Parents' Guide to

Cowboy U

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Reality goes West -- and lassos some stereotypes.

TV CMT Reality TV 2003
Cowboy U Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

In CMT's COWBOY U, eight city slickers compete for the title of best all-around cowboy while they learn first-hand about the not-so glamorous, hardworking life of a ranch hand. Viewers watch the contestants (a mix of men and women from many walks of life) care for their assigned horses, ride bulls, catch calves, shoot rifles, cook their own meals, and more -- all under the watchful eyes of veteran cowboys Rocco Wachman and Judd Leffew. The aspiring cowboys whoop and holler, wear boots and bandanas, and try their best to fit into the cowboy lifestyle. As on other reality shows, the contestants have varying success with trying something new -- and perhaps even more challenging than the grueling drills is learning to get along with others in a stressful, intense living situation.

Is It Any Good?

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

Both aspects of the show, in theory, offer great messages for kids -- but thanks to some questionable language, difficult scenes for animal-loving kids, and gender stereotyping, parents will want to be on-hand to discuss the show with young school-aged kids. Plus, without the pizzazz of the exotic locales of Survivor or the edge-of-your seat suspense of Amazing Race, Cowboy U feels a little bit formulaic and predictable. In the end, it's a Hollywood-enhanced glimpse at the world of ranch life, complete with quirky personalities, hokey music, and "roll up them sleeves" jobs that need to get done.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about gender stereotyping. How are cowboys typically portrayed on television and in the movies? Are all cowboys rough-and-tumble? Why aren't there more female ranch hands -- or female hosts? Also, are the female contestants depicted differently in the competitions than the guys? Given that much of the ranch work is physical and requires strength, is the stereotyping at all valid? Parents can also point out the courage and determination of the contestants, who are trying something new and somewhat intimidating.

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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