Long Island Princesses Unleashed
Label-heavy reality series reinforces shallow stereotypes.
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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 this label-heavy reality series follows a quartet of wealthy twentysomethings who lead lives of relative privilege in and around New York City, which means they love to name-drop high-end brands like Prada, Chanel, and Bergdorf Goodman. Most social events revolve around drinking alcohol and, occasionally, doing shots, and characters generally embrace the party lifestyle -- no matter the day of the week or time of day. There's also some bleeped swearing along with audible words like "bitch" and "ho," and some sexual situations in the context of dating (one character gets her pubic area "vajazzled" to prepare for a night out with a new guy, etc.).
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What's the Story?
Whether they're partying with friends or shopping for "down there" adornments, Lauren, Pamela, Rachel, and Veronique are living like LONG ISLAND PRINCESSES UNLEASHED -- and they're enjoying the privileged lives their parents' earnings have afforded them. While upbeat Rachel lays down R&B tracks and visibly annoys abrasive account manager Pamela, Lauren works as a freelance photographer and Veronique...doesn't do much of anything.
Is It Any Good?
Despite the title's wild-and-crazy connotations, these pampered princesses' antics aren't really all that bad compared with seriously "unleashed" behavior seen on other reality shows. And maybe that's a good thing. After all, we don't really need another reality series urging girls to one-up first-class passengers aboard the Rock of Love bus, right?
Of course, nothing's sacred in reality TV, so it shouldn't surprise you to learn that Veronique's decision to "vajazzle" herself in preparation for a pending first date is a major plot point of an early episode. (Or that she forbids friends from posting pictures of her vagina on Facebook.) But there's actually a split-second moment of poignancy when Rachel talks to Lauren about losing her mom to breast cancer, prompting Lauren to reach out to her estranged dad with a tearful voice mail message. Too bad those moments are far too rare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether the show glamourizes consumerism or condemns it. Are we meant to admire these girls and their label-heavy lifestyles or look down on them? How can you tell?
How important is alcohol in the context of these characters' lives? Is it important to them to drink in order to have a good time? Does drinking visibly change their behavior?
Do you think the girls' friendships are genuine, or were they manufactured for the sake of a television show? How "real" are the things you're seeing? How can you tell?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 30, 2010
- Network: E!
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: September 19, 2019
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