Parents' Guide to

Total Blackout

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Fear Factor in the dark, with rats, roaches, bleeped curses.

TV Syfy Game Shows 2012
Total Blackout Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

davidrox
davidrox Adult
February 19, 2013
age 11+

Cool

This is good, intense, but fine for kids. Common sense has got it competley wrong with the age of fourteen, not bad language, but it has some sexual refrences. I say eleven and up for the occasional innuendo and references.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
masaxo
masaxo Adult
April 27, 2012
age 14+

FUN

i think that this show is fun i love it its really fun to watch and its good for any ages it dosen't show any violence and stuff like that .

This title has:

Too much consumerism
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

TOTAL BLACKOUT is an extreme game show that features contestants competing in a series of challenges that forces them to confront their worst fears in total darkness. Hosted by Jaleel White, contestants must rely on their sense of touch, smell, hearing, and taste to identify objects like live cockroaches, rats, and even human beings, that are placed in a pitch black room with them. After each nerve-wracking round, the person unable to identify a majority of the items they are exposed to is eliminated. The contestant remaining at the end wins five thousand dollars.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (2):

The series, which has been adapted from highly successful international versions of the show, demonstrates how easily people's imaginations can run wild when they are unable to rely on their sense of sight. But what really makes the show entertaining is being able to watch how tough-talking contestants are overtaken by fear and squeamishness once they find themselves in the dark.

Watching these folks trying to pull themselves together in order to play the game makes for some very funny moments. Some of the challenges, like licking unknown substances out of people's belly buttons and fondling an octopus, might make you a little squeamish, too. But if you can handle it, you will probably find yourself chuckling at some of what you see here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about game shows. What makes a game show extreme? Is it the danger the challenges pose to contestants? The environment in which they have to compete? The prizes they can win? Do you think the reactions of contestants are always real?

  • Why would people want to appear on this show? Is it just for the money? What's the strangest thing you would do for big bucks?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: April 25, 2012
  • Cast: Jaleel White
  • Network: Syfy
  • Genre: Game Shows
  • TV rating: TV-14
  • Last updated: October 14, 2022

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