Parents' Guide to

The Superstars

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Athletes, celebs team up for fun, tween-friendly challenges.

TV ABC Reality TV 2009
The Superstars 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?

In THE SUPERSTARS, professional athletes and celebrities pair up to compete in a series of athletic events. Based on the same-named 1970s series, the show puts the 16 competitors -- among them tennis champions, Olympic gold medalists, actors, and supermodels -- through challenges in sports like archery, kayaking, biking, and climbing. The pairs accumulate points based on their performance in each event; the lowest-scoring duos face off each day on an obstacle course, with the losing team going home.

Is It Any Good?

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

This fun, fast-paced series is a breath of fresh air amid the oppressive redundancy of most reality competitions. On the whole, there's very little griping and backbiting among the contestants, who focus more on strategy, teamwork, and fun than on trash-talking their opponents. The wide variety of the events also ensures that no one group of contestants has a clear advantage over the others, keeping the games unpredictable and exciting.

In the end, though, it is a competition, and a few contestants do let their egos overshadow their best efforts on the field. When tempers flare, so does the unsportsmanlike conduct, and there's some strong language directed at themselves and their teammates. Those familiar with flashier reality series like Survivor and The Bachelor will notice the absence of add-ons like dramatic music and lighting effects, but families with tweens and teens looking for a back-to-basics contest of physical strength, intensity, and strategy will have fun with this no-frills competition.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about competition. What are some of the benefits of competition? What contests have you participated in? How did you prepare yourself for them? Were you inspired to improve your skills to compete again?

  • Families can also discuss sportsmanship. What does competition teach you about being a good sport? How do you think the contestants conducted themselves? Are they good role models for young athletes?

TV Details

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