Southern Nights

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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 Southern Nights features cast members from Sweet Home Alabama living in a Real World-like setting, with the requisite drinking and implied sexual behavior. The language is pretty mild (occasional swear words are bleeped), but the drinking, brawling (which sometimes leads to injuries), and other inappropriate behavior is excessive. Expect references to "one night stands" and scenes of people climbing into bed together (no nudity is visible).
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What's the Story?
SOUTHERN NIGHTS reunites popular cast members from multiple seasons of the dating show Sweet Home Alabama so that they can make the most of Savannah's historic nightlife together. After failing to find love in the earlier series, 10 cast members move into a historic mansion and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle they've always dreamed of. While some of the housemates build new friendships, others find themselves rekindling old romantic feelings and reigniting old conflicts. Crazy behavior and drunken brawling also adds to the drama. It's never a dull moment as as these Southerners try to sleep all day and party all night.
Is It Any Good?
Southern Nights features lots of Real World-style antics, including highlighting unique personality types, endless arguments, and lots of relationship drama. The voyeuristic look into the more intimate interactions between cast members (and folks they meet outside of the house) also add to the show's overall entertainment factor.
There is some attempt at reflecting values that are often considered more "Southern" (i.e. conservative) here, including limiting the use of swear words and showing the group pray together at meal times. Discussions about the housemates being a sort of family are also frequent. But there is enough wild partying, drinking, brawling, and sexual innuendo here to rival other popular reality shows on the air, making this an iffy choice for teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the housemates featured here. What about them appeals to viewers? Do you think the housemates are chosen because they possess a specific personality trait, or are they supposed to reflect a specific stereotype?
What do you think about some of roommates' activities, like their excessive drinking, fighting, and sexual behavior? Do you think they behave this way when the cameras are off?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 7, 2012
- Network: CMT
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: March 2, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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