 | 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. |
Jamie Kennedy's Blowin' Up
Common Sense Media says
Boring "reality" show implodes; teens OK.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this partially scripted "reality" series is rife with bleeped-out curses. What's more, star Jamie Kennedy and his sidekick are pretty irreverent, and their actions border on rude and unprofessional. Most of this is done with the intention of getting laughs, but given that the series -- which is, at heart, a mockumentary -- is presented as a reality show, some of the comedy might be lost on viewers. The rap/hip-hop community and culture is satirized non-stop.
What's the story?
In MTV's JAMIE KENNEDY'S BLOWIN' UP, the actor and his sidekick, Stu Stone, troll the streets of Los Angeles in search of a record deal. Fans will recognize Kennedy from his work on the Scream movies, as well as Malibu's Most Wanted (also a hip-hop parody) and his TV show The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. In Blowin' Up, he takes viewers behind the scenes as he attempts to kickstart a hip-hop career. To this end, he and Stone take meetings with top music producers and artists such as Method Man, Bow Wow, and Ice T, hoping to land a recording contract. (Plenty of other famous faces crop up, too, from George Lucas to Mena Suvari to Tracy Morgan.)
Is it any good?
Hip-hop fans and those obsessed with celebrities might find Blowin' Up amusing, but parents tuning in with kids might wonder why MTV devoted even five minutes to this inane show. Even though it's obvious Kennedy is playing up his naiveté for laughs, he comes across as a dim bulb unable to hold his own among music's heavy hitters.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why it's important to treat friends and colleagues with respect. When is it OK to joke, and how do you fix things when you've crossed the line? Parents can help kids figure out the best way to achieve their goals. Families can also talk about the nature of the show. How much of what you see do you think is actual reality, and how much was scripted? Does it matter which is which?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
It's "Spinal Tap" for a New Generation
With all respects to Lucy Maher, the CommonSense reviewer for this show, I'm a little surprised that she didn't realize that this show is a pure mocumentary and not supposed to be real. It's all fake and a spoof like "This is Spinal Tap" or "Best in Show". Perhaps she hasn't seen either one of those before?
I think the show is hilarious, just like "Spinal Tap" was (for those of us old enough to remember), especially in the way it spoofs hip-hop and people trying to get famous. I think this show is fun for teens and even pre-teens, although younger kids probably won't really "get it." It's fun for parents watching it with their older kids too.
In the episodes I've seen, aside from some bleeped out language, I really didn't see any really objectionable issues.
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | MTV |
| Cast: | Jamie Kennedy |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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