Dance Your Ass Off
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that while the central message of this weight loss-oriented reality competition is positive for all ages, the show is targeting adults and older teens, not kids. (Need a clue that it's not meant for young children? Note the word "ass" in the title.) Expect to hear some slang words for body parts -- including "junk" and "booty" -- and see a few brand-name food and drink items. Costumes tend toward the revealing, too, occasionally baring midriffs or buttocks.
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What's the Story?
A pack of plus-sized men and women are trying to lose weight and get healthy in DANCE YOUR ASS OFF, an elimination-style reality dance competition. Over the course of 10 episodes, the 12 contenders meet regularly with a physician, a nutritionist, a personal trainer, and a dance instructor -- the latter of whom then joins them on the dance floor as their partner. Ultimately, they're judged both on how much weight they lose each week and how well they perform their choreography.
Is It Any Good?
A blend of The Biggest Loser and Dancing with the Stars (minus the stars), this dance contest tries hard to entertain. And while some viewers will watch because they find the dancers' stories inspiring, others might be tuning in to have a laugh at their expense. After all, the show goes out of its way to dress the contenders in flashy costumes that are typically unflattering (including fishnet body stockings and ultra-short shorts), so you have to wonder whether producers are milking what could be a 100% postive process for extra comedic potential.
The show also loses points for iffy renditions of popular songs like Cher's "Believe." But at least it's making an effort to help contestants (and, hopefully, viewers) get healthy in a fun, upbeat way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of staying healthy through proper nutrition and regular exercise. Overall, do you think you do a good job of choosing healthy foods and staying active? What are some things you could do as a family to make better choices when it comes to your health?
Families can also discuss the intent of a show like this one. Is it meant to motivate and inspire viewers to get healthy, or was it designed to exploit its contestants for entertainment purposes? Could it be a little bit of both?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 29, 2009
- Cast: Marissa Jaret Winokur, Mel B.
- Network: Oxygen
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
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