Top This Party (Lifetime Television)

common sense media says

Petty social lifestyles of the rich and indulgent.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this reality show involves outrageous displays of wealth -- all in the name of a party. Clients spend several hundred thousand dollars on events to celebrate everything from Halloween to being single. Houses are huge and poshly decorated, and clients themselves are expensively groomed, from breast implants to Botox. Female clients sometimes appear in very revealing clothing. Party throwers sometimes treat their hired planners poorly -- expecting them to break laws or cater to emotional fancies. Not to be outdone, the planners also criticize their clients, giving viewers license to disdain them.

Positive messages: Shows wealthy people wasting money and living extravagant lifestyles, but -- thanks to the tone of the show and the fact that the planners criticize their clients -- viewers are more likely to disdain than admire them. Party planners put up with disrespect to make big bucks, then talk behind clients' backs; clients can be very rude and demanding to the planners.
Violence: Verbal arguments; some rage.
Sex: Women often appear in revealing clothing and suggestive poses. Breasts tend to be big and prominent.
Language: Fairly occasional use of words like "damn" and "hell."
Consumerism: Money is on display everywhere. Luxury brands -- like Bentley -- are mentioned occasionally, and fancy cars, clothing, and houses are constant.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Parties involve plenty of social drinking by adults.

More on Top This Party

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the kind of wealth on display in this show. How would you describe the featured folks' attitudes toward money? How is their outlook similar to or different from your own? If you had millions of dollars, would you live a lifestyle similar to what you see here? What's the best party you could imagine? How much do you think it would cost? Does watching these fancy parties make you wonder how else the money could be spent? Do parties have to be big and lavish to be fun and memorable?

What's the story?

What's the story?

TOP THIS PARTY shows off the decadence of the very rich -- and the patience of the party planners who work for them. Revolving around well-known (in their industry, anyway) event planners like Brian Dobbin and Brian "Breakfast" Rice, this reality show follows the fellows as they create and execute lavish parties, coddling their clients, managing their staff, and mediating various meltdowns along the way.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

In one episode, for example, Dobbin meets a newly divorced client who fits every Orange County stereotype: she's rich, blonde, and has huge breasts. She and her personal assistant want to throw a six-figure party to celebrate her single state. They proceed to complain every step of the way as Dobbin -- in his mellow, half-hippie way -- tries to accommodate their wild desires, only to nearly get fired when a yacht won't allow an open fire for a pig roast and plans for a backyard helicopter entrance don't pan out. But Dobbin pulls through, and his chef whips up a gorgeous Casino Royale-inspired menu.

The party planner shares his frustration with his clients and his staff with the camera in a very low-key way, and that's what saves the show from utter absurdity -- though not by much. When Dobbin complains, viewers share in his frustration, laughing at the follies of the rich. But laughing at the rich doesn't feel very good. And seeing the kind of money being spent on decorations alone is sad. Overall, Top This Party feels like one more show in a long line of reality shows about rich people that doesn't serve much of a purpose -- even plain old entertainment.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: Lifetime Television
Cast: Brian Dobbin, Brian Rice
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Lifetime Television

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 
 

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INTERESTING STUFF
This show is a lot of fun. I like the Las Vegas show better than the OC. Breakfast is a more lively character. Its interesting to see what goes into putting one of these parties together. Breakfast shows how hard work can pay off at the end. He is delightful and puts together a mean party. If I was going to have a party and had that kind of money... he would be the one I would call upon. I hope we get to see plenty more of these. I can imagine in Las Vegas... they must have enough of these to give us shows for the next 10 years. Watch it... you'll love it!

fun fanatic
teen, 16 years old
 
This slightly useless show is about wasting almost half a million on a party. The point is still in check

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ON: Content is 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