 | 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. |
The Sing-Off
- NBC
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
Spirited singing contest shows off power of the human voice.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that, aside from some subtle branding and artist name-dropping, there's nothing here to worry about ... although the musical selections might be better suited to tweens and up. The big prize also comes with a recording contract with Sony Music, which could mean marketing opportunities for the winning group down the line.
What's the story?
Former pop star Nick Lachey hosts reality competition THE SING-OFF, in which eight a capella groups from across the country compete for a $100,000 prize and a recording contract with Sony. Over the course of five nights, the groups are pared down by a panel of three judges (recording artists Ben Folds, Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men) until only three remain. At that point, the decision is turned over to the voters at home.
Is it any good?
For Glee fans who can't get enough of energetic vocal performances, The Sing-Off will satisfy your cravings for pop songs with a generally positive edge, presented by some truly talented people who love to perform. And for those who don't know much about a capella music, The Sing-Off is a fun introduction to the topic, and it might even inspire some younger performers in your family to give it a try with a school or community group.
It's also nice to see judges who don't shy away from real criticism -- if a group's pitch veers off key, even for a second, they aren't likely to get away with it -- and who are knowledgable enough about music that they can give honest and useful feedback regarding song choices, dynamics, and vocal arrangements. It's a show for music lovers, for sure. But whether there are enough viewers to support future incarnations of a show like The Sing-Off is less certain.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what makes a capella singing different from other types of music-making. How do different groups use the human voice to mimic the sound of musical instruments? Do you think it takes more talent to sing a capella, without the benefit of a backing track?
Do you think the show's creators are trying to take advantage of the
success of other popular shows about singing, particularly Glee?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
From 12/17/07-12/20/07, NBC aired a week-long miniseries called "Clash of the Choirs" where church choirs from across the country performed for various charities. Although NBC canceled "Choirs" despite the steady ratings, their new reality series "The Sing-Off" has a somewhat similar premise. A capella groups from across the country compete for a $100,000 grand prize and a chance at a contract with Sony. It's been described as "the music of 'Glee' meets the competition of 'Idol'", but it's nowhere near as interesting as those two shows. The judges and acts are boring, Nick Lachey is a horrible host, and the show itself plays out like an inferior version of "Idol." Viewers actually tuned out of the show as "Sing-Off" got very similar ratings to "Choirs" in the 8-10pm Monday night slot on the week before Christmas; expect "Sing-Off" to get canceled.
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Kid, 10 years old
May 2, 2011
AGE
good for up and coming singers
love it
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AGE
WONDERFUL!
I love watching this show! It is so interesting and people can show that A cappella can be REALLY cool! I enjoy it a lot. It's interesting to see how people can make those sounds too. God gave them great talent!
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AGE
Glee Rip Off
This show is nothing more than a rip off of Glee. Nick Lache looks very uncomfortable up on stage, and the judges are bad too.
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AGE
The Sing-Off is a winner
Great show. A family favorite, although the stage costumes and song lyrics are sometimes sexually suggestive and/or explicit. Wouldn't recommend it without reservation to someone who avoids popular music for those reasons. Once or twice we have fast-forwarded through a particular song at our teenagers' insistence (they're more familiar with the music than I am!), because of inappropriate lyrics, but feel the show is excellent overall. I love the way the various groups set goals, work hard together, support eachother and, so far, demonstrate admirable sportsmanship whether they end up winners or losers. It's easy to want to "adopt" your favorite group, even if you never heard of them before the show.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | NBC |
| Cast: | Ben Folds, Nick Lachey |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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