I Know My Kid's a Star

The show's entertainment value comes from watching the parents' clueless, out-of-control behavior as they try to help their kids take Hollywood by storm. Driven by dreams of fame and fortune, many of them put tremendous pressure on their kids to shine, often insulting the other teams in front of their kids in the process. Others are oblivious to how the industry works and are incapable of making smart business decisions on their kids' behalf. And while all the parents claim that it's their kids who want this success, it's obvious that many of them are living vicariously through their offspring. Meanwhile, the kids have to cope with the stress of learning lines and performing in front of casting directors. Adding to some kids' anxiety is the knowledge that their mom or dad has given up their own career and spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars on them with the hope of getting a return on their "investment."

Hosted by former child star Danny Bonaduce, the series drives home the idea that in the cutthroat world of showbiz, kids' greatest advocate should be their parents. But the way it sends this message is decidedly mature. Like most reality shows, it has its share of strong language and endless bickering -- usually between the parents. Some of the kids are disrespectful and/or act spoiled, and only a few are disciplined for their inappropriate behavior. There's also some frank discussion about how easy it is for child stars to become addicts, criminals, and/or a death statistic. But because the overall message is honest and pro-child, and because tweens might be interested in watching kids their own age work their way through Hollywood, parents might want to consider previewing it or watching it with them -- especially if their child has showbiz aspirations.