Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong language, insults in so-so hoax reboot series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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The Joe Schmo Show (2025)
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE JOE SCHMO SHOW (2025), a revival of the original 2003 series of the same name, is a show about an unsuspecting individual who's starring in his own reality show. Hosted by Cat Deeley, it features "everyday guy" Ben Frisone, aka "Ben from Baltimore," a 28-year-old electrician who thinks he's on the U.S. version of a South Korean reality competition called The Goat. But unbeknownst to him, the entire game is scripted, and his teammates are improv actors (including the now-adult Stuart Little actor Jonathan Lipnicki) playing over-the-top versions of stereotypical contestants. As they participate in crazy challenges and negotiate wacky eliminations, all of which are preplanned, the actors hope that they can keep the ruse going until the end of the two-week experience. If so, a potentially mortified Ben walks away with $100K.
Is It Any Good?
The reality reboot attempts to offer viewers some behind-the-scenes fun as a production team and actors do their best to simulate an unscripted reality competition for an unsuspecting contestant to navigate. Like earlier renditions of the voyeuristic series, this artificial universe gives a bit of The Truman Show vibe, but the scripted versions of the traditional unscripted reality fare—including physical contests, arguments, and rituals—is produced to create more bizarre experiences for the unsuspecting protagonist. However, this version of The Joe Schmo Show struggles to keep the ruse going because Ben Frisone doesn't immediately or easily buy into the over-the-top moments, silly prank-like stunts, or some of the actors' trope-driven performances. He also appears to be comfortable with some of the cast members' odd behaviors. As a result, moments that are supposed to be humorous often fall flat because actors and producers are concerned about whether Ben believes what's happening. Watching this occur over and over again slows down the show's momentum, and creates the sense that the entire cast and crew is just trying to hang on until the end rather than delivering solidly funny scenes throughout.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Ben Frisone seems suspicious throughout the series. Is the cast and crew not doing a good job? Or is there something about Ben that makes him less likely to believe what is happening around him?
What is the purpose of The Joe Schmo Show? To entertain by embarrassing someone? To show how hard it is to pull the operation off? Or something else?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 21, 2025
- Cast : Cat Deeley , Ben Frisone , Jonathan Lipnicki
- Network : TBS
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Competition , Friendship , Sports
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 8, 2025
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