Parents' Guide to

Wake Up Call

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

The Rock gives tough love, second chances; rough vocab.

TV TNT Reality TV 2014
Wake Up Call Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Wake Up Call screenshot 1
  • Wake Up Call screenshot 2
  • Wake Up Call screenshot 3

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What's the Story?

WAKE UP CALL is a reality series starring Dwayne Johnson as he mentors people who are down on their luck to help them turn their lives around. It features people of all ages who have faced difficult circumstances and made some poor choices throughout their lives, including dropping out of high school, overeating, and doing drugs. Johnson offers them a chance to turn their lives around, but it's up to each person to work hard, confront individual fears, and be accountable for his or her actions.

Is It Any Good?

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

The reality series centers on Johnson, who uses his own troubled past as a context for helping people turn their lives around and who uses both sensitivity and tough love to get his points across. Appearances by personalities such as Jillian Michaels also are meant both to push and inspire.

It's a little rough around the edges, but the messages it sends about holding ourselves accountable for the choices we make are both honest and worth paying attention to. Working hard and not giving up also are positive themes. Dwayne Johnson fans will like it, but everyone can benefit from some of the lessons offered here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about reality shows. Can reality series such as this really inspire people to change? Or are they designed only to entertain? What happens to folks featured on these types of shows when the cameras stop rolling?

  • Why would anyone agree to be on a reality show? What are the pros and cons of being on television?

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.

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