Parents' Guide to

I Want to Work for Diddy

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

High-drama reality contest pushes the Diddy brand.

TV VH1 Reality TV 2008
I Want to Work for Diddy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In I WANT TO WORK FOR DIDDY, 13 hopefuls competing to be Sean "Diddy" Combs' new assistant are put to the test in a slew of team and individual challenges designed to separate the weak from the strong. The contestant pool -- a diverse bunch to say the least -- includes a transgendered woman named Laverne, a full-figured go-getter who calls herself "Po-Prah" (a self-described "Big Girl w/ Big Skills"), and an Iraq war veteran. Evaluating their performances are Capricorn, Diddy's former assistant who's now the director of marketing for Sean John; Phil Robinson, Diddy's former manager; and Kevin Liles, the executive vice president for Warner Music Group. Combs' own personal appearances are rare, but he adds occasional insights via pre-recorded interviews that are spliced into the action.

Is It Any Good?

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

Just as Combs has many names, he's also many things -- including a designer, producer, aspiring actor, and father of six. But, above all, he's an expert promoter. (He's also hip to the power of television when it comes to plugging his products, thanks to the success of his Making the Band reality franchise.) In fact, that's the true genius behind I Want to Work for Diddy: It not only showcases several of Diddy's marquee brands, it also positions him as a godfather-esque mogul who makes things happen. It promotes several products at once -- including the man himself.

Of course, I Want to Work for Diddy isn't just about blatant promotion; it's also about giving one lucky young person a thankless job that could lead to bigger and better things. But applicants be warned: The road to success is more often than not paved with humbling tasks like picking up Combs' dry cleaning or auditioning a clown for one of his kids' birthday parties. The glamorous stuff comes later. Much, much later.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the sacrifices that some people make to hang on to the job of their dreams -- and whether it's always worth it. If you had the chance to work for Diddy, would you do anything he asked you to do? Is there anything you wouldn't do, even if refusing to do it meant that you would lose you job? Where and how would you draw the line? Parents and kids can also discuss the reasons that a show like this might have been created. Do you think Diddy really needed a TV show to find a new assistant? If not, what other motives could he have?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate