Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
KISS-themed football reality has strong vocab.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
4th and Loud
What's the Story?
4TH AND LOUD is a reality documentary series about the LA Kiss arena football team and the efforts to make it into a winning franchise. When KISS band members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons decide to invest in the American Football League (AFL) team, they commit themselves to using their unique brand and edgy style to bring the excitement they once brought to rock and roll to the fledgling league. With the help of their manager, Doc McGhee; experienced sports franchise manager and co-owner Brett Bouchy; and team president and co-owner Schyuler Hoversten, they work hard to promote and market LA Kiss. But the pressure is on head coach Bob McMillen, assistant head coach Walt Housman, and director of player personnel Scott Bailey to make sure the new team has a winning season. Meanwhile, players work hard to make it through training camp, secure a spot on the team, and win games. There's lots of tension, especially when the owners and the coaches are at odds over what they should prioritize as the team develops. But they all share the same goal: to create a successful AFL team and to elevate the Arena Football League to a more popular and lucrative sport.
Is It Any Good?
4th and Loud highlights the challenges that come with launching and managing a successful sports franchise, especially one that represents a league that has not been particularly popular or financially sound. It also underscores the talent and commitment the AFL players need and the sacrifices they need to make to play, especially when their participation earns them minimal salaries when compared to their NFL counterparts.
Although much of the show's focus is on the role Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons play in the building of the franchise, the show also successfully demonstrates the constant tension that exists between franchise owners and the coaches and athletes who, in essence, are creating the product. The result is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the ways in which people in the professional sports business find ways to meet the multiple demands of the industry.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about professional sports. What are some of the pressures athletes have on them when they play for professional teams? What are some of the differences between approaching football as a sport and approaching it as an industry? How can these differences affect the way athletes perform on the field? Does this reality series does a good job of highlighting these issues?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 12, 2014
- Cast : Gene Simmons , Paul Stanley , Bob McMillen
- Network : AMC
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 23, 2022
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