So Cosmo

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So Cosmo
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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 So Cosmo is an unscripted series about the staff of Cosmopolitan magazine. Not surprisingly, it features the Cosmo logo, as well as endless designers, high-end brands, and celebrities. There's the usual argumentative behavior, and lots of blunt conversations about sex, and plenty of shirtless men and women in skimpy outfits in the context of fashion shoots. There's some strong language ("bitch") and bleeped cursing. Drinking is also frequent. Throughout all this, though, there are strong messages about hard work and professionalism.
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What's the Story?
SO COSMO is a reality series following the people who work behind the scenes at Cosmopolitan magazine. It stars the publication's editor-in-chief Joanna Coles and her staff, including brand coordinator Diandra Barnwell, executive beauty director Leah Wyar, bookings director Steven Brown, and senior fashion editors Tiffany Reid and James DeMolet. Joining them are contributors like fitness guru Evan Betts. It's a deeply competitive, pressure-filled environment, but they still manage to enjoy the perks of the job and have fun -- until their lives (and their jobs) take an unexpected turn when changes to the organization are announced.
Is It Any Good?
From booking talent to attending runway shows, this pretty entertaining series offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to work at Cosmopolitan magazine. It highlights some of the perks of the job, including access to high-end designers, events, and products, but underscores the hard and unglamorous work that goes into putting together a fashion magazine. It also focuses on the personal lives and ambitions of the cast, like finding romance and coping with their co-workers.
It's a much kinder environment than the one featured in The Devil Wears Prada, and Joanna Coles comes across as someone who cares about her staff regardless of her high expectations. But So Cosmo also notes the cut-throat competition in the organization, which reflects the nature of the overall fashion magazine industry. Teen fashionistas will probably like it, especially if they're hoping for a career in the fashion business.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it's like to work in the fashion industry. What kind of training do you have to have to work in this field? Do you have to be a good writer, or is having a background in fashion enough? Does So Cosmo make you want to work in the industry?
Do you think So Cosmo offers a realistic view of what it's like to work for the magazine? Or is it dramatized for entertainment purposes?
Fashion magazines offer an idea of what people can do and buy to be glamorous and trendy. How can you enjoy them while still be realistic about what you should look like?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 8, 2017
- Cast: Joanna Coles, Diandra Barnwell, Leah Wyar
- Network: E!
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: April 1, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love reality TV
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