Television Review: Keeping Up with the Kardashians
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that some of the antics in this reality
show make
The Osbournes look like
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The Kardashian
brood includes a 20-something with aspirations to pose in
Playboy and a tween who instinctively knows how to work
a stripper pole. Alcohol is a staple of many family gatherings,
and while only those of age are shown imbibing (the tweens just
mix the drinks...), impressionable young eyes aren't
exactly shielded from the hard-partying lifestyle. Plenty of
language, too, though the strongest words (including "f--k")
are bleeped.
Families can talk about the fine line between being a parent
and being a friend. Parents: Is it possible to have fun with
your kids but also be able to step in and discipline them when
necessary? Kids: Do you ever wish your parents were less strict
with you about certain things like bedtimes and curfews? Why do
you think moms and dads set limits for their kids? And do you
think having boundaries is a good thing, or is it just
something parents do to annoy you?
Produced by Ryan Seacrest, KEEPING UP WITH THE KARDASHIANS chronicles the frantic lives of the Kardashian/Jenner clan, a blended family composed of Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner; his wife, Kris; and their mixed brood of spoiled children. The three oldest daughters -- Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim (who's positioned as the star of the show) -- are the daughters of the late Robert Kardashian, the defense attorney who infamously came to O.J. Simpson's aid in the wake of Nicole Simpson's murder.
Just when you thought it might be safe to channel surf, E! unleashed Keeping Up with the Kardashians, yet another mindless reality series about a privileged family clamoring for their 15 minutes of televised fame. As far as families go, the Kardashians are kind of like the Brady Bunch on crack, and viewers may find themselves asking two very important questions: Why do they deserve their own show, and what the heck happened to Jenner? Once a celebrated athlete, here he's essentially reduced to the role of a put-upon father with a freakishly smooth face who appears to have lost control of his family. It's easy to feel sorry for him until you remember that, as a parent, he's part of the problem.
For diehard fans of reality TV, Keeping Up with the Kardashians is a fine way to while away 30 minutes. But it's a terrible show to watch with young children. At best, they'll be exposed to binge drinking, stripper poles, and rampant materialism. At worst, they may start emulating what they see.
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