Parents' Guide to

Scarred

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Hyped footage of teen injuries hurts to watch.

TV MTV Reality TV 2007
Scarred Poster Image

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Plague
Plague Parent
April 9, 2010
age 13+

Scarred

This is a very interesting show indeed. I enjoy it highly, but would NEVER recommend it for anyone for the faint of heart.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Hosted by Jacoby Shaddix (lead singer for the alternative rock band Papa Roach), MTV's SCARRED claims to be inspired by the increasing popularity of viral Internet videos showing amateur skateboarders, wrestlers, and wannabe stuntmen getting horribly injured. Interviews with the injured begin each segment as they retell what led up to the incident, then viewers watch as the players (mostly teen boys) get hurt terribly, complete with pools of blood, ghastly wounds, protruding bones, and screams of agony. Each clip is replayed several times while the \"stuntman\" narrates the accident, sometimes with pride, sometimes with real regret. Some guys talk about how scared they were during the accident, while others just admit they were stupid for following through with their idea. Each segment ends with the guy showing off the scar produced by the stunt.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Host Shaddix hypes up the accidents, talking about how awful they were -- but despite his negative words, viewers get the sense that there's something noble about the fearlessness of these kids. This implication, along with some really intense footage, makes Scarred a bad choice for very young viewers and highly questionable even for teens. Parents who do decide to let their older kids watch will want to provide their own warning against attempting any of the stunts seen on the show -- because even though these guys get hurt, they're clearly getting attention from MTV, and some teens would risk their lives for that.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the increasing popularity of viral, user-generated Internet video clips. How do these videos get started? Do you think the participants try stunts like the ones shown here just so they can gain notoriety online? Does it work? Are scars and injuries something to be proud of? Parents may want to remind teens not to try tricks like these at home, no matter what.

TV Details

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