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The Soup

(Rated TV-14, Comedy, Starring Joel McHale, Where to watch: E!)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Snarky TV roundup skewers celebs and pop culture.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    There's nothing overtly positive going on; the general idea is to make fun of -- and encourage -- outrageous behavior and television foibles.

  • Role models:

    Want positive role models? Keep looking. Most of the time, the real-life people and celebrities featured on the show are being held up for public ridicule because of their bad and/or strange behavior. McHale positions himself as being somewhat "above it all," but he also seems to relish celebs' embarrassing missteps.

  • Violence:

    Occasional replay of mildly violent scenes from other shows.

  • Sex:

    Regular mentions of threesomes, erections, sexual promiscuity, and the like, along with occasional clips from other shows showing characters making out, etc.

  • Language:

    Some use of "hell" and "damn," but bleeped swearing is rare.

  • Consumerism:

    Occasional mention of brand names (including Viagra, Playboy, etc.).

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Regular mentions of celebrities and/or fictional characters who use and abuse drugs and alcohol. Clips from other shows sometimes include shots of partying/drunken cast members.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Soup

Parents need to know that, because this "highlights" show rounds up the best of the worst when it comes to television and pop culture, teens who watch will be exposed to an ever-changing roster of iffy content. Any given episode could include mentions of threesomes and drunken outbursts or clips of two scantily clad people sharing a bed. But it could also feature relatively harmless compilations of Paula Abdul saying ridiculous things like "I love you. I want to hang you from a string on my rearview mirror." You never know. The tone is generally snarky and sarcastic, inviting viewers to join in on the fun of mocking celebs and reality show stars.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about whether shows like this point out the absurdity of TV programming or merely feed the beast. Why do shows with the most ridiculous content tend to be the most popular? Why are so-called "train wrecks" so appealing?
  • How does this show treat celebrities? Does it revere them or tear them down? Are most of the celebs featured good role models or bad ones?
  • How do you think the show chooses which "stories" to run? Do you ever learn something by watching, or is it just mindless entertainment?
Tools and tips that can help

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