Parental Control

This is the kind of show that you would probably never deliberately choose to watch. I happen to see a string of episodes because the TV channel was already on MTV and it was on in the background ... and I got drawn in.

The show is formulaic (with portions obviously scripted), simplistic and revenge-based: you kind of want to see a rude and egotistical teenager get some payback (but it doesn't always go that way).

The setup which uses real kids, their parents and prospective dates works. The caustic dialog (again, obviously scripted) is just so nuts that it's actually interesting to hear it coming from their mouths.

Here's the setup: A teenager's parents are fed up with their kid's current boyfriend/girlfriend so they select two new prospects and send them on dates. Then the fireworks start: the parents and the current boyfriend/girlfriend sit together and watch the dates on video. They make very insulting remarks to each other as things happen. At the end, the kid has the final say: continue as before, or start dating one of the new people.

The bitterly outrageous dialog between the parents and the current boyfriend/girlfriend is the core of the show. The dates themselves are always shown to be blandly upbeat. They are a bit bizarre though, so they are probably ones thought up by the show's producers (like playing soccer with leaf-blowers - who would think of that?).

Even though I rate it a "6", this is probably not a show that you would look forward to watching (or would plan to watch) - it's just one that can hook you in if you happen to randomly start watching it. It's amusing, if you can appreciate a bit of sick fun.

This show was obviously so fake because the dates they go on aren't actually real... it's definitely set up...

This show is almost as obviously fake as survivor. I've seen a few episodes and it's totally unrealistic. The interviews always have the few gentleman, and then the stupid ones that don't have a chance in hell(i.e. One of them asks if the daughter is a virgin). The guys that are chosen, take them on dates that can't be expected as "the usual" on pretty much any guy, let alone teenagers(bungee jumping?). As for the boyfriend, he's always an obnoxious idiot that makes you wonder what anyone would see in them as either friend or significant other. The whole concept is pretty stupid, and I'm not saying that because I'm of the male persuasion. I'd say this show is okay if you want to check it out, but I seriously doubt you'll want to dedicate yourself to it.

It looks fake. Nevertheless, it was fake crap done right.

I had fun watching it because it was so corny which made it funny.

It had this chilled, trying to be cool vibe. MTV aka viacom knew how to entertain me back in the day.

Verdict: Not for everyone but hey it will still make you laugh.

This, my friends, is why I almost always hate reality TV.

Basically, the premise of Parental Control is that there is a young man/woman who has a girlfriend/boyfriend that his/her parents are unhappy with. So the each parent chooses from a large number of applicants the "girl/guy of their son's daughter's dreams" and sets them up on a blind date.

This show is absolutely ridiculous. I just saw an episode with a guy named Julius who had a girlfriend who... well, let's just say that he must have been crazy to start going with her in the first place. She spent the entire episode knocking Julius's parents and dates and acting completely crazy.

And the parent's dating choices? *sigh* Julius's mother chose a girl who tried to woo Julius by taking him to the Universal Studios backlot. The father's choice was a girl who claimed she "has goals" and "respects herself"... but she was a pole-dancer! And the mother seemed okay with her husband's choice of a pole-dancer, which I find very hard to believe.

Do not watch this show, and maybe it'll go off the air for good.