Toya: A Family Affair
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this reality show spin-off features a troubled family trying to come together and heal after years of dealing with drug addiction, violence, and other problems. Major themes also include dealing with an unexpected pregnancy and serving prison time. It also contains lots of bleeped curse words. Despite all of this, the series offers some very positive messages about making positive choices and the importance of family.
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What's the Story?
TOYA: A FAMILY AFFAIR, a spinoff of the popular BET unscripted series Tiny and Toya, features Antonia "Toya" Carter as she attempts to bring her family closer together while her mother undergoes drug rehabilitation. The reality celeb returns to her native New Orleans with her 11-year-old daughter Reginae in order to be closer to mom Anita Johnson, and strengthen her relationship with her adult brothers, Walter, Josh, Casey, and Rudy. As she tries to mentor her brothers so that they will stay out of trouble and make better personal choices, she also faces her own personal and professional challenges.
Is It Any Good?
The reality docuseries offers a voyeuristic look into the lives of a family that is struggling to overcome a history of addiction and violence in order to pull together and support each other. While they face some very serious challenges, including coping with a drug-addicted parent and overcoming a criminal past, there appears to be a genuine attempt at making constructive choices and leading more productive lives.
It is definitely edgy, and contains lots of difficult moments that make you question whether some members of this family will actually live up to their potential. But Toya’s hopeful optimism is inspiring, and makes you really want to see her mother and her siblings turn their lives around.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the issues discussed in this series. In what ways can one person’s drug addiction impact an entire family? What about an unexpected pregnancy? A criminal act? How does the media portray the consequences of these actions vs. what they can potentially be in real life?
Do you think members of Toya’s family are genuinely trying to change their lives, or is it for the sake of reality TV? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 19, 2011
- Cast: Anita Johnson, Antonia Carter, Reginae Carter
- Network: BET
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 25, 2022
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