 | 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. |
Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County
- MTV
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
"Real" OC is just like the fake one; mature teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this show offers plenty of mild profanity, sexuality, and other possibly objectionable content, as well as general silliness. Even teen viewers may take offense at how empty and shallow the minds and lives of the cast members appear to be. Alternatively, teens may be easily swayed by the lavish, lax lifestyle of these teens who shop, lounge, and tan on their parents' dime.
What's the story?
Set in the famously wealthy Southern California beach community, MTV's reality series, LAGUNA BEACH: THE REAL ORANGE COUNTY, follows the lives of real kids attending high school in Laguna Beach -- most notably Lauren "LC" Conrad, Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, and Tallan Torriero. Some of the teens have graduated and gone off to college, allowing for underclassman to take center stage. MTV's cameras were not granted access on school grounds. Rather than following the reality show format of having cameras on the cast at all times, isolated segments are presented in a dramatic format (as if they were scripted), complete with musical score.
Is it any good?
The isolated segment approach makes the show feel like soap opera, but one in which even less happens per episode. Wildly different camera angles of the same scene should leave audience members wondering exactly how many takes were shot to get the latest confrontation, just right. The problem with adding dramatic conventions to a reality show is that there's no drama in the sense of crafted characters, conflicts, and resolutions. Episodes feature the recurring characters talking and going places -- and preparing for important rites of passage like prom and graduation -- but meandering, meaningless scenes stack up to produce a show about nothing.
Most are college-bound, but the show only features their leisure time. As a result, they come across as more careless and flaky than they really might be. Some teen viewers will enjoy watching two girls vie for the same cute guy's attention (as well as seeing the guy switch back and forth). But this love/lust/flirtation triangle grows boring quickly, and a critical teen viewer may wish for more characters and more variety in subject matter.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what's important in their lives vs. what seems to be important to the teens on the show. What parts of their lifestyle are appealing? Which ones aren't? Is anything on the show similar to your own teens' life? What impression does this program give your kids about Southern California -- or teenage life in general?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Its an awesome show!
Laguna Beach is an awesome show! Overall, there might be a few things that I don't like, such as cussing, but they keep that to a minimum on the show. They have a lot of hot girls on there ... thats a plus! =) but it's just not a show of teens fantasies ... its a show people can watch, and see the true life of someone ... Its an awesome show, and I think that people shouldn't take it the wrong way. If you really watched the show, and were a teen, you'd understand this show a lot better.
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AGE
One of the worst, most unbelievable series on television!
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AGE
I find the whole idea very sad
I find it sad that being spoiled and shallow is "in" these days. Laguna Beach joins its peers "Rich Girls" and "My Sweet 16" on MTV and "The Simple Life" on FOX with Paris Hilton in celebrating a life that focuses purely on material gratification. MTV is often shameless in its glamorization of aimless, spoiled teenagers. Granted these characters may be real people, but this can deceive young adults into thinking that this display somehow represents normal life.
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AGE
I Love Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is a great show for teenagers. Not maybe for children under 12, but other than language and partying the show is great. I love watching all the drama happen and trying to predict what will happen next in the season.
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AGE
EXCELLENT
oh my god this show has to be the best show ever i cried at the last episode of every season...my favorite character is kristen i dont think i can live without this show, their lives are what real teenagers go through and i can relate to all of them.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | MTV |
| Cast: | Kristin Cavallari, Stephen Colletti, Talan Torriero |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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