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King of the Crown

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Cyrus Frakes, Where to watch: TLC)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 11.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Aspiring beauty queens get coached hard on body image.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 11–12

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The show's emphasis is squarely on looks and being judged according to a largely unattainable standard of thinness and beauty. One of the contestants, for example, is endlessly harrassed to lose weight even though she's not fat by any stretch of the imagination.
  • Role models:

    Frakes does have some good things to say about facing your fears and working hard to achieve a goal. But even though he seems sincere about wanting the best for the women he coaches, it's clear that he has his business in mind all the time. And he's all about winning, almost at all costs. In one scene, for example, he jokes with his clients that he wants them to get a crown even if they have to bump the other girls off the stage to do it.
  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Women wear bikinis and parade around in them as part of the competition. Being sexy is considered part of being beautiful.
  • Language:

    Some bleeped language, although it's kind of hard to tell what was actually said. Words like "pissed" aren't bleeped.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About King of the Crown

Parents need to know that this beauty pageant reality series is focused on winning at all costs and judging women based on their looks. Contestants are sometimes mercilessly harrassed to lose weight (even when they're clearly not fat); others end up feeling like they're failures because they can't speak in front of a group. And pageant coach Cyrus Frakes is more than a little pushy about getting what he wants. Expect some bleeped language and revealing bikinis.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about body image. What message do shows like this send on that issue? Is it fair to judge people on how they look?
  • How does the way the show is edited contribute to the on-screen drama? Do you think events always took place in exactly the way they're shown? Is "reality TV" always realistic?
  • Do you think this show fairly represents the pros and cons of beauty pageants? Is more than one perspective represented?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    ADULTS ONLY

    This show is bad news and is not a good example for anyone, I wish they would put it after Todlers and Tiaras so that I could go to bed a little earlier.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative message

    entertaining

    people making fools of themselves. That's what it is. I'm thin enough to be a model, but I'm not stupid I know what it reeaaaaallly takes and I'm not at all costs willing to do it. But It's fun to make fun of those people and unlike "Toddlers and Tiaras" its more age appropriate, cause the women aren't 5 year olds flouncing around the stage pretending their 25.

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