Parents' Guide to

The Cupcake Girls

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Reality show's recipe has hearty helping of mature issues.

TV WE Reality TV 2010
The Cupcake Girls Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Shodywilliams
Shodywilliams Adult
November 15, 2011
age 14+

Like it!!

I really like it. I've only watched it today on wetv there were several episodes in a row. I like how business oriented the girls are, the importance of friendship and family that is ovious, the way they can disagree on things and still be best friends, they work together, comprimise and try different ideas. I like the show and really want to try one of those french toast cupcakes to. LOL

This title has:

Great role models
rmcshopper
rmcshopper Adult
July 5, 2011
age 18+

Not So Good Cupcakes ...

Very judgmental about their business, treat people very poorly, sort of degrading in a lot of ways - obviously a product driven show to promote their stores - no real value.

This title has:

Too much consumerism
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

This WE channel reality series follows the highs and lows of THE CUPCAKE GIRLS -- longtime friends and business partners Heather White and Lori Joyce, who run a successful franchise of cupcake bakeries based out of Vancouver, Canada. Simply enough, the business is called "Cupcakes." But the day-to-day operations are rarely so simple, with Heather's mom serving as the general office manager and her dad pulling duty as the bakery's official delivery man. The bakery also employs a transgendered woman named Cadence, whose excellent customer service skills and uncommon look make her a real stand-out.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

The Cupcake Girls has a bit more spice than its most obvious competitor, TLC's DC Cupcakes. And that's a good thing, especially in light of a TV marketplace that's overpopulated with shows about cake, including Cupcake Wars, The Ultimate Cake-Off, Cake Boss, and Ace of Cakes. Even diehard baking junkies run the risk of getting a TV toothache. But at least with Cupcake Girls, you get something more substantial to go along with all that sugar.

Although Heather and Lori seem far more level-headed than DC Cupcake's often-frazzled sister-bakers Sophie and Katherine, they still have their fair share of screw ups ... and that's a curious trend among these cupcake-driven reality shows. Are major screw-ups merely manufactured for the sake of drama? Or do they really happen as often as the cameras make it seem? Either way, it makes baking "professionals" look awfully amateur.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the cupcake/baking show trend and why cupcakes, in particular, seem to be so popular. Would opening a cupcake bakery be a smart business decision? Would there be any risks?

  • How does this series compare to other TV shows about baking? What does it do differently -- and does it work?

  • How do Lori and Heather rate as role models? What about Heather's parents, who are also employees? Kids: Would you ever want to be your parents' boss?

TV Details

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