Parents' Guide to The Big Brunch

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The Big Brunch TV show: poster

Common Sense Media Review

Marina Gordon By Marina Gordon , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Great food and company with alcohol, some F-bombs.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

THE BIG BRUNCH follows a standard cooking-competition format: 10 chefs from across the U.S. cook a starter and a main course around a theme, and one chef is eliminated each episode. Though the focus is nominally brunch, many of the dishes could be served at lunch or dinner as well. In keeping with the theme of a long, languorous weekend meal, the judges (Dan Levy from Schitt's Creek, food personality Sohla El-Waylly, and restaurateur Will Guidara) order alcoholic drinks from a mixologist in every episode. It's fun and there's a lot at stake: The grand prize is $300K to further the winner's culinary dreams.

Is It Any Good?

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

Though the focus on brunch may seem narrow at first, the range of dishes, the engaging chefs, and the skilled hosting from Dan Levy make this a hearty feast of a show. The contestants in The Big Brunch hail from across the U.S. and represent a range of perspectives, including the Black, Asian, and queer ones that have become more centered in recent food competition shows. Except for a few snarky comments from the judges, the show highlights the love and support among the contestants.

Sounds like a great family watch, right? Parents of younger kids may be surprised that the bleep-free audio sometimes features "f--k," "s--t," etc. The focus on colorful, fun alcoholic drinks at every brunch table may also be a red flag for some families. Otherwise, The Big Bruch is a relaxed, inspiring, satisfying binge.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the value of competition in cooking shows. Do you think it brings out the best in chefs? What kinds of chefs do you think thrive under these conditions?

  • Who were you rooting for? Why? What made that chef's cuisine unique and interesting? How did they do in the competition? Why did they succeed or not succeed?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

The Big Brunch TV show: poster

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