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The Girls of Hedsor Hall

(Rated TV-14, Reality TV, Starring Gill Harbord, Tara Conner, Rosemary Shrager, Where to watch: MTV, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0

  • Common Sense says

    "Lady"-making reality series sends mixed messages.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    While the show promotes some positive behavior, these messages are offset by very sexist ideas about how women should act. Many of the women are motivated by the cash prize. The cast isn't particularly diverse.

  • Violence:

    Lots of catty arguments, as well as pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, and throwing alcohol and bottles of water in each other's faces. Glasses, furniture, and other items occasionally get broken as a result. Home video footage of one contestant shows her wielding a large knife. Ms. Harbord and Ms. Shrager sometimes lose their tempers and yell.

  • Sex:

    Some strong sexual innuendo, including references to having sex and conversations about stripping and making money by owning a Webcam site. Video footage shows one contestant kissing another woman.

  • Language:

    Audible language includes "bitch" and "ass"; stronger words ("s--t," "f--k") are used constantly but fully bleeped out. Some participants use the racial epithet "white trash."

  • Consumerism:

    The British Airways logo is visible. The show's theme is played by Coldplay.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The women are shown drinking excessively. Some fall down drunk, while others take their clothes off and engage in other questionable behavior. Some women are shown smoking. References to being "on crack," and one girl is accused of possessing drugs.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Girls of Hedsor Hall

Parents need to know that although this reality series -- which follows U.S. women attending a British finishing school to change their negative behavior and become "ladies" -- offers some positive messages about self respect, it also promotes stereotypical ideas about how women should act. Expect lots of cursing (though the strongest words are bleeped), drinking (as well as drug references), and cat fighting among the participants. The show also has plenty of sexual innuendo, including references to stripping and Webcam sites and scenes of women kissing each other. And some of the women talk about earlier iffy behavior like getting arrested.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what motivates people to appear on reality shows to "transform" their lives. Do you think these people are really interested in changing their ways, or are they just driven by the thought of winning money? Do you think any of their crazy on-camera behavior is motivated by the cameras -- do you they really act like that in their own homes? Families can also discuss what it's like to attend finishing school. What kinds of lessons are taught there? Are there finishing schools for boys as well as girls?
Tools and tips that can help

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Gutta_Brown
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 4.0

    I laughed!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Well i think it's a gud show specially you got to have the fights thats wat makes shows anyway but gud show i really need to be on their im about to be 18 years old im tough n i dont take s*** from nobod7y not even u but great show love it n hit me back up bryan Tx Shanekwa .F.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    sammie267
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Sweet

    This show is about these american girls who does not know how to obay go to London and learn manners. Whoever is the last person there will get $100,000. This shows teens how to act!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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