The show's challenges are physically demanding and -- with their extreme heights, underwater treasure hunts, and exhausting relays -- are created to scare the participants straight. Naturally, ...
Common Sense Editor
- Jill Murphy
- California
About Me
What My Kids Love Now
The jury is still out.
House Rules
When I was growing up, there were no rules around media. I am definitely a product of this environment, having seen a number of R-rated movies at a pretty young age. No surprise that I landed at Common Sense.
When the Kids Are Asleep…
My Biggest Challenge Is:
Not passing judgment on friends and family members that their kids run-a-media-muck.
Titles You’ve Reviewed
TV: Road Rules
I rate this titleiffyand give itRules of the road: Play, win, and party hard.
TV: The Real World
I rate this titleoffand give it"Real life" amplified; mature teens only.
In this very formulaic show, each housemate seems expected to conform to one of the following broad personality traits/backgrounds: naïve, small town/small minded, homosexual, bisexual, ...
TV: Dawson's Creek
I rate this titleiffyand give itMature, talky teens ponder life's complexities.
The series aims to portray Smalltown, USA, but it brings progressive issues into the mix as well. All in all,Dawson's Creek is far from the average teen drama. The characters are ...
TV: Strangers with Candy
I rate this titleiffyand give itAfter school-special spoof is an acquired taste.
In its short run (1999-2000; it still airs in reruns and is available on DVD), Strangers with Candy became a cult favorite and attracted variety of guest stars, including
TV: Making the Band
I rate this titleiffyand give itMTV gets in the music-making business.
The series' most enticing element is that viewers see what happens after the struggle -- a feature that's often lost in programs like
TV: The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency
I rate this titleiffyand give itDickinson's grating reality is a catwalk stumble.
Anyone familiar with the 53-year-old Dickinson knows that she has a mouth that doesn't quit, a beauty that she refuses to let age, and an ego that can take over any room. All of these ...
TV: Beyond the Break
I rate this titleiffyand give itSurf's down on this soggy, sexy teen drama.
The show's visuals are more appealing (or appalling) than its storylines. The series is shot on location in Oahu, Hawaii, but the sandy beaches and crushing waves play second fiddle to teens ...
TV: The Hills
I rate this titleiffyand give itThe Hills are hardly alive, but are OK for teens.
It's the effortless perfection of LC's life that makes The Hills such an unrealistic take on reality. No mention is made of the often-grueling college- or internship-application process. ...
TV: Cheyenne
I rate this titleonand give itYoung, impressive talent is lost in MTV line-up.
In the mold of Ashley Parker Angel: There and Back and The Ashlee ...
TV: Tiara Girls
I rate this titleiffyand give itEgos may be too big to hold a crown; teens OK.
Since each episode is only 30 minutes long, the show ends up being a very condensed version of the trip to the pageant stage. Episodes are pared down to a collection of bleeped swears, pressure ...
TV: So NoTORIous
I rate this titleiffyand give itSpelling finds her niche in slapstick -- teens OK.
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, ...
TV: Blow Out
I rate this titleiffyand give itReality show's ego needs a trim, but OK for teens.
Ultimately, Jonathan acts as if he is at the center of the universe. He claims to carry the "burdens" of success, family, and friends, and cries at the drop of a hat when he's ...
