Parents' Guide to

America's Got Talent

By Lucy Maher, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Fun-filled, family-friendly reality show.

TV NBC Reality TV 2006
America's Got Talent Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 40 parent reviews

Ava C.
Ava C. Parent of 7-year-old
July 24, 2022
age 7+

AMAZING TV SHOW!!

The best TV show ever! My kids loved this show. The only thing is that they let some stupid acts advance. That gives them a bad representation.
Ava C.
Ava C. Parent of 6 and 9-year-old
July 23, 2022
age 6+

AMAZING

SO AMAZING! The best TV show I have seen by far. The only thing is, they let some stupid, horrible acts advance. That kinda gives them a bad representation.
See all 40 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In NBC's reality competition series AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, aspiring performers duke it out on stage before three celebrity judges who will decide if they get to go on to the next round to compete for the chance to win $1 million. Performers attempt to impress by dancing, singing, playing instruments, and other creative performances. If the judges don't like what they see, they can hit an \"X\" button in front of them -- and once performers have racked up three Xs they're sent packing. But if they impress, they graduate to the next round. Throughout it all, the judges offer their criticism, and explain why they believe the contestant has/doesn't have the star quality they are looking for.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (40 ):
Kids say (58 ):

Sound familiar? It should. That's because the show is an almost exact replica of Fox's American Idol -- no surprise, since it's produced by original Idol judge Simon Cowell, who over the years has lined up celebrity judges like David Hasselhoff, Howie Mandel, Sharon Osborne and even a surprisingly gentle Howard Stern to "yea" or "nay" each act's performance. Though the show plays out on a glitzy stage with sophisticated lighting, thanks to the wide variety (and quality) of the acts it often feels like a high-school talent show. But it has also evolved into a venue that allows for truly creative, inspirational performers that don't fit into conventional entertainment venues to shine.

It showcases lots of talent, but early elimination rounds sometimes feature acts that border on the ridiculous. But the judges treat everyone equally in their criticism, and everyone -- from the contestants to the audience to the judges (who, for the most part, are friendlier than those on Idol) -- seems to enjoy themselves. It's great fun for the family to enjoy together.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes each of us uniquely talented. What would your kids' talent be if they were on the show? Why is it important to cultivate something we're good at?

  • Although no one wants to be a quitter, are there times when something isn't worth pursuing? How can you tell when that is?

  • Why do you think some contestants use their sexuality to appeal to judges and viewers?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate