TV Review: Reality Bites Back
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that even though this reality show
spoof is aimed at adults (albeit young ones), teens will
probably want to watch. But it's a pretty iffy choice. The
sexual content, in particular, is quite crude. In one
challenge, for example, contestants are sent into a blackened
room to seduce an unknown person ... who turns out to be one of
their parents. Before they find out who they're actually
talking to, the contestants say things like "I just want to
kiss you between the legs … you're so sexy." Talk about
awkward! Strong language flies freely, too, although words like
"f--k" and "s--t" are bleeped.
Families can talk about whether this over-the-top spoof adds something new to an already saturated reality TV market or merely makes things worse. Does the show make fun of any of your favorite reality programs? Which ones? Did watching these parodies make you feel any differently about shows you already enjoy? Do you think the show is trying to make a particular point?
Common Sense Media Review
In REALITY BITES BACK, host Michael Ian Black (an
actor-comedian famous for his quips on VH1's
I Love the ... series and NBC's
Ed) herds a group of 10 unknown comics through an
elimination-style boot camp of eight reality show parodies. As
part of the process, they're crowded into a house
Big Brother
-style, asked to perform extreme athletic stunts a la
American Gladiators
, and even made to drive around in a van that advertises
"Free Cigarettes for Kids!" in a send-up of
The Amazing Race
. At the end of each episode, someone gets sent home; by
the end of the series, someone else gets some cash -- and the
dubious honor of being the best at enduring endless
humiliation.
Black's deadpan humor is a great fit for this gig, and it's especially funny when he conducts exit interviews with each contestant, complete with dramatic lighting and emotional music. The idea of using real comedians as the participants is also a plus; not only does it add an element of absurdity to the proceedings, but it also ensures that the "confessional"-style interview clips are going to be quote-worthy. Like this gem: "I just want to clear up that I don't just go around abusing marijuana. I drink a lot, too." Or this one: "When the lights came on and there was my dad, that boner went away pretty quick."
Obviously, this isn't kid-friendly programming, and you have to wonder how long the joke can drag on. But in an atmosphere of ever-skewed "reality," Reality Bites Back may be a welcome change for weary viewers. While it's true that the show is ridiculous, is it any more ridiculous than most of the "legitimate" reality show competitions out there?
For more spoofy TV, try MXC and Celebrity Death Match .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
