 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The First 48
- A&E
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
Top-notch crime docudrama is too grizzly for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this real-life homicide investigation docudrama features extremely graphic scenes and intense emotional moments. Bloody bodies and evidence are common sights, and suspects' reactions and behavior can be heartbreaking. Each episode features the details of several murders; some feature other violent crimes, as well, such as rape and aggravated robbery.
What's the story?
THE FIRST 48 follows real cases from the moment homicide cops get the call through the next 48 hours (and sometimes beyond). Cameras follow investigators from around the country as they work on murder cases that range from a retaliatory killing in a Memphis high school parking lot to a botched robbery of a middle-aged man visiting Miami for his son's birthday. Each case begins with a call to the detectives, follows them as they investigate the crime scene, and stays with them as they search for clues to the murder weapon and the perpetrator. Viewers watch suspects' interrogations, hear phone calls from tipsters, see crime scene investigators process evidence, and hear from detectives as they deal with the often-emotional aspects of their work, from collecting a confession to receiving hugs from grateful family members when a suspect is arrested.
Is it any good?
Fans of crime docudramas will find The First 48 to be one of the best of its kind, with very high production values and unprecedented access to ongoing investigations. But be prepared for graphic scenes, including footage of dead bodies and blood. In the episode about the Memphis high school shooting, for example, viewers see the dead body of a 17-year-old boy slumped over in the passenger seat of a car and get a glimpse of a cell phone stained with blood.
In addition to the show's visually graphic elements, some scenes can also be very depressing -- such as arrest scenes that include family members looking on or confessions that clearly spell the end of freedom for a young person. Though The First 48's content isn't for younger viewers, certain episodes could provide reality checks for teens who are fascinated by crime dramas that glorify both violence and police work.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what they see on the show. Does anything the detectives do surprise you? What are the most effective methods for solving these crimes? Do you feel any empathy for the suspects? What are the extenuating circumstances of the crimes? What would it be like to be followed by a camera if you were a suspect or a victim's family member? How do you think the camera operators feel about their job? How does watching these real-life crime investigations differ from watching fictional ones on shows like CSI?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
POWERFUL SHOW
This show can teach you the consequences of drug dealing, committing crimes, or just simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I watch this show all the time.
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AGE
Blood, gore, you see dead bodies... and the police that are investigating cuss a lot.
Very violent show - it's NON-FICTION, not fiction.
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AGE
GOOD FOR ALL AGES!
LOVE IT WOULD NOT MISS for the world- WAIT I MISSED it last night *SOB*
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AGE
perfect for us macabre types
Way too real for kids. Dark, nasty dead bodies followed by investigation of low life perpretrators.
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Kid, 11 years old
March 23, 2012
AGE
Love it!
Really fun to watch I love ID channel. A little violent but can teach good lessons about wrong doings and the court system
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | A&E |
| Cast: | Dion Graham |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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