Mobbed
By Joyce Slaton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Flash mobs reveal emotional secrets in gimmicky show.
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What's the Story?
On MOBBED, host Howie Mandel orchestrates flash mobs, conglomerations of total strangers who gather in public spaces to perform rehearsed dances to the surprise of those around them. But the flash mobs are only the means to an end on this reality show: Contestants who appear on each hour-long episode have a secret that they want to reveal to their loved ones. Sometimes it's something sweet, like when a boyfriend asks for Mobbed's help to propose to his girlfriend. Other times, it's rather intense, such as one contestant's revelation that she'd had a baby six years ago and hadn't told her family. Contestants share their secret with the camera, and Mandel and company set up the flash mob as the viewer watches the plan come together. All is revealed by show's end with an elaborate flash mob production number that brings together contestants with their loved ones while the secret (and subsequent reaction) is played out on camera.
Is It Any Good?
Aren't flash mobs old news? Fox's late arrival to the flash mob party on Mobbed smacks of gimmickry and is past-its-sell-by-date. Even the show's premise is a bit of a head-scratcher: People who come on the show want to reveal a secret to someone, and they choose to do it in front of a national audience, in the form of a flash mob, for ... what reason, now? It's hard not to come to the conclusion that the show's flash mob aspect is just stuck in there because watching contestants call up their loved ones to reveal their secrets wouldn't be as telegenic.
Plus, Mobbed's element of surprise basically reduces the show to an elaborate set-up for a hidden camera prank. So watching Mandel's crew recruit and train the flash mob is about as interesting as it would be to see a behind-the-scenes version of Candid Camera, i.e., not very. What is interesting is watching participants struggle with their intense emotions, and viewers may find themselves tearing up during the reveal segments. But the 40 minutes of prep leading up to those heavy emotional moments are a bit of a snore, and a gimmicky snore at that.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Mobbed uses the gimmick of gathering a group of dancing strangers to highlight an emotional moment. What does the flash mob add to or take away from these intense moments?
Howie Mandel and others who work on Mobbed lie right to show participants' faces in order to set them up to be surprised by the flash mob. Does the end justify the means in this case? Does it make you uncomfortable to watch someone who's being tricked?
Why would people participate on Mobbed instead of just, say, writing a letter or making a phone call to tell their loved ones a secret? What do you suppose participants get out of appearing on the show that they couldn't get with a private interaction?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 31, 2011
- Cast: Howie Mandel
- Network: Fox
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
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