Parents' Guide to

Best Funeral Ever

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Funerals entertain and educate about cultural traditions.

TV TLC Reality TV 2013
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What's the Story?

BEST FUNERAL EVER is a reality show featuring the Golden Gate Funeral Home, a Dallas-based funeral home known for creating personalized \"home goings,\" or celebratory funeral services that commemorate the lives of the deceased. It stars Golden Gate's CEO John Beckwith Jr., a.k.a. \"Mr. B,\" who manages a team of funeral planners, including the opinionated Shondra Alexander, veterans and best friends Deborah Davis and Loretta Pope, the flamboyant Trendnard Blanks, and Eplunus \"E\" Brooks-Colvinand. Also joining them is Blanks' son, John Beckwith III, and Pastor Eaton, whose charismatic preaching lifts everyone's spirits. From training professional mourners to wail by a coffin, to planning a full-out Christmas funeral extravaganza, the Golden Gate team will do everything they have to do to honor families' requests to create a positive experience during one of the most difficult periods in their lives.

Is It Any Good?

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

Best Funeral Ever offers an interesting look at the traditional African-American home going, which is a service designed to celebrate the deceased's return to an eternal life, rather than mourn their loss. It shows how these celebrations, which can include dancing, singing, props, special effects, and even trips to specific venues, offer families a chance to cope with their loss by allowing them to say good-bye to their loved ones in a way that is both joyous and loving.

Some viewers may be taken aback by the unique and extravagant services featured here, which are very different from the reserved services folks often expect from traditional funerals. Planning these larger-than-life events creates some reality drama and humorous moments, too. But throughout it all, the show offers very strong messages about the importance of running a business that is professional, respectful, and honors the cultural traditions of a community.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about funerals. Commemorating someone's death is important in many different cultures. What are some unique ways that different cultures or communities honor the dead? Why do some cultures view certain behaviors at funerals to be inappropriate for the occasion, while others find them acceptable?

  • Why do you think Golden Gate Funeral Home is featured in a reality series? Is it because of the way they run their business? Or to advertise their services?

TV Details

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