Parents' Guide to

American Loggers

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Gritty look at loggers' lives is intense entertainment.

TV Discovery Channel Reality TV 2009
American Loggers Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Grateful11
Grateful11 Adult
September 17, 2012
age 10+

Violence, what violence? It's as clean as any show these days.

I think it's the second best logging show on TV, behind Swamp Logger. Not sure if it's coming back but I hope it does. I'm a bit shocked that it's been rated with same amount of violence as Ax Men. There's no violence on American Loggers, I've seen people get a bit angry but no violence. Maybe some people have a different view of what violence is. These men are hard working individuals that enjoy their work.

This title has:

Great messages
Plague
Plague Parent
January 7, 2010
age 10+

American Loggers

My favorite logging show on TV.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

AMERICAN LOGGERS heads to the wilds of northern Maine to hitch a ride with the crews of Pelletier Inc., a family-owned logging business three generations old that's now operated by seven Pelletier brothers. The Pelletiers and their crews battle brutal weather, mechanical failures, and often bodily injury to harvest timber for surrounding paper mills and extend the primitive logging roads for better forest access. But despite their determination, the plummeting economy threatens the company's future -- and their family livelihood.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This eye-opening series is a real-life underdog tale that pits gritty determination against the unrelenting forces of nature, fate, and economic uncertainty. Some viewers may find it hard to relate to these tough-as-nails loggers, but for all their roughness, their unwavering resolve is an inspiring statement on the world's current troubles. It's impossible to not get wrapped up in their personal and professional struggles, and you'll find yourself rooting for their success even as the odds stack against them.

That said, like many other "dangerous jobs" shows, this series isn't an age-appropriate pick for little kids and young tweens because of its honest portrayal of this perilous profession. While injuries aren't shown up close, some are re-enacted, and many are described in fairly gory detail by the victims (for example, a man talks about his scalp being severed from his skull and hanging like the lid of a tuna can). The guys also talk candidly about their career path and, in some cases, their apparent lack of alternative choices. Raw emotion plays out in some tense moments, and the real-life nature of the show could weigh on younger or particularly sensitive viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of docu-reality series like this one. Why do you think viewers like shows about people going about their everyday lives? Is it because their "everyday lives" are more dangerous/interesting than most viewers'? Do you think these jobs are as dangerous in real-life as they seem on TV? Families can also discuss careers. How do geography and socio-economics affect someone's eventual career choice? What other factors go into the mix?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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