I love reality shows that I can watch with my kids. Not all reality shows are appropriate. My standards are that they are clean (no Real World, please), don’t have to do with finding your true love in a completely contrived setting (puh-leez), must involve some sort of talent or brains (that leaves out Fear Factor) and boob implants are not required (that also leaves out Fear Factor).
We don’t watch very much television as a family, and when we do, I love that these shows provoke discussion. Here are a few of our favorites that you might want to try watching with your family.
Survivor
We often talk about a challenge or a strategy over the dinner table or in the car. The conversation usually focuses on whether a contestant has made a rational decision or one based on emotion. We also talk about whether it’s OK to be dishonest because of the game or if honesty is always the best policy. And it’s just plain fun to try and guess who’s going to be the sole survivor. In previous seasons, we’ve cast secret votes when it’s down to the final four. If anyone chooses correctly, they get a prize.
Project Runway
I was surprised that this show appeals to my boys and my husband as well as to me and my daughters. The guys didn’t think they wanted to watch it, but got drawn in by the competition. We like this show because the talent is amazing. Each contestant has to design and make a gown in an incredibly short amount of time and then are judged on the creations. We’ve had great discussions about creativity, character and hard work from watching this show.
American Idol
A little cheesy, but you have to hand it to America’s greatest talent show for eliciting strong opinions. I was pleasantly surprised that my son thought the hottest chick should be voted out because her vocals weren’t as good as the other girls’. This is one show where I believe real talent wins out over superficial qualities, and I like my kids to see that.
The Apprentice
Nothing provokes a good reality-TV discussion like the aftermath of an Apprentice challenge. We have talked about why a task failed for lack of teamwork or a weak leader, and how sometimes when it seems you’ve done everything right, another person or team does even better. Being a gracious or ungracious loser and playing nice or not with others and the subsequent consequences are all on display here.