Parents' Guide to

Played by Fame

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Celebs' pranks on fans aren't too mean; still some iffiness.

TV BET Reality TV 2009
Played by Fame Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 11+

Based on 1 parent review

drr
drr Parent of 13, 15, 15, 18+ and 18+-year-old
March 1, 2009
age 11+

We had a great time laughing!

I was able to watch the show with my kids, we laughed the whole show. We have seen some risky scenes, bur my kids were aged appropriate to handle it. PLAYED by FAME is full of good humor fun. Reminded me of Candid Camera behaving badly.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In PLAYED BY FAME, unsuspecting fans are "pranked" by their favorite celebrities. Hosted by Al Shearer, the show invites stars like The Game's Wendy Raquel Robinson, former America's Next Top Model contestant Toccara, and rap artist Ludacris to allow a fan to spend an entire day with them. But instead of the dream experience the devoted fan was hoping for, the celebs lead their unwary admirers into a series of situations that have been specifically set up to give the fan nightmares. From jumping over brooms to train dogs to fending off obvious advances from the celebrity's supposed "friends," each fan tries to enjoy their time while simultaneously attempting to cope with the weirdness. And at the end of the day, just when it doesn't seem like things can get any stranger, the truth is revealed.

Is It Any Good?

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

Despite the behind-the-scenes laughter from those in on the day's pranks, Played by Fame doesn't come across as particularly mean spirited. In fact, while much of the show's humor comes from the unsuspecting fans' reactions, plenty of laughs also come from the performances of the various celebrities -- who must find ways to keep the pretense going all day.

But not all of the show's funny moments are appropriate for young viewers. Some of the jokes rely on strong sexual innuendo, while others incorporate drinking and drug references to make them believable. Meanwhile, both the celebrities and their fans use lots of strong language. But teens mature enough to handle the content who like prank shows will probably enjoy it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why celebrities would choose to play jokes on their fans. Do you think it's a good idea for them to toy with their admirers? What risks are involved? Does this show help or hurt the celebrities' image? Families can also discuss the difference between playing a practical joke on someone and just being mean. When does a prank go too far?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: February 6, 2009
  • Cast: Al Shearer
  • Network: BET
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • TV rating: TV-14
  • Last updated: February 24, 2022

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