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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 peppy reality series raises very few red flags for younger viewers. Besides the occasional flirty comment from the two leads, the show is quite benign, though it might inspire kids to reuse household goods or bring home trash in an attempt to turn it into decor.
Community Reviews
T&A for JUNK
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What's the Story?
In PICKER SISTERS designers Tracy Hutson and Tanya McQueen crisscross the United States with a trailer looking for pieces of industrial junk that they can turn into interior design treasures. After they find their materials, they drive them back to Los Angeles, where contractor Alan Luxmore follows the women's guidelines to make these finds into furniture, light fixtures, and other interior design goods that will then be sold in their pop-up home decor shop.
Is It Any Good?
The series promises a lot of fun for adult women, though its appeal for kids is less sure. However, craft- or carpentry-oriented kids will appreciate the creations that emerge from the "trash" finds. Designers Hutson and McQueen are very likable leads, although their enthusiasm and personas sometimes feel forced. They toggle between cheerily annoyed and jumping-up-and-down excited. Along the same lines, their contractor Alan Luxmore, who's responsible for realizing the women's visions, displays a showy, exaggerated frustration for the camera.
Overall, the show is a lot of fun and genuinely engaging. However, as the designers enter rural communities behind the wheel of an Mercedes SUV, there's a disparity between sister pickers and the small-town pickees that is very hard to ignore. This is why it's nice to see a few of the small town dealers surprise the women with their high price points and in-depth knowledge of the value of their "junk." They may be from the big city, but the sister pickers aren't the only ones with some sophistication.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about consumerism and class. Do you think that there's a problem with the women buying "junk" for a cheap price, and then selling it for a profit? Are they taking advantage of small town folks?
Do you think the women use their appearances to their advantage when making a deal? Do you think they'd get a better or worse deal if they were men? What if they were not attractive? Do you think that their appearance has anything to do with getting a reality show of their own?
TV Details
- Premiere date: August 2, 2011
- Cast: Tanya McQueen, Tracy Hutson
- Network: Lifetime Television
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: March 2, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Interesting and dramatic ... for a reality show.
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American Pickers
Hunt for antique treasures is a gem for history buffs.
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Antiques Roadshow
PBS gem mixes appraisals, history, and suspense.
For kids who love stuff and travel
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