Parents' Guide to

On the Road with Austin and Santino

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Designers dress positive role models for special occasions.

TV Lifetime Television Reality TV 2010
On the Road with Austin and Santino Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

lolastes
lolastes Parent of 14-year-old
October 13, 2010
age 10+

delightful !!

delightful !!!!!!!!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
cinderellaqueen
cinderellaqueen Parent of 4-year-old
August 6, 2010
age 2+

perfect for all ages

inspired my little girl to take up sewing with me. Her favorite movie is Cinderella, and I think she sees Austin as a real life fairy godmother! lol

This title has:

Too much consumerism
Great messages
Great role models
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In ON THE ROAD WITH AUSTIN AND SANTINO, Project Runway alumni Austin Scarlett and Santino Rice are on a cross-country mission to design special-occasion outfits for deserving women -- from a champion trick horse rider to a captain in the U.S. Army. Using local stores and resources in the woman's hometown, the designers collaborate on a look they both like -- but it's more important to them that the woman loves it.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

On the Road won't change the world. But it's still nice to see a makeover series that doesn't feed into a woman's insecurities by making her feel like she needs to overhaul everything -- hair, make-up, and wardrobe -- to look presentable. These women are fine the way they are; they'd just like to feel special on a special night.

It's also a solid pick for Runway fans who miss seeing Austin and Santino in action. They're arguably two of the series' most charismatic personalities, and they live up to those reputations here. But since their egos always come second to their subject's experience, they also reveal themselves to be relatable ... and refreshingly human.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about makeover shows' emphasis on outward appearances, focusing on whether they're helpful or hurtful. Can a woman look great in a simple outfit -- like a T-shirt and jeans -- without makeup and overdone hair?

  • How does this series compare to other makeover shows on TV? What does it do differently -- and does it work?

  • How do Austin and Santino deal with conflict when they don't agree on a design? Do you think they'd behave differently if they were competing against each another on a different kind of show?

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.

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