Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Viewers will tune out silly celebrity vocal contest.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sing Your Face Off
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Entertainment stars such as Lisa Rinna, China Anne McClain, and Jon Lovitz match wits onstage in a no-holds-barred impersonation competition called SING YOUR FACE OFF. Contestants are assigned new singing subjects for each episode and work with experts to match the look, sound, and stage presence of the likes of Rihanna, Elton John, and Michael Jackson. Celebrity judges Darrell Hammond and Debbie Gibson are joined by a new guest panelist each episode to score the contestants' efforts.
Is It Any Good?
Hosted by John Barrowman, Sing Your Face Off takes the familiar singing competition format to a whole new level of monotony. It devotes an entire hour to only a handful of performances and fills the time in between with meandering clips of the contestants stumbling through dance class and applying prosthetics. Worse yet are the judges' inconsequential remarks and arbitrary scoring process, which clearly exist to fill time between segments. And, because there's seemingly no prize for the winner, the whole thing feels like a preschooler's game of dress-up run amok.
To their credit, the contestants put forth valiant efforts in the roles they play, even when the pairings transcend the ridiculous. Eighties rock screamer Sebastian Bach as Lady Gaga? Lisa Rinna as Justin Bieber? When a singing show stoops to gender-bending as a comic mainstay, it's time to question its point. Yes, some performances do surprise in a good way, and it's always fun to see celebs step outside their comfort zones. But ultimately Sing Your Face Off amounts to 60 minutes of frivolity that's more about the contestants having fun than the audience's enjoyment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the reality show genre. Why is it so popular? What, if any, value does a show like this one have for viewers? How real is "reality" TV? Do you think viewers believe what they see in unscripted series?
Why do you think these celebrities took part in this show? Do you think they'll win any fans by their participation? Do you think it's true that all publicity is good publicity when you're a star?
Is there a topic that hasn't been explored by the entertainment industry? Is there a market for one that you can think of? Is there learning potential in it?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 31, 2014
- Cast : Debbie Gibson , John Barrowman , Darrell Hammond
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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