City Confidential
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Overdramatic docuseries looks at urban crimes.
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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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What's the Story?
CITY CONFIDENTIAL is a documentary-style series that examines crime and its impact on communities. Each episode focuses on a particular North American city, looking at each place's unique characteristics, providing some background on its history, highlighting some of its local celebrities, and also recounting the tale of a murder committed within the city's limits. While the show follows a typical documentary format -- relying on news footage and police photos to flesh out the stories -- it also offers a local point of view about the crime and the subsequent courtroom drama. Interviews with a variety of community leaders provide an interesting perspective on the impact the crime has had on the city's residents.
Is It Any Good?
Because City Confidential attempts to be both entertaining and informative without damaging the reputation of the featured cities, it isn't particularly thought-provoking. And it often seems a bit contrived when the crimes are introduced as local secrets -- when, in fact, many of the cases have received national attention. As a result, the narrative is a bit overdramatic, taking away from the true tragedy that occurred when these crimes were committed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact that crime has on local communities. How can a crime change the way people feel about an area, the people who live there, or how safe they feel living in that community? Families can also talk about what makes each American city unique. What's your favorite city? What about that city makes it stand out for you? Do you think your opinion would change if you heard about a violent crime taking place there?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 7, 1998
- Cast: Paul Winfield
- Network: A&E
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 26, 2023
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