Parents' Guide to

The Mo'Nique Show

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Mo'Nique brings positive cultural messages to late-night TV.

TV BET Variety Show 2009
The Mo'Nique Show Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

THE MO'NIQUE SHOW is a late night talk and variety show hosted by actress/comedian Mo'Nique. In between celebrity interviews and musical guest performances, the show features comedy skits performed by the expressive host and the show's announcer, Rodney Perry. Musical numbers are performed by show's in-house band, Big Jim's Penthouse Players, while D.J. Ant Love, the resident DJ, also spins some tunes.

Is It Any Good?

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

The series, which is filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, sets itself apart from other late-night talk shows by featuring culturally specific humor intended to appeal to African-American audiences. While it features popular figures like Steve Harvey and Ludacris, the show also goes out of its way to introduce audiences to up-and-coming talent. It also places great importance on the contributions guests have made to the overall community.

Much of the show's positive energy comes from the Oscar award-winning host (for her role in Precious), who uses the show as an overall platform to celebrate African-American culture. The fact that she is one of the few females (African-American or otherwise) to successfully host a late night talk show also makes her stand out. Overall, the show is a positive contribution to television's late-night lineup.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how television can be used to send positive messages about a community and/or culture. Do you think talk shows are an appropriate format to send these messages? Why or why not? Is it a talk show host's job to be a positive role model?

  • Why are there so few female late-night hosts on TV today? Do you think that late-night shows hosted by women are very different from those hosted by men? Why or why not? Do you think a host's gender is directly linked to the success or failure of the TV show they are hosting?

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate