in school, working hard, setting goals, and reaching for dreams. It also introduces business ... read more

Age 14+
Ten9Eight
4
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