If you've read my reviews and commentary on reality television show programming, you know I'm a bit obsessed with the concept of humiliation and why people are willing to humiliate themselves before a national audience. And you know that I tend to enjoy programs where humiliation plays a big part. What does that say about me? I don't know, but hey, I know what I like. Imagine my surprise in enjoying a show with basically no humiliation and actual good information—you know, learning stuff while watching the tube. That show is ABC's Supernanny.
Supernanny stars Jo Frost, a professional nanny with over 15 years experience in helping to care for children. She became a big star in her native England, and now she's hit our shores with the American version of her U.K. show.
It's a pretty simple premise: a family in need of some help in taking care of young children request the services of Jo, and she's off to see how she can help the family.
We, and Jo, meet the family, and the first part of the show has Jo observing the family dynamics, which usually involve an exhausted parent caring for young children (and the home) while the other spouse is at a job (although we've met families with parents that work from home).
After observing for a day, Jo meets with the parents and offers her observations. The parents are interviewed prior to their meeting with Jo, and they're usually worried about what she will have to say; but more often than not they have come to some of the same conclusions on their own but haven't found a way to implement the changes needed to bring some control of the family.
Jo arrives the second day with a plan for the family to follow, and she helps set things up and coaches the parents on implementing the plan.
The show offers a wealth of good information for parents—any parent with young children will benefit from just watching and putting Jo's ideas to use.
Finally, Jo checks back on the family to see how things are going and stays to help if the parents are struggling with the new way of doing things.
Jo does more than offer up suggestions for dealing with unruly children—in one episode the family had an autistic child, and Jo brought with her a doctor who specialized in autism, and they all worked hard with the child, and the results were very moving, as they were able to help the child to start verbalizing - a problem with autistic children as they have difficulty communicating. We – the audience - cheered along with the family when the child uttered his first words.
Supernanny is an enjoyable, positive show with an engaging host. Highly recommended to any family with children.
Article comments
1 - Sam Jack
I'm glad that this show isn't as manipulative and awful as the promos, filled with screaming and out of control children, suggest it could be. I was thinking it might be more in the mold of 'Trading Spouses' or something.
-Sam
2 - Bennett
A good review of a valid use of the airwaves. This program should be mandatory for young parents. Society has everything to gain!
Good job, Scott.
3 - Temple Stark
This is an Blogcritics editors' pick of the week. Click HERE to find out why.
Also, NEW this week, we are requesting the honor of your very own "best of the week that was" pick for showing an interest and a dedication in your own writing, and as a second thank you for writing well. I will be e-mailing you separately on this as well, but for a little more info read the top of the link above.
Cheers. - Temple, BC editor / Special Projects Director