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The Exterminators

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Rick Bretherton, Donnie Bretherton, Billy Bretherton, Where to watch: A&E)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 11; suggested age 11.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Pest-control reality show is surprisingly animal friendly.

Themes in this show include:   family relationships

Why We Rated This on for Ages 11 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    When possible, animals are rescued and relocated. Billy also promotes the use of more human-friendly methods for pest removal. There's some drama among the family members/co-workers.

  • Role models:

    Billy is gentle, knowledgeable, and animal-friendly and spends time explaining the role of animals in the ecosystem as well as the potential harm they can pose. There's some cattiness between Donnie and ex-daughter-in-law Pam.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Billy and the Vexcon company try to avoid killing animals when possible, but it's sometimes necessary (the company's logo is a skull and crossbones). Snakes, alligators, and angry raccoons violently resist removal. Billy sometimes uses scary gothic masks when he's removing bees and other critters, but his additional attire (like feather boas) makes it more funny than frightening.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Audible language includes occasional use of words like "hell." Rare swear words like "s--t" are sometimes said during heated arguments, but they're fully bleeped.

  • Consumerism:

    The series is a promotional vehicle for the Vexcon Company. Some of Billy's non-traditional techniques require the use of food products like Oberto beef jerky, while mice and roaches enjoy products like Jell-O. DeWalt tools are visible. Billy drives a Dodge truck.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Exterminators

Parents need to know that atlhough the family at the center of this reality series about a Louisiana pest control business has a Goth-like persona (the company logo is a skull and crossbones), the show is fairly mild -- and animal friendly -- overall. That said, the series does include some family drama, which leads to a few catty arguments and occasional "bleeped out" swearing (like "s--t"). Food and tool product logos are sometimes visible, and some of the pests being removed (which range from cockroaches to alligators) resist rather violently.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the way that people who work in fields that many viewers wouldn't be comfortable with are portrayed in the media. What makes them interesting subject matter for reality television?
  • Do you think shows like this are meant to help viewers appreciate the work and risks that go into "unusual" jobs? Or are they primarily intended to just entertain?
  • How do people get started in these careers? What kinds of skills (and personality) does someone need to be able to do pest control work?
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