So NoTORIous

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Spelling finds her niche in slapstick -- teens OK.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this series is loosely based on the personal and public life of Tori Spelling -- rumors included. The humor is mature and sarcastic, and the dialogue is sexually suggestive. Tori and her peers have typical bored-little-rich-kid syndrome (long lunches, lots of possessions) but they bring it to life and poke fun at it using slapstick humor. Teens might be interested, but the material is adult.

  • Tori has flashbacks that pinpoint her mom as the root of her problems today; Tori is on the hunt for a man who won't use her for her fame; characters have casual sex; Tori's mother is rich and neurotic; the Spellings' African-American nanny/maid is treated like a second-class citizen by Tori's mom. All derogatory/negative social behavior is intended to be funny.
  • Not applicable.
  • Sexually charged humor; Tori's roommate pretends to be a gay man trying to "break free" by sleeping with a lot of women; commentary on Tori's breasts (and whether they're fake or not); one episode includes scenes set in a sex-toy shop.
  • "Damn," "hell," and the occasional "bitch."
  • Brand names, including Prada and eBay, are mentioned. Tori's parents live in a vast mansion filled with possessions; Tori herself lives in a relatively fancy condo, wears designer clothes, and drives a nice car.
  • Some casual/social drinking.

What's the story?

SO NOTORIOUS stars Tori Spelling as -- who else? -- former teen actress Tori Spelling, star of Beverly Hills, 90210 and daughter of TV mogul Aaron Spelling (90210, Charmed, Melrose Place, Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island). Tori plays a fictitious version of herself, blending her personal life with the rumors spun by tabloid reporters, and surrounds herself with a bevy of sitcom-ready characters. Her roommate, Pete (James Carpinello), is supposedly only living in her apartment until he finishes med school, but dating distracts him easily; her best friends, Sasan (Zachary Quinto) and Janey (Brennan Hesser), are diligent about getting Tori some action, quick to assure her that she's a national icon, and even quicker to encourage her to use her family connections. But Tori is determined to do things on her own -- which includes winning roles based on her talent, not her pedigree (she stars in an F-movie -- "like Lifetime, but worse" -- as a "plucky melanoma survivor who solves crimes while battling hypoglycemia and a sex addiction."). When Tori visits her parents at their infamous mansion, we only hear her father over a loudspeaker (a la Charlie's Angels); her visible family includes her emotionally challenged mother, Kiki (Loni Anderson), and her childhood caretaker, Nanny (Cleo King), who constantly comments on Tori's figure, sighing, "Damn girl, look at those boobies. They get bigger every week -- that can't just be the bra."


Is it any good?

 

The series' antics are painfully humorous but done in a lighthearted tone. Bottom line? Tori's character is fighting against a stereotype, and as co-executive producer of So NoTORIous, Ms. Spelling is having the last laugh.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the effects and consequences of fame. Is it fair to get work through a family member or friend of the family? Why or why not? Is Tori responsible? Does her character live up to her real-life reputation or dispel it? How much do you think TV Tori is like real-life Tori? How would/does your teen deal with popularity (fame)? Is it a struggle or a goal?


This review was written by Jill Murphy
Parent of 2 year old
April 9, 2008
 
Funny and refreshing
nice to see her in a new light- kids could be seeing a lot worse. topics are occasionally mature, but overall, humorous and light-hearted.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
haha so funny
This show is so funny! I love it!

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Jill Murphy
TV rating:NR
Network:VH1
Cast:Tori Spelling, Zachary Quinto
Genre:Comedy

This review was written by Jill Murphy
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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