Common Sense Media Review
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Reality soap manages to make Vegas seem boring.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
PARADISE CITY is a reality show set in Las Vegas that tries to show the city from the viewpoint of the folks who live and work there. The cast members are all twentysomethings who are attractive, fit, and often overtly sexy. Episode plots follow the group's love lives and professional accomplishments -- including aspiring rock star Rick's decision to go solo or remain loyal to his band and the release of writer Molly's female-oriented Vegas guidebook.
Is It Any Good?
Soap opera fans might enjoy following the good-looking gang's hook-ups and break-ups, but most viewers will likely find the dialogue inane and the self-involved characters hard to care about. As in MTV's sem-reality show Laguna Beach, the Paradise characters are real people but the action and dialogue sometimes feel staged.
Scenes filled with kissing and discussions about sex -- as well as regular social drinking -- make Paradise City pretty iffy for younger viewers. Teens might be attracted to by the show's eye-candy factor, but the focus on rather dull grown-up dynamics will probably turn them off.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the show's version of twentysomething life. How realistic do you think it is? How much of what happens do you think is engineered (even if it's not scripted) for the camera? How "real" are most reality shows? Families can also discuss healthy relationships. What do teens expect from their 20s -- to be single, dating, in a steady relationship, married? Parents, where were you when you were in your 20s? What expectations do you have for your teens as they get older and possibly start dating more seriously?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 4, 2007
- Network : E!
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 11, 2020
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