Common Sense Media Review
Adults read their teen diaries in hilarious, explicit show.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Mortified Guide
What's the Story?
Based on the series of spoken word events and the subsequent podcast created by David Nadelberg, THE MORTIFIED GUIDE is a collection of live performances where non-professionals get on stage and read from their adolescent journals. Each episode is organized around a certain theme: "Love and Sex," "Fitting In," "Family," "Growing Up Gay," and "Pop Culture." Intercut with the stage performances, we get interviews with the performers reflecting on their teen years, on how they've changed and how they survived. Most of the journal entries are painfully hilarious with a few poignant ones scattered throughout.
Is It Any Good?
This very simple premise -- reading your teenage diaries out loud -- yields satisfying and hilarious results. While each person's experiences are unique, every performance ultimately winds up underscoring the universality of teenage angst and drama. What's particularly entertaining about The Mortified Guide is the subtle ironies that get revealed upon rereading these adolescent confessions. They beautifully illustrate the total self-absorption and lack of self-awareness that characterizes life as an American teenager. Even those who were well-adjusted adolescents will find something to relate to here, and teens who have a sense of humor about their own lives will think these tales are pretty funny.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the value of keeping a journal. Why do you think the performers in The Mortified Guide held on to their journals for so many years?
What's funny about people admitting their own embarrassing experiences? Do you have a "mortifying" story that's also entertaining?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 8, 2018
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Variety Show
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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