What parents need to know
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this fast-paced adventure reality show includes some dangerous situations that kids shouldn't try at home (luckily, they may not want to). The show emphasizes the need for creativity, intelligence, and teamwork to solve problems. While there's no discernable cursing, the team members get angry and tell each other off in stressful moments. The show plays up the teams' most stereotypical characteristics.
What's the story?
In NBC's TREASURE HUNTERS, 10 competing teams of three criss-cross the globe solving complicated puzzles that lead them to their next clue in their search for a hidden treasure. The teams are made up of individuals with shared backgrounds/something in common. For example, one team is made up of former CIA employees, another is a trio of brothers, there's a "Miss USA" team, three "geniuses," and a mother, father and daughter that make up the ultracompetitive "Fogal Family." During each Da Vinci Code-esque episode hosted by the rather robotic Laird MacIntosh (The Bold and The Beautiful), the teams work hard to both solve the puzzle (which might entail translating Morse Code, unscrambling a cryptic message, or deciphering an ancient map) and make sure they're not the last team to do so; if they are, they're eliminated.
Is it any good?
Parents might object to the stereotypical way in which some of the teams are portrayed. For example, the geniuses' geeky sides are played up, while the three Miss USAs are shown using their feminine wiles to get the other players to help them with problem solving. That said, thanks to beautiful cinematography, interesting characters, and non-stop suspense, Treasure Hunters is an entertaining hour of TV.
Families can talk about...
Families can talk about the importance of goals and following through on a commitment. Why is hard work worth the effort? Why is being a good team player important? Families can also discuss the challenges and situations in each episode. How would you have solved the problem? Is this a reality show you'd be interested in participating in? Why or why not?