Parents' Guide to

Bandits vs. Smokies

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Cops-style comedy sends iffy messages.

TV CMT Reality TV 2007
Bandits vs. Smokies Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Like Cops by way of Mystery Science Theater 3000, BANDITS VS. SMOKIES offers viewers a highlight reel of real criminals' embarrassing encounters with the law. Full of misguided high-speed car chases, vehicle collisions, and just plain bad judgment calls, the series uses voice-over narration to put a comedic spin on cops' run-ins with dim-bulb crooks. Video footage taken from security tapes, surveying aircraft, and dash-mounted police cameras captures the subjects' missteps, which range from the mundane (a drunk pedestrian runs headfirst into a parked car) to the moronic (a driver veers off a highway sans exit ramp, sailing off the edge onto the treetops below). Running commentary gives made-up motives to the actions of both the criminals and the cops, attempting to put a funny spin on their thought processes and interactions. Some scenes are taken even further in the name of comedy -- in one, for example, a pedestrian darts through a busy street to avoid the cops, bumping into people and cars as he goes -- on screen, each contact earns points in a game of so-called "Bandit pinball."

Is It Any Good?

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

The stereotypes kick in right off the bat, with comedian/host donning "typical" deputy attire -- complete with impenetrable dark sunglasses -- to oversee each episode as a Southern-talkin' "Smokey." As he introduces the clips, he encourages viewers to get hearty chuckles at the expense of the criminals' poor judgment and misfortune.

Not surprisingly for a show like this, there are plenty of vehicle collisions (with buildings, people, and other cars), but injuries are never shown. More problematic is the often-negative light that the show casts on law enforcement -- thanks to both the host's strongly stereotypical behavior and the goofy thoughts and actions attributed to real cops in the line of duty. While some adults may enjoy the show's broad humor, younger viewers who see what could have been a serious conversation between a cop and a criminal get turned into a seemingly lighthearted exchange of casual jokes might get an inaccurate impression of the right way to interact with police officers and other authority figures.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how law enforcement is portrayed in the media. Do reality series like this one and Cops cast police officers in a favorable or negative light? How? Do you think they give an accurate impression of how officers work and criminals behave? How does where a show takes place change its portrayal of police? (Think about The Andy Griffith Show, Dukes of Hazzard, and CHiPS, for example.) How do current crime-based TV shows like Law & Order and CSI give a different impression of police work? Are any of them more realistic than others? How? Also, is it OK to laugh at authority figures? Can comedy ever do more harm than good?

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.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate