A Day in the Life
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this half-hour online reality series does a good job of taking viewers inside the daily life of some of the world's most successful and interesting people. Since the show attempts to chronicle a true day in the life of its featured subjects, there are occasional moments involving strong language, mild innuendo, or conspicuous consumerism. But for older kids and teens, the overall message of each episode is an uplifting one, focused on understanding what it's really like to live a hard-earned life of success and constantly attempt to improve your life.
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What's the story?
Produced by documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, each episode of A DAY IN THE LIFE is just that -- a compressed 22-minute glimpse into what happens over the course of a single day for a single person. The personalities profiled are all highly motivated figures operating in the public eye and managing large business operations, from megacorporations to hit bands and comedy careers. The show attempts to determine what unique combination of attributes makes each featured subject so successful, even as the details focus on the minutiae of every waking moment for that person over a single day.
Is it any good?
Spurlock is one of those unique documentarians who has no problem interjecting himself into the events unfolding around him. It's surprising, then, that he mostly steps back and stays out of the way here. With each episode focusing on what a single day is like for one of the world's leading celebrities or personalities, Spurlock wisely defers to the stars of the episodes and lets them tell their own story. His cameras eavesdrop on business meetings, chance encounters on the street, phone calls, and airline flights.
Although there's still plenty of editing to get one day down to 22 minutes, A Day in the Life is still a refreshingly pure reality series that's actually closer to true documentary filmmaking. No annoying hosts, no obnoxious wannabes concocting arguments to get more camera time. Just an interesting subject and a close look at a day in their life. Its simplicity is the show's greatest advantage.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about rich people's attitudes toward money. Do the celebrities featured here offer a good example on how to handle money? Why or why not?
Did watching this show inspire you to learn about a day in the life of someone successful? Would you ever want their life? Why or why not?
TV details
- Premiere date: August 17, 2011
- Cast: Morgan Spurlock
- Network: Hulu
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
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