Parents' Guide to

The Seven

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Live "news" show sells celebrities' products and projects.

TV MTV Reality TV 2010
The Seven 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?

On THE SEVEN, a daily round-up of pop culture news, hosts Julie Alexandria and Kevin Manno count down the seven most important "things you need to know." The show features celebrity drop-ins, interviews, and performances, as well as some pre-recorded segments and is shot in front of a live studio audience overlooking New York City's Times Square.

Is It Any Good?

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

Bubbly hosts Alexandria and Manno try really hard to sell the idea that they're telling you seven things you "need to know" -- and we know, because they repeat that phrase word for word at least three times in the show's short 30-minute run. But when you strip away the live audience's cheers and screams, what you're really getting are seven pop-culture tidbits that are mildly interesting at best.

For example? Talking to Justin Timberlake, Jesse Eisenberg, and Andrew Garfield -- the stars of the Facebook-themed movie The Social Network -- about the making of the film a few days before its theatrical release is a pretty good get and comparatively worthy of its No. 1 slot as the most important news of the day. But is the fact that Twilight star Taylor Lautner used to be good at karate when he was 9 really the second-most critical thing we need to know? If so, that's kind of sad.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the difference between news and promotion. How does the show decide on the seven most "important" stories for the day? Does the news on the show feel genuinely important to you? What's the criteria for story selection?

  • How important are celebrities to the success of the show? How does the presence of stars affect viewership and drive ratings?

  • Does the fact that the show is live make a difference? Would the show change much if it were taped in advance?

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