Dancing With The Stars - Parental Concerns

(Stick around for a video of kiddo at the end of this post.)

I don't usually comment on TV shows and other pop culture stuff on my blog, but I do want to say something about this season of Dancing With the Stars. WHAT WERE THE PRODUCERS THINKING?!?!?!

The show is billed as "family friendly" so I assume that I'm not the only one who watches this with my kiddo. We usually record it then watch it together the following day. This was the first time that I've been concerned about the content of the show - big time.

Here are my three issues - and they all have to do with the "stars" ...

1. Lil Kim - She's a rapper who has been in jail. Ok, that's not really all that bad - lots of famous people have been in jail. But maybe, since this IS a family show, she could say something about how jail made her a better person, helped her turn her life around, etc. (I don't know if any of this is true, but I'm sure she could find SOMETHING to say) ... rather than giving a "shout out" to all "her girls" in the state penitentiary!
   Kiddo's reaction: "Mom, she was in JAIL?!"
   Me: "Yes baby, she did something wrong and she had to go to jail for it." Oh how I would have loved to follow this up with a positive statement, but I couldn't.
   
   
2. Steve-O - He's from the tv show Jackass. I know I'm a prude compared to most other people but I seriously do not ever use cuss words. I've been known to say "damn" and "hell" but that is the worst thing that comes out of my mouth. So it has always bothered me that there is a tv show with the name Jackass. That's not a word I want kiddo (he's 7!) familiar with for now. But it is sort of impossible to avoid when we're watching a show like this.
   Kiddo's reaction: There was none - he happened to be in the bathroom when Steve-O was introduced so I was able to fast forward a bit.
   Me: I AM happy with Steve-O's statements though. He talked about how he was abusing drugs and alcohol for a long time but that he's been clean and sober for 1.5 years and he's doing the show to prove he can still do crazy things even sober. That is the kind of positive statement I was hoping for from Lil Kim.
   
   
3. Holly Madison - She's been in Playboy Magazine - that is her main claim to fame.
   Kiddo's reaction: "Ooh, I want to vote for her. She's been in a magazine!"
   Me: "Baby, that's not really that great of a thing. See, she's only telling you she's been in a magazine because that is the main reason she's famous. All the other stars are so famous that they've been in tons of magazines, so they don't think it is that important to tell you about it."
   Kiddo: "Oh, well, ok, but I still want to vote for her."
   Me: So what exactly am I supposed to say to that people?! I am NOT going to explain to my 7 yr old that she's famous for being NAKED in a magazine.
   

So producers - WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!

And to my readers - am I way off base here, expecting too much from a tv show?

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I've talked before about how much kiddo loves music but I don't think I've mentioned his dancing skills. He asked me several months ago if he could take Irish Step Dance lessons. He knew he'd be one of the only boys in the program but he really wanted to do it anyway. He's been taking lessons now for just over 2 months and he loves it. His first recital was on March 1. Below is a short video of his dance - he's on the far right in the black pants. And remember, he's just a beginner!

I'm quite proud of him, needless to say.

And this is one of the main reasons we watch Dancing With the Stars together - because kiddo LIKES to dance.

Oh, and just in case you are concerned that dancing is "too girly" for kiddo (yes, we've been told that several times) I promise to post another video soon that shows him playing ice hockey.