Television Review: Meet the Barkers

By Jill Hipps

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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that that from the outside, the Barkers are not a cookie-cutter, conventional family. MTV shows us, however, that they're a loving couple, dedicated to their children and each other. There are references to sex, some mild profanity, and occasional use of alcohol, cigarettes, and pot, but the show is rather tame by MTV standards.

Families can talk about how the show attempts to shatter stereotypes. Does it succeed? Why is it supposed to be shocking that a man covered in tattoos can be a good father? What makes Shanna and Travis good/bad parents? Is their lifestyle realistic?

Now in its second season, MEET THE BARKERS is the rockstar version of MTV's famed Newlyweds and attempts to take over for pop's once super-couple Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. Travis Barker (drummer of Blink 182 turned fashion designer and car enthusiast), and wife Shanna Moakler (Miss USA 1995, Playboy model, and working actress) have a son together, a daughter on the way, and a daughter from Moakler's previous relationship. The half-hour reality show is centered on how "normal" the home life of these two seemingly eccentric characters is.

While the shattering of stereotypes is the point of the show, its editors actually do too good of a job of proving that the "model" and the "rockstar" are actually just normal -- they're downright dull. Mundane activities make up most of the episodes; Travis tours with his band and Shanna fears he's partying -- until we see Travis sitting on a curb, staring blankly at his bandmate in the middle of the afternoon. Shanna goes to the doctor for baby updates, and is often shown lying around in bed. Their young kids are often seen in the background, but aren't usually the focus of the episodes.

As slow as the show can seem, it's worth noting that Meet the Barkers is fairly harmless compared to much of what airs on MTV and shows kids that being a celebrity isn't as glamorous as it seems. At a time when society is obsessed with famous people, this isn't a bad message for teens to absorb.