• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Secrets of the infomercial exposed; OK for older kids.

Why We Rated This for Ages 10 and Up

What to watch out for

• Messages:

  The show exposes some of the direct-order industry's sometimes-misleading "tricks of the trade" -- as in one case where the host chooses not to go through with a demonstration and someone else's hand is substituted.
• Role models:

  The two hosts don't really get along and frequently put each other down, although they're not vicious about it. Most of the featured inventors are men, and the show seems somewhat male-centric in its overall sensibility. In one case, for example, the inventor of a baby bottle holder for busy mothers is told that the market for her product is too small, while a product for GPS owners gets the go-ahead.
• Violence:

  One product demonstration, which is repeated multiple times to prove a product's effectiveness, shows a hammer being slammed down onto a hand sandwiched between shock-absorbing gel; in the same episode, an SUV is driven over the hand-and-gel sandwich. But the whole point is that no one gets injured.
• Sex:

  Not an issue.
• Language:

  Audible language includes words like "piss" and "crapp"; "ass" and "f--k" are bleeped.
• Consumerism:

  The show is about real-world advertising, so many products are mentioned and shown. But even given that context, it doesn't feel excessive -- it's more about providing context and/or because they're part of the working environment.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Occasional scenes of wine drinking as part of a celebration.

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