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Luke's Parental Advisory (VH1)

common sense media says

Our parental advisory? Kids should skip this one.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this reality show follows the daily life of a former rapper who built his career on explicit lyrics and controversy and is now trying his hand at adult entertainment. Sex and pornography are discussed frequently; viewers will also hear plenty of bleeped language (like "s--t," "f--k," and "motherf--ker"), as well as sexist statements (like "girls who date more than one guy ends up [sic] being called a 'slut' … boys who date more than one girl, they get labeled 'cool dude'"). And even though the rapper's teenage kids are central to the show's plot, that doesn't mean this is recommended viewing for teens in general. Far from it.

Positive messages: Campbell is a walking contradiction, a man who makes his money producing "adult entertainment" (aka pornography) yet expects his children to steer clear of it until they're of age. His comments about women are borderline sexist, although his young fiancée, Kristin, thinks they're "kinda sexy."
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Lots of sexual innuendo and cheeky talk about sex, including pornography. Strippers are shown, too, although they're covered (barely).
Language: Campbell is fond of colorful language (like "s--t," "f--k," and "motherf--ker), but he usually doesn't use it around his kids (when h e does, it's bleeped). Still, he does say words like "slut" and "screw" in their presence.
Consumerism: The show mentions Campbell's adult entertainment business, Luke Entertainment Group, many times. The show also plugs his former band, 2 Live Crew, and features the song "Me So Horny."
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Adults are sometimes shown drinking alcohol.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Luke's Parental Advisory

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about whether it's fair for a parent to ignore the age-old adage of "practice what you preach." Are you more likely to want to do something (drink, smoke, do drugs, watch pornography, etc.) if your mom and dad do it, too? Why or why not? Do you think Luke is a good role model for his kids? Do you think his son or daughter will follow in his footsteps or choose completely different paths?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Nearly 20 years after releasing the controversial album "As Nasty as They Wanna Be" with his former rap act, 2 Live Crew, Luther "Luke" Campbell is back in the spotlight -- this time as the lascivious star of his own reality series: LUKE'S PARENTAL ADVISORY. The show chronicles Campbell's efforts to raise his teenage kids, Lacresha and Luther Jr., while running an adult entertainment business with his fiancée, Kristin, who also serves as his business and legal affairs adviser. Kristin, a seemingly bright and articulate lawyer who's 20 years Campbell's junior, admits that she never saw herself working in the adult entertainment industry. "But Luke has definitely opened my eyes to the business," she says. "The fact that it is a business."

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
In many ways, Parental Advisory attempts to do for Campbell what The Osbournes did for rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his family. But unlike The Osbournes, this show won't be winning any Emmys. The Osbournes worked, in part, because it took a figure who was largely feared for his on-stage antics and showed him to be a hapless family man who loved his wife and kids but could never quite master the remote control. Parental Advisory, by contrast, takes a notoriously lewd public figure and shows him to be pretty lewd in his private life, too. And the worst part is, he's raising kids.

As a parent who peddles pornographic material for a living but expects his teens to stay away from it, Campbell sends mixed messages by the truckload. But when his friends at the local barbershop try to point out the hypocrisy, Campbell simply doesn't see it. In fact, he seems somewhat surprised when Kristin discovers a porno DVD hidden underneath Luther Jr.'s bed. "What I do is not for kids; what I do is for adults," he explains to Luther, after first making sure the film wasn't one from his personal collection. "That's a big difference." True, but how difficult will that difference be for his children -- or anyone else's -- to distinguish?

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: VH1
Cast: Luther Campbell
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: VH1
This review was written by Kari Croop
 
 

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