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Momma's Boys (NBC)

common sense media says

Train wreck of a reality show is too hot for kids.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there's very little in this reality dating show that's actually good for their kids to watch -- catfights, sex, and other below-the-belt antics are the norm. Translation? Teens would be better served to skip this show entirely. While some of the participants reveal themselves to be good people, there are plenty of negative role models, including one of the guys' mothers, who's unabashedly prejudiced against anyone who isn't white when it comes to her son's love life. Mild curse words like "bitch" and "hell" fly, too, in addition to a good amount of social drinking, making out, and more.

Positive messages: Some girls are positive role models; others are exceedingly poor ones. But the worst offender is one of the mothers. During her audition tape (cilps are shown repeatedly), she describes the women she won't allow her son to date: "I cannot have a black one. I can't have an Asian one. ... I have a lot of friends who are black, but I just can't see that. ... I can't have a mixture at all. No mixture for my son. It has to be a white girl." She also rules out Muslims, Jews, "fatt-butt" girls, and anyone who's been divorced ... which eliminates more than half of the girls who are vying for her son's affection.
Violence: No actual fighting, but words can get heated -- fast. One girl throws down her martini glass in anger during a confrontation with one of the guys' mothers, and other girls have to hold her back.
Sex: Guys take their shirts off, and girls walk around in skimpy bikinis, exposing cleavage and the occasional buttock. Guys and girls also make out during hot-and-heavy encounters in the mansion's hot tub. One contestant admits to posing in Playboy; another was the Penthouse Pet of the Year; while another has a 2-year-old son. A few girls also refer to their "boob jobs."
Language: Mild curse words like "hell," "damn," and "bitch" are audible; anything stronger is bleeped.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Most of the participants drink alcohol during parties and other social occasions, but all are of age.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Momma's Boys

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about whether it's realistic to expect to find true love on a reality show. Do shows like these tend to result in lasting love matches? Why or why not -- and how much of what you're seeing is pure "reality," anyway? How many of the participants who showed up for casting calls do you think were looking for love, and how many were looking for their 15 minutes of fame? Why do you think producers got the guys' mothers involved? Was it merely to add drama and draw ratings, or do the mothers add something meaningful to the selection process? How do they come across on the show? Do you think they realized how some of the things they said would sound to a national audience?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Cloying mothers step in to help their sons find true love in MOMMA'S BOYS, a reality dating show that combines elements of The Bachelor and Jerry Springer. Michael is 25, but his mother still makes his bed. Rob is 24, and his mom proudly buys his underwear. And Jojo is 21 -- and his mother has a long list of girls she doesn't want him to date, including black girls, Jewish girls, and anyone who's not "just like me." This adds up to quite a challenge, of course, for the 32 bachelorettes competing for the three guys' hearts, many of whom will do anything to get them.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Although Momma's Boys could result in at least one genuine love match (hey, it has a one in 3 shot, right?), it's far too reliant on Springer-style drama that makes just about everyone involved look bad. There's also a level of genuine creepiness to the way that at least two of the mothers dote on their handsome sons. In short, this show won't change the world -- far from it. More likely, it will make the ever-rotting landscape of reality television a more frightening place.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: NBC
Cast: Nadia Dajani
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: NBC
This review was written by Kari Croop
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

starage21
adult
17
 
no kids should be able to watch this movie
No kids should watch this movie only adults case I dont think kids should watch this cause too much iffy
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (1) | read my mind (4)
Emperial
parent of and 2 , 4 , 6 , 8 , 11 year old
17
 
Horrible for anyone under 20!
This show is another example of how poisoned our television has become. These men need to grow up and the moms need to stop being so horrible and controlling. This is definitely NOT an example of how a mother is supposed to be to her grown, adult son. This is NOT a show for children, tweens, adolescents or even teenagers. Garbage in Garbage out!
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mlm102
teen, 16 years old
13
 
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kyo kun shoma fan
teen, 16 years old
14
 
what world do we live in?
stupid dumb ... ponitless ... and thats about it...
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