Family Foreman

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Boxing hero hogs the limelight in so-so show.
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

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this "celebreality" series about former heavyweight champ George Foreman and his family seems to exist solely to give Foreman a way to remind viewers of his many achievements. He often comes across as egotistical, steering conversations toward his prowess in boxing and business and monopolizing camera time so he can speak his mind. There's not much iffy content here beyond the over-dramatized family conflict typical of most reality shows -- but, likewise, there's little that's exciting and certainly nothing to really engage kids.

  • Foreman has achieved success in both his professional and personal lives, and it's obvious throughout the show that he loves his family. He's a charismatic leader who continues to give back to his community. But the series plays up everyday family drama and strife so much that it overshadows everything else, and Foreman himself sometimes lapses into self-admiration over his many accomplishments.
  • Foreman is a former boxing champ, so some flashback scenes show him competing in the ring. He also helps coach kids in the sport.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

FAMILY FOREMAN takes viewers into the spacious Texas home of two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman and his family. Even though he once ruled the boxing ring, Foreman's wife, Joan, and his six kids who still live at home (four others have left the nest) give him a run for his money on a daily basis, so there's never a shortage of drama in the Foreman house. The series follows the ins and outs of Foreman's life as he tries to balance fatherhood with his multiple business endeavors.


Is it any good?

 

Foreman's list of achievements includes an Olympic medal, a handful of books, a lucrative endorsement career, a youth center he sponsors in his Texas town, and even his own church, over which he presides as an ordained minister. With such established success, you have to wonder why he thought it was necessary to jump on the reality bandwagon. Not only is there no real need for this series, but there's precious little to love about it. While Foreman claims that his family is his greatest source of pride, conversations often invite mention of his own professional success, and he frequently comes across as egotistical. (He even named all five of his sons George, and calls them by nicknames like "Red" and "Big Wheel" to avoid confusion.) He also keeps the focus on himself by monopolizing the onscreen confessionals, which allow him to expound on how misunderstood he is by his family members.

Reality TV fans are also likely to be turned off by how much the show smacks of scripted dialogue. Most conversations feel so awkward that it's impossible to believe they're natural and undirected, and even typical family bickering seems like a performance. The only bright spots are scenes of Foreman interacting with the public, especially those in which he coaches the kids at his youth center and inspires them to lead responsible lives free of drugs and alcohol.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how the Foreman family is affected by George Sr.'s success. What aspects of their life are noticeably different from yours? Do you think they see George's fame as a positive thing? Do we hold celebrities and their families to a different standard than everyone else? If so, is that fair? How do you think it feels to be in the spotlight most of your life? Families can also discuss why society values athletic ability so highly. Why don't we give the same amount of respect to success in fields like medicine, literature, and education?


This review was written by Emily Ashby

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This review was written by Emily Ashby
Topics:book characters
TV rating:TV-G
Network:TV Land
Cast:George Foreman, Joan Foreman
Genre:Reality TV

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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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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