Parents' Guide to

Show Me the Money

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Shatner dancing with 13 sexy ladies? No, thanks.

TV ABC Game Shows 2006
Show Me the Money 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?

In retro game show SHOW ME THE MONEY, thirteen dancing showgirls cavort onstage at the behest of the captain of ceremonies, William Shatner, whose energy cannot be denied. ("Let's salsa!" he cries, and the mini-dress-wearing women shake while he tries to match their shimmy.) Contestants must answer trivia questions, then choose a dancer who unrolls a scroll that reveals a dollar amount -- the amount that will be added or subtracted to the contestant's pot depending on whether the answer is right or wrong. If the answer is right, fist pumping and hopping about ensues; if it's wrong, groans and pouting. What maintains the otherwise slow-moving game's tension is the ease with which the giant sum of money is won -- and can also be lost.

Is It Any Good?

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

With so much focus on the scantily clad dancers, Show Me the Money does nothing for the feminist movement -- but at least it's unabashed in its retro stylings. And the addition of Shatner to the mix just ups the camp quotient. In a funny (sort of) meeting of then-and-now, Shatner's first guest is an obviously gay man; when it comes time to introduce the "group of gorgeous girls," Shatner pauses to say, "I don't know if you're interested. …" Though it feels like Shatner could make an inappropriate comment about his gay guest or one of the "girls" at any moment, it (thankfully) never happens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about gender roles. Can kids imagine what the show would look like with 13 men dancing on stage? What's the point of having the women stand in boxes and unroll the money scrolls? How would the show be different if it had a female host? Do you notice the host trying to get the contestant involved in objectifying the dancers? Do kids know who Shatner is?

TV Details

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