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Parents' Guide to

Stars Earn Stripes

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Fire-powered reality contest tries to honor U.S. servicemen.

TV NBC Reality TV 2012
Stars Earn Stripes Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In STARS EARN STRIPES, eight celebrities team up with U.S. operatives to compete for donations for various veteran and first-responder charities. Hosted by General Wesley Clark (retired) and Samantha Harris, the show pairs actors like Dean Cain and Terry Crews, entertainers like Nick Lachey, and athletes like Laila Ali and Picabo Street with current or retired members of organizations like the Navy SEALS, the U.S. Army Delta Force, and even the NYPD. They're trained to fire weapons, navigate obstacle courses, and complete other challenging activities. Each week the teams compete against each other in military-inspired missions to earn stripes worth money for their chosen charity. Throughout it all, General Clark observes from mission control. The celebs with the weakest performances face off in elimination challenges. At the end of the competition, the winning celebrity will earn $100,000 for the organization s/he is representing.

Is It Any Good?

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

The action-packed series raises awareness for various charities while paying homage to the men and women who serve the United States in the armed forces and other first-responder units. Throughout the competition, details are offered about the servicemen on the show, the different kinds of weapons the units are using to complete their missions, and the intense training and real challenges they face when engaged in real-life military operations and crisis situations.

Some folks will find the pseudo-military maneuvers and large-scale fire power featured in Stars Earn Stripes inspiring. But thanks to some cheesy special effects, obviously placed sponsorship logos, and the endless repetition of words like "patriotic" and "hero," the show also manages to trivialize what really happens when people go to war or respond during times of crisis by recreating these experiences into Hollywood-style competitions. There are some mild positive messages here, but, overall, Stars Earn Stripes makes entertainment out of violence.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it's like to prepare for going to war and/or responding to a national crisis. What kind of training do law enforcement officers need to be able to do their jobs? Why do people choose to do this kind of work if it means putting their lives on the line?

  • Do you think a reality competition series is the best way to pay homage to American servicemen and women? Why or why not? What are some of the other ways that television can be used to raise awareness about the people who serve the country?

TV Details

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