 | 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. |
Great American Road Trip
- NBC
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
More bickering than family bonding in cross-country contest.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although the competitors in this reality series are families, the show itself isn’t appropriate for all ages. Although some of the families use their experience to enjoy quality bonding time, there’s lots of bickering among team members (both adults and kids), as well as some no-holds-barred competition. And sometimes sparks fly because of contestants’ conflicting (and often over-the-top) personalities. Sporadic salty language (mostly “ass,” “freakin’,” and “sucks,” with stronger choices edited out) is also iffy for young kids.
What's the story?
GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP puts seven families behind the wheels of seven decked-out RVs and turns them loose on historic Route 66 for a cross-country adventure from Illinois to California. The four-member teams meet up at destinations along the way to compete in challenges that test their strategy, stamina, and teamwork. Each week the family in last place is sent home, while the others continue down the road toward a grand prize of $100,000.
Is it any good?
If you’ve ever been on a road trip with your own family, you know that once the novelty of the vacation wears off, there’s plenty of nerve-grating drama to be had. Now imagine that same road trip with cameras at every turn and the pressure of daily competition, and you’ll get a sense of the exaggerated drama in this reality series. The contestants' strong personalities and cultural differences keep things unpredictable ... and also contribute to plenty of bickering.
If a silver lining is to be found, it’s in the fact that some of the families do use the opportunity to bond over the vacation of a lifetime. The show also lets viewers glimpse some lesser-known but worthwhile sites along the road less traveled. But for family viewing, the show’s thin content and somewhat salty language (“ass,” “freakin’,” and “sucks” are common fare) make it iffy for young kids.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about reality TV. How realistic do you find this “reality” show? Do you think any of the contestants put on an act for the cameras, or are they acting naturally? Why are we so intrigued by shows that depict people at their worst?
Do we hold reality stars to the same standards as traditional celebrities? Do you think producers favor eccentric personalities when they cast shows like this one?
Think about ways that your own family can bond. Tweens: What would your ideal family vacation be? How would you travel? What would you like to see? How much would it cost?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
A fun show, but has some down-sides
All I have seen is the season premier, and i can't wait for the next episode.
THE BAD: Having said that, there are some things that parents of younger children might frown upon. The main one, in my opinion, is the bickering. There are times when the parents are trying to TREAT the kids, and the kids are either fighting each other, or fighting the parents! It made my sister and I say," What brats! If we were to give our kids treats, we certainly would take them away if they were misbehaving!!" There is even some bickering between adults, too! There is one family in particular (which seems to be getting a lot of airtime) where the husband and wife seem to always be fighting about who should drive, and it comes to the point where it just makes you sick! There is a little bit of language (basically all that is expected of a reality show), but nothing kids under 10 can't handle. And finally, during the challenges, the families argue as to who will do what, or how they are going to do it!
THE GOOD: After that long summary, there are some good things about this TV show. There are three or four families in particular who, while they don't get very much airtime, don't fight at all and seem to be getting along very well! Also, a 30-second scene in which all of the families meet for the first time under informal settings, all of the kids and adults seem to be getting along well. And finally, so far, it seems like a fun show.
THE BOTTOM LINE: A good show to see with the whole family (10 and up) including parents, with commercial breaks a good time to discuss the pros and cons of what just took place.
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AGE
Funny Reality show about family bonding
Great American Road Trip is interesting. I like that the competing families drive on route 66. One family in particular loves to bicker abut who should drive and the what I thought was funny was the same family the Dad can't turn the RV on. this the best reality show i watched.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | NBC |
| Cast: | Reno Collier |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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