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Wreckreation Nation

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Dave Mordal, Where to watch: Discovery Channel, DVD)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Showcase of unusual pastimes mixes fun, some danger.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    While there are occasional positive messages about being true to yourself and facing your fears, there's also some gender stereotyping -- including the host putting himself down by saying that he's been screaming like a little girl and talking about men being particularly interested in motors and racing things (even though the episode in question featured a woman racer).
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Scenes show boxing, fake fighting (including a historical re-enactment), setting off fireworks, wrestling alligators, and more -- and in the alligator segment, one women does get bit (it's shown). The good news is that you can generally see this type of content coming if you want to avoid it. But either way, none of it is mean-spirited or malevolent.
  • Sex:

    There's no sex, per se, but there are a few off-color jokes. The host compares a souped-up lawnmower to Viagra, and in an alligator wrestling segment, he refers to wearing a groin protector so that he has some protection if the gator bites his private parts (the instructor informs him that the cup will do little beyond providing the gator with a plate).
  • Language:

    Occasional bleeped-out words. In one episode, one of the bleeped words shows up in the subtitles as "s***."
  • Consumerism:

    Lots of logos in the racing segments because there are lots of logos on the racers' clothing and the machines -- it's part of that world. But while it's hard to miss the Ford logo on someone's shirt, it's also not specifically focused on in any way. In other segments, there are no logos/brands.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    There's the odd joke about getting drunk -- in one case, a woman says that she doesn't drink, but if she wins a race, she'll start that night -- but alcoholic beverages and cigarettes aren't typically shown. The host makes a joke about a souped-up lawnmower being a replacement for Viagra.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Wreckreation Nation

Parents need to know that many of the activities featured in this show about unusual pastimes are dangerous, and the danger is frequently shown. In one segment, for example, a woman is bitten by an alligator (though the injury is minor), and the bite is shown repeatedly. Sensitive viewers will be able to tell when the potentially iffy bits coming and avoid them, but none of it is mean-spirited, so it probably won't upset most tweens. Still, if you've got kids who are prone to copying what they see on television, you may want to watch along with them and provide reality checks as necessary.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what a show like this teaches viewers. Is it meant to be educational or simply entertaining? Kids: What kinds of hobbies do you have that other people might find unusual? Also, do you think it's a good idea to show potentially dangerous hobbies like pocket bike racing and alligator wrestling on television, even if the danger is pointed out?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

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