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Parents' Guide to

Run's House

By Jill Murphy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Rapper runs a positive house for tweens and up.

TV MTV , Style Network Reality TV 2005
Run's House Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 6 parent reviews

azguy32
azguy32 Adult
November 6, 2011
age 10+

Mother is a wimp

Are you kidding me. I am watching this and the mother has to do a book signing and she is too stressed so she has to stay at a hotel. Are you serious. It it that stressful to read to little kids. If she is actual so much about God then she should know to give the fear to God. "Trust God" Have you heard of that. The girls also seem to be super spoiled. Run gives them money to buy furniture and they have no concept of money. Buy your stuff on Craigslist, come on.
mahilana
mahilana Adult
July 28, 2010
age 16+

Waste of time!

This family is annoying! The mom has the whole "dumb" act down and I can't tell if it's real or not.The kids are spoiled and just running wild. I really dislike how Run is all about positive messages yet the show itself isn't anything positive.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Former rap artist Joey Simmons, aka Run of RUN-DMC, has added Reverend to his resume. This half-hour show is dedicated to the experiences of Rev. Run's five kids and how he and his wife shape their kids into responsible teens. Parents are often non-existent when it comes to reality television, but on RUN'S HOUSE, they're front and center. Joey and wife Justine live a privileged life, but they manage to keep their children grounded in reality.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Run's House is appropriate for older tweens and up, and kids may even learn a lesson or two in the process. They'll be interested because the lively Simmons kids, who range in age from grade school to college grad, are fun to watch. Each child has had an episode spotlight his or her life: Angela struggled with avoiding nepotism when applying for an internship with her aunt, while JoJo aimed to strengthen his grades. During Russy's "sportsmanship" episode, we see him break two Gameboys and throw a tantrum while bowling with his family. Concerned about how his youngest son is dealing with competition, Rev. Run has him write an essay on sportsmanship. Who ever expected to see good parenting on an MTV show?

Each episode ends with the Rev. in his bathtub, text messaging a "moral message" to his friends; in the tradition of Doogie Howser and Carrie Bradshaw, Rev. Run sums up the episode and shares his newfound insight. Despite this corny device, the show isn't preachy. There's an element of comedy and sarcasm within the show that keeps it from being too serious or heavy-handed. Parents may want to encourage kids interested in the world of MTV to choose Run's House over other reality favorites like Laguna Beach or Real World.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about a range of topics, including respect for one's parents and family support. They could also discuss whether or not they think the family is acting naturally or if they're "performing" for the camera. How real is this reality program?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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