Parents' Guide to

The Blue Grass Boys

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Pot-themed docuseries features illegal activity, cursing.

TV Discovery Channel Reality TV 2013
The Blue Grass Boys Poster Image

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What's the Story?

THE BLUE GRASS BOYS is a reality series showcasing the cat-and-mouse game between law enforcement and marijuana growers in the Kentucky mountains. Cameras follow Constable Freddie Clark as he chases down local pot growers in Eastern Kentucky's rural McCreary County. But unbeknownst to him, a local master grower known as \"Red\" and his gang are also allowing cameras to document every aspect of their operations. As Red's gang doubles their efforts to cultivate a record number of plants, Constable Clark does his best to close them down.

Is It Any Good?

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

The Blue Grass Boys shows how pot growers go about doing their business in the state of Kentucky, which is the third largest producer of marijuana in the United States. It also highlights the various ways they go about hiding their activities, despite local law enforcement's seemingly relentless efforts to stop them. But some of the growers' antics seem so wacky that you can't help wonder if it's all being staged. Meanwhile, the constable's consistent failure to catch them seems a bit too far-fetched, too.

Regardless of how true to life the show is, Red and his colorful clan are likable and fun-loving. Some folks will also find the frequent Dukes of Hazzard-like police chases around the dusty mountain backroads entertaining. But these humorous moments make it easy to forget that they are breaking the law, and that their activities have real-life, negative consequences that go beyond the state line.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about reality shows. Why do some documentaries showcase illegal activities? Is this a responsible or ethical thing to do? Why would growers agree to allow cameras to show their illegal activities? What messages are they sending about marijuana and the people and activities associated with it?

  • What are some of the consequences of growing, selling, and smoking marijuana?

TV Details

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