Table for 12

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Latest large-family show is age-appropriate for kids.
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

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there's little content in this reality series that's inappropriate for kids. The featured family is prone to needling and teasing each other, but it's clear that they love each other, too. Some of the younger children whine, but, then again, they're 4.

  • The show isn't intended to be educational, but kids may pick up some tips on how to wrangle large groups.
  • This is a loving family, albeit not a perfect one, and the show clearly conveys their strong relationships.
  • Overall, the parents act like parents, using appropriate discipline to
    encourage good behavior from their kids. In one episode, dad Eric gets
    pulled over for speeding (but he doesn't get a ticket, probably because
    he's a cop himself).
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

Like Jon & Kate Plus 8 and 17 Kids and Counting before it, TABLE FOR 12 follows the daily life of a large family. In this case, it's the Hayes family of New Jersey: parents Eric and Betty, two pairs of twins (ages 12 and 10), and a set of 4-year-old sextuplets -- 10 kids in all. The show documents their ups and downs as a loving family doing their best, highlighting the particular brand of chaos that comes with juggling the demands of multiple sets of multiples.


Is it any good?

 

The only thing that makes the Hayes family unusual is that they've got 10 kids. Other than that, they're actually pretty ordinary. They're loving, Eric is actively involved with the kids, and there's appropriate discipline. The biggest downside is the constant whining in the background, but where there's a 4-year-old, there's whining -- and the Hayeses have six of them.

Admittedly, going out for pizza or to the grocery store is a bit more of a challenge, but it's not that interesting, either -- and that's the show's biggest problem. The Hayeses are nice and probably interesting enough in real life, but they're not must-see TV material.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how real life is different from being on a TV show.

  • Do you think the Hayes' life is the same when the cameras aren't there?
    What makes their life "worthy" of a TV show? Do you think that
    everything they do gets included in the show?

  • How would
    you edit your own life for TV?


This review was written by Anne Louise Bannon
Kid, 13 years old
January 2, 2010
 
Best Reality Show Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is a very good show!!!There kids are so cute!!!They are just one big happy family!!!!

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Kid, 13 years old
January 30, 2010
 
This show is okay. I'm a Jon and Kate Plus 8 superfan, so this show makes me mad. The mom is mean to her kids in Brace Yourself, which was copied from The Brady Bunch. I also heard something inappropriate in the theme song, and I rate it for everyone who knows that death threats are bad and up (and by that I mean somewhere around fourth grade).

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Teen, 14 years old
April 5, 2009
 
Great show!
I really like this show.The kids are cute, the parents are nice, and the content is great!I used to watch jon and kate plus 8, but i like this better.

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Adult
April 10, 2009
 

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Teen, 14 years old
December 16, 2011
 
okay
Good show. Similiar to John And Kate Plus 8.... but not as good.

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Adult
February 16, 2010
 
Love it!!!! What a refreshing change from the nightmare that was Jon and Kate +8!

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Anne Louise Bannon
Topics:book characters
TV rating:TV-G
Network:TLC
Cast:Betty Hayes, Eric Hayes
Genre:Reality TV

This review was written by Anne Louise Bannon
 

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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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