Parents' Guide to

4th & Forever

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Solid football docu has themes of courage, perseverance.

TV Max Reality TV 2011
4th & Forever Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Coach Raul Lara.
  • The team and coaches at practice.
  • A difficult game.

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What's the Story?

4TH & FOREVER is a reality series featuring the 2010 football players at a Long Beach high school. Touted by Sports Illustrated as the "Sports School of the Century," the Long Beach Polytechnic Jackrabbits have produced the most NFL players than any other high school in the nation. But after a dismal 2009 season, Coach Raul Lara must help the team regroup, work hard, and play their way back to the top. Throughout it all, gifted players like seniors like running back Jeremiah Hollowell and quarterback Dabness Atkins are hoping to earn college scholarships, while juniors like Chaiyse Hales, and Coach Lara's son Emmanuelle, are working hard to prove themselves on the field.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This first docuseries in the 4th & Forever franchise follows the common sports docu formula of redemption and opportunity. The young football players are seeking to prove that they are champions after a humiliating 2009 season. It also highlights how many of the players are relying on success in the sport to earn college scholarships, potentially play for the the NFL, and build a better life for themselves through the sport.

While it's focused on the Jackrabbits' practices and games, most of the drama comes from the personal narratives of the players, who are dealing first-hand with poverty, neighborhood gang activity, teen parenthood, and other issues. But many of the conversations between the players feel contrived, and the overall series feels lackluster compared to other unscripted football documentaries. Some football fans might want to tune in, but others may be less inclined to watch 4th & Forever after the first episode.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the players featured. Many of them looked at football as a way to help them get educated and rise above the circumstances they were living in. Did all of them go on to have the careers they'd hoped for?

  • What does the term 4th & Forever mean? How does it apply to the football stories featured here?

TV Details

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