Parents' Guide to

Bully Beat Down

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Bully-bashing show fights violence with ... violence.

TV MTV Reality TV 2009
Bully Beat Down 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 14+

Based on 7 parent reviews

bob56789
bob56789 Adult
October 12, 2011
age 14+

Not worth your time, even detrimental

While the show does a decent job of delivering 'just desserts' I feel like it only feeds into a bully's ego. Though the bully is emasculated, this show rewards the bully through air time on national television. Furthermore, physical bullying is not the only kind there is. Many other forms of bullying exist that more often than not cannot and will not be solved through physical violence. This show does not address deep roots that precipitate bullying or show its far reaching effects. Overall not worth anyone's time unless you just want to see some chump bully smacked down by a professional.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much consumerism
JokerMarine
JokerMarine Adult
August 25, 2011
age 10+

getting even & getting paid 4 it!

there is to much of this bullying going on in american schools and other places that todays' kids hang. kids' are killing themselves because of this "crap ". this is a good way to get even & let the bully find out how it feels. i'm a "Former Marine & Viet Nam Vet, & a grandfather, this is better than guns!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much swearing
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BULLY BEATDOWN, fed-up victims nominate their real-life enemies for the ultimate revenge: going head to head with a professionally trained mixed martial artist in a no-holds-barred cage fight. In case the show's title isn't a dead giveaway, the bully gets a sobering beatdown -- and some serious taunting from host Jason "Mayhem" Miller (who's also a mixed martial artist). But there's also some cash involved: In the first round, the bully is given $5,000 ... but his victim gains $1,000 of it every time the bully has to "tap out" of the fight. In the second round, the bully starts with another $5,000 but loses it all to his victim if he's knocked out or decides to forfeit.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Fans of mixed martial arts action, especially those who know what it's like to be picked on by a bully, will dig this trumped-up revenge scenario that puts up to $10,000 cash in the pockets of the bully's victim. Others might be midly entertained at best.

But the show is at its most satisfying when the bully and victim can actually resolve their differences outside the ring, as in the episode in which a victim and his battered and bruised bully -- who just so happens to be his much bigger younger brother -- ultimately embraced and said "I love you." The reconciliation not only seemed genuine, but it also gave this reality-based game show a much-needed dose of humanity.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about bullying and whether it's a problem they can relate to at home or at school. Teens: Do you know anyone that you'd classify as a bully? Have they ever hurt you or someone you know -- either physically or emotionally? Why do you think they act the way they do?

  • Do you think a show like this one could actually change a bully's behavior in the long term? Or is it merely exploiting both the bully and the victim?

TV Details

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