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Parents' Guide to

What Happens at the Abbey

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Iconic bar gets reality treatment; lots of booze and sex.

TV E! Reality TV 2017
What Happens at the Abbey 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?

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE ABBEY is a reality series about the staff at West Hollywood's legendary gay bar and nightclub. When founder and CEO David Cooley opened The Abbey in 1991, it was intended to create a safe space for the gay community that welcomed others. Now his establishment enjoys the patronage from people from all walks of life, including celebs ranging from Caitlyn Jenner to Tori Spelling and Dita Von Teese. The staff, which includes folks like management trainer Chelsea Jeffers, VIP Hosts Brandi Andrews and Lawrence Carroll, bartender Kyle Clarke, and servers like model Daniel Eide and Long Island transplant Marissa Chykirda, know that working at The Abbey is not only prestigious and lucrative, but a great place to be discovered. They love their jobs, but thanks to their personal lives, there's a lot of drama behind the scenes.

Is It Any Good?

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

This unscripted series showcases the colorful and energetic world the iconic nightclub is known for, but it ends up following the standard reality show format. It underscores the importance of the culture from which it comes from, but also highlights the reasons why The Abbey has diversified its clientele. However, most of these themes are overshadowed by the cast and the drama it creates thanks to its hedonistic and narcissistic behavior.

From taking clothing optional yoga classes, to chronicling the efforts of a gay man and lesbian woman are making to have a baby, What Happens At The Abbey doesn't lack for storylines. But trying to keep tabs on the all the sexual entanglements and gossipy conversations between cast members takes some effort. If you are a fan of catty of reality fare, it won't disappoint.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the reasons why people create "safe spaces" for members of certain groups to come together. Given that people's attitudes are changing about the LGBTQ communities, is it still important to create spaces that are exclusively for them?

  • Why do many reality tv series feature behaviors like getting drunk and hyper sexual behavior? Does this make shows like What Happens At The Abbey more entertaining?

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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