Parents' Guide to

One Night Only: The Series

By Lucy Maher, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

New Orleans teens find hope in Dreamgirls.

TV BET Reality TV 2007
One Night Only: The Series Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

ONE NIGHT ONLY: THE SERIES takes viewers behind the curtain as a group of New Orleans high schoolers compete for roles in a local Dreamgirls tribute a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated their city. The cast members are students from McDonogh 35, the city's oldest African-American high school. In each episode, they exhibit determination and pluck as they rebuild their community and compete for roles in One Night Only: Live on the Stage, auditioning in front of a panel of judges that includes American Idol's Paris Bennet. There are also appearances by other stars, such as Dreamgirls star Jennifer Hudson, Blair Underwood, Duane Martin, Tisha Campbell Martin, and more.

Is It Any Good?

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

Unlike Idol and other shows that pit competitors against each other in a mean-spirited battle, One Night Only pulls at viewers' heartstrings. That's because in addition to offering suspenseful competition, the series also shows the reality of what it was like for teens living in Katrina's wake.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Hurricane Katrina. How did families cope with being separated during and after the storm? In what other ways did the people of New Orleans suffer? Why were people unhappy with the way the government handled the crisis? If your home was destroyed in a natural disaster, would you want to stay in your city and rebuild, or move somewhere else?

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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