Killer Karaoke
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Game show has singing, painful stunts, and salty lingo.
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Killer karaoke
What's the Story?
KILLER KARAOKE, a series adapted from the British series Sing If You Can, is a game show that lets contestants showcase their karaoke skills while testing their courage. Hosted by Jackass star Steve-O, each round features two contestants who must sing a song to its entirety. The catch? They must do so while engaging in potentially dangerous, humiliating, or painful stunts, like being attacked by dogs, getting a body wax, or being dunked into a ice-cold water tank with boa constrictors and other dangerous snakes. Replays of each person's reactions are showcased after each song. After each of the three rounds, the studio audience votes by keypad for the person who will move on to the final showdown. After the finalists sing off in an over-the-top challenge, the winner wins a $10,000 cash prize.
Is It Any Good?
While its roots are British, Killer Karaoke pays homage to the Japanese game show tradition by offering translations of titles and slogans written and spoken in Japanese throughout each episode. But the real resemblance comes in the form of the contestants willingly subjecting themselves to ridiculous (and even gross) stunts while singing their hearts out. Also adding to the fray are the replays of the people screaming out in fear while trying to sing.
Much of the show's fun comes from the reactions of the contestants. However, the stunts get a little repetitive from week-to-week, which makes each round a little anti-climatic. But folks who find these sort of silly scenarios and outrageous competitions entertaining will probably find themselves laughing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about game shows. Why do people willingly subject themselves to painful or humiliating stunts? Is it just for the money? For a few seconds of fame? Or is there something else that motivates them?
Do game shows or reality competitions ever go too far? Is featuring people doing potentially dangerous stunts being socially responsible? Why should people never attempt to engage in these kinds of stunts on their own?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 23, 2012
- Cast: Steve-O
- Network: truTV
- Genre: Game Shows
- Topics: Music and Sing-Along
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
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