Parents' Guide to The World's Best

With international acts and judges interjecting a positive note of diversity, this talent competition is gentle enough for whole-family viewing. There's no language, drugs, or sex (save for suggestive dances in brief costumes) in the acts; and only the mildest violence, like a sword swallower who looks to be in danger of injury from his sharp and/or heavy props and an escape artist who performs an underwater stunt that he explains could kill him. Judges are almost uniformly positive about contestants and their abilities -- "Wow!" and "Oh my goodness!" are typical reactions from judges when watching a singer or dancer do their thing, and whenever Corden moves over to the "Wall of the World," the international judges have more of he same unqualified praise. Not every contestant moves on in the competition though, which young and/or sensitive viewers may find a bit painful to watch.

Corden in the role of host is as charming as always -- he often ends a segment by asking if he can give a talent a try, gamely attempting to break a stack of wood or sing a few notes along with a Filipino boy band. Hill, Barrymore, and RuPaul are given less to do; mainly we just watch them watch contestants, which isn't even as thrilling as it sounds. Still, it's always amazing to see someone truly talented in a performing art, which is why reality shows like The World's Best have proliferated. In a CGI age, real people doing real, difficult things can be awe-inspiring, and may convince young viewers to sharpen their own talents -- or that watching from the couch is a lot easier.