Parents' Guide to

Hillbillies for Hire

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Pranks border on mean in Southern-flavored reality show.

TV CMT Reality TV 2013
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A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

HILLBILLIES FOR HIRE is a reality series featuring best friends Jeremiah Hatfield and Ed \"Big Ox\" Bussey as they perform pranks on unsuspecting strangers, friends, and family. From the backwoods of Florida, the duo spends time secretly putting folks on a floating outhouse in the middle of an alligator-infested swamp, blowing up deer decoys, and helping people seek revenge on folks who irritate them. Occasionally, Jeremiah's wife Casey falls prey to their antics, too. The two make sure there's never a dull moment, and the messier the prank is, the more fun they have.

Is It Any Good?

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

Hatfield and Bussey claim that their activities celebrate their Southern heritage, but the series offers a very narrow and problematic view of what it means to be from the region. Meanwhile, a lot of the pranks seem to be more mean than funny.

The duo stops just short of being physically violent, but many of their antics seem socially irresponsible because they put people in potential risk of getting hurt. Some folks may like this sort of humor, but overall, the whole thing just comes off as being irresponsible and stereotypical.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about playing pranks on people. How do you know how far to go when playing a joke on someone? What messages do TV shows like this one send about pranks?

  • Shows like this one often use stereotypical terms like "rednecks" as a way of celebrating a region's heritage. Is this appropriate? Why or why not? Can you name some TV shows that highlight cultural differences and don't use stereotypical terms?

TV Details

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