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First Class All the Way (Bravo)

common sense media says

Luxurious travel makes for lackluster television.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that it's unlikely that kids will want to emulate the fancy lifestyles celebrated in this reality show about a woman who helps wealthy people take extravagant vacations. (Unless you have a child who'd kill to stay in a stuffy hotel suite modeled after one used by Marie Antoinette or learn how to cook sea bass from a chef at one of Paris' finest kitchens.) But the not-so-subtle promotion of high-end brands like Valentino, Manolo Blahnik, and Ritz Paris should certainly give mom and dads pause. Language is less of a problem, as swear words are rare. Characters are shown drinking alcohol, but only in social situations.

Positive messages: The show celebrates lavish lifestyles, extravagant tastes, and luxury brands, and Sara's clients are hardly like the rest of us. On the plus side, she's a savvy businesswoman who's built her company from the bottom up. She also seems to recognize that money isn't as important as her chosen profession suggests, telling a friend who feels insecure about not measuring up to the super wealthy: "Sweetie, I don't care if you have nothing at all. I love you. It has nothing to do with what someone has or doesn't have. Seriously, it's so irrelevant; it comes and it goes, whether you have it, whether you don't."
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Some clients wear skimpy bikinis during their vacations. An allusion to sex toys.
Language: Words like "ass" and "crap" are used infrequently; "s--t" and "f--k" are used even less often, and they're bleeped when they do pop up.
Consumerism: Luxury brands mentioned in just one episode include: Ritz Paris, Hotel de Paris, and Fairmont (hotels); Gautier, Valentino, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Blumarine, Missoni, Armani, and Manolo Blahnik (clothing and shoe designers); Angelina (chocolatier); Weissman (luxury cars); and Cloud Nine Comforts and Tracy Allen Jewelry (businesses owned by two of Sara's friends).
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Sara's clients routinely down cocktails and expensive champagne.

More on First Class All the Way

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the cost associated with taking luxury vacations like the ones featured on the show. Is spending large sums of money on high-end travel something a lot of people can afford to do, or is it only an option for a small percentage of the population? What do you think draws people to watch shows like this? Also, if money were no object and you could plan the ultimate escape, where would you want to go? Do you have to spend a lot of money to have a memorable vacation? What types of fun things could you and your family do for little or no money?

What's the story?

What's the story?
The rich and famous are taking extremely expensive vacations in FIRST CLASS ALL THE WAY, a reality series that follows the day-to-day dealings of elite travel concierge Sara Ryan-Duffy, owner of SRD International. As Ryan-Duffy works to establish her Los Angeles-based travel-planning business at home and abroad, her harried staff makes sure that her well-connected clients are getting VIP treatment, which means they never have to lift a finger -- or a piece of luggage.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

In the midst of uncertain economic times, First Class All the Way offers an escape for everyday folks who are fretting about their 401Ks or plummeting home values. But in spite of all the glitz and glamour, Ryan-Duffy's world reveals itself to be rather boring. Take the series pilot -- which should, in theory, be the episode that grabs viewers and hooks them for the long haul: Ryan-Duffy sends a group of her friends (who could very well be casting rejects from The Real Housewives of Orange County) on an exclusive jaunt to Paris and Monte Carlo. But instead of wishing you could be there with them, driving luxury cars and rubbing elbows with the likes of Prince Albert, you end up wishing they'd do something -- anything -- that was actually worth watching.

As the glue that holds the series together, Ryan-Duffy herself is surprisingly un-compelling. (Need a visual? Most of the time, she has the personality of a walnut.) Her staff is only slightly more watchable. But how many office arguments will it take to save this ho-hum series from crashing and burning?

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: Bravo
Cast: Sara Ryan-Duffy
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Bravo

This review was written by Kari Croop
 
 

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ON: Content is 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