TV Review: MADE
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that there's occasional minor profanity
or some bleeped words. Crushes are discussed, but there's no
sexual content. Kids are sometimes teased, but it's made clear
that this sort of behavior isn't acceptable.
Families who watch can talk about whether or not it's realistic for a teen to learn a new skill in a month's time. Would these kids be able to achieve their dreams without their life coaches? They could also talk about how the teens are initially treated, and then how they're treated after their goal is achieved. How does confidence and self-esteem play a role here?
Common Sense Media Review
Whether or not you and your kids are fans of reality
television, if you enjoy a good success story, you'll get
something out of MADE. The premise is that an ordinary high
school student who has a dream or goal such as "I want to be a
pageant queen" or "I want to be a standup comedian," is chosen
by MTV, assigned a life coach to help him or her learn the new
trade, and given a little over a month to achieve it. At the
end of the allotted time period, a "coming out" is held where
the young man or woman tests out his or her newfound skills in
front of an audience of peers, almost always with great
success.
MADE is an excellent program for tweens and teens. For middle school kids, it offers a realistic view of what life in high school could be like for all different types of students, both popular and not. And all kids will get the message that if you want to reach a goal, you must work hard for it -- the show doesn't gloss over the sacrifices one must make in order to achieve success.
A departure from most reality television programs, MADE is narrated by the goal-setter, and is presented as if you're watching his or her video journal. Despite this difference, the show is very formulaic like most reality shows: the goal is laid out, a life coach is introduced, and the goal-setter goes through up and downs, and finally there is a "MADE Moment" where the student performs to applause, compliments, and, ultimately, success. Knowing that every time you watch you'll get a happy ending makes MADE a feel-good show with just enough tension to keep you engaged the entire hour. Who knows -- maybe it will inspire your kids to set a goal and go after it.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
