Parents' Guide to

The Great Debate

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Lightweight pop culture arguments are feisty but fun.

TV VH1 Reality TV 2009
The Great Debate Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

An ever-changing roster of comedians and low-level celebrities (including Hulk Hogan and Wil Wheaton) weigh the merits of competing pop culture references in THE GREAT DEBATE, a series of one-hour specials airing on VH1 that's similar in format to the network's Best Week Ever. The panel specializes in not-so-burning questions like "Who's the hotter Simspon sister: Jessica or Ashlee?" and "The Snuggie: Genius or not?"

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

While it's true that spirited debates like these won't change the world (can't Alf and E.T. both be awesome aliens?), they can be a lot of fun to watch for adults and older teens -- particularly those born early enough to get some of the kitschier references. It's not the funniest play on pop culture VH1 has to offer, and the boxing match-style announcer is kind of annoying. But if you're craving some easily digestible entertainment, this will do in a pinch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the show's kid-friendlier topics, including "Kittens vs. Puppies," "Alf vs. E.T.," and "Cabbage Patch Kids vs. Tickle-Me Elmo." Do moms and dads tend to agree or disagree with their kids' opinions when it comes to pop culture?

  • Families can also discuss how the celebrities mentioned in these debates measure up when it comes to role modeling. Do we tend to find celebrity news more or less entertaining when it involves a degree of negative behavior? Why?

  • And, for fun, kids and parents can each think of other topics to debate at the dinner table. When you're done talking, you can vote on who picked the liveliest topic.

TV Details

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