Parents' Guide to

Can You Duet

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Contest plays up teamwork, but some iffy stuff.

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A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 1 parent review

jennisongbird
jennisongbird Parent of 8, 9, 12, 15 and 17-year-old
February 18, 2009
age 8+

Love the show!!

The show wasn't as "belittling" as AI. The judges actually gave advice instead of just tearing the contestants down. The contestants also weren't being judged on how "cute" they were! The voice was what mattered, not the look! Refreshing!!
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In latest would-be American Idol CAN YOU DUET, aspiring country music pairs work hard to become a harmonious duo both on and off the stage so they can survive each phase of competition. Each performance is judged by country singer Naomi Judd (half of superstar country music duo The Judds), renowned voice coach Brett Manning, and award-winning songwriter Aimee Mayo. At stake is the chance to compete live on stage and win a major recording deal.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Unlike Idol, Can You Duet's judges spend a lot of their energy actually assisting with the vocal development of each pair of contestants, as well as providing lyrical and performance advice. But while the competitors are spared from sharp, Simon Cowell-like insults, the real tension comes from learning how to grow creatively and perform as a twosome rather than just focusing on individual talent. For some that means redefining their already established musical act. For others it means building a professional and personal rapport with another singer after splitting from their original musical partner to pursue their dream -- a decision that can potentially stir up feelings of guilt and disloyalty.

Hosted by Rossi Morreale, the show highlights some of the unique challenges that go into producing a winning duet, as well as the hard work that goes into creating a successful country music performance. While the series' content is fairly tame overall, there's some occasional strong language ("ass," "hell"), mild sexual innuendo, and occasional drinking and smoking. That makes it little iffy for young kids, but mature tweens and teen country fans will find it entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it takes to become a country music star. What additional challenges does a country music "duo" face (over a solo performer) when trying to break into the industry? How do judges (and audiences) know when two talented people shouldn't sing together? Is there a certain sound or look that they need to have? Families can also discuss their favorite country musicians. How did they get their big break? Would you ever want to try a competition like this? Why or why not? How does this show compare to American Idol? Which do you like better? Why?

TV Details

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