- Content: “Good Southern Charm in a Pursuit of Average”
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What You Need To Know:
The first three episodes of Season One of THE GREATEST AVERAGE AMERICAN present a strong moral worldview and offers wholesome, unproblematic content that avoids controversial subjects with ease. This formulaic show mirrors FAMILY FEUD with a JEOPARDY style contestant set-up based on survey questions, audience answers, and guesses about the host’s performance. The show delivers wholesome fun, southern appeal, Biblical references and clean jokes. MOVIEGUIDE® advises media wisdom for young children for minor questionable elements.
Content:
A strong moral and Biblical worldview highlights wholesome, moral principles and avoids controversial or questionable subjects to appeal to a wide, average American audience. Comedians deliver humor; the content remains consistently wholesome, and the relatable contestants appeal to a wide-ranging audience. Questions stay innocuous and innocent, often silly, drawing from basic trivia, simple knowledge, or opinions on American life. The show avoids morally divisive or ethically questionable subjects while entertaining families. There is no mention of religion. One question references Jonah as a biblical character, asking about a hypothetical scenario about being swallowed by a whale. The host jokes that the bible is a big book. The show combines wholesome American patriotism with lighthearted celebration of mediocrity in good fun;
One use of “OMG”;
No violence;
A lighthearted joke about “intimate” food tasting while a host is blindfolded; arguably not sexual in nature;
No nudity;
No alcohol use;
No smoking or drug abuse; and,
No other miscellaneous immorality.
More Detail:
Each episode follows two formulaic parts. Comedian host, Nate Bargatze, announcer, Greg Warren, and Julian McCullough open the show. Three average Americans from around the country step forward to compete. The group shares light banter and jokes. Two initial elimination rounds narrow the field, and one contestant exits the game. Survey questions are drawn from surveys of 100 average Americans drive early rounds.
The second elimination round: the contestants must guess Bargatze’s performance as the self-proclaimed original “average” American. He attempts to complete specific tasks. The final contestant wins $10,000 and advances to the Bonus Round to win the average American’s salary of $67,920. This round uses seven survey questions from the live audience. The producers cover the taxes for the grand prize. Winning the final round also earns the audience a small, sponsored prize.
Episode 1.1 “At Least This Is Not on TV”, Part One: The show introduces Melanie, a middle school secretary from Florida; Melanie; Ana, a senior at Perdue University; and Jeremy, a policy director who plays the flute. One question asks: “If you knew you would make it through with no major injuries – which would make the best story?” A) struck by lightning B) swallowed by a whale C) sucked into a tornado D) over falls in a barrel. Nate compares the whale answer to Jonah in the Bible. He makes a lighthearted joke that the Bible is a pretty big book. He argues the answer could eliminate the contestant because they would share the spotlight with Jonah.
Nate attempts to make as many basketball free throws as possible in 60 seconds. In the final round, the audience can win Applebee’s gift cards.
Episode 1.1, Part Two: Nate continues the pursuit of average and introduces the contestants: an Army veteran and Dad of three; Michael; a candlemaker from NY, Bianca; and Manny, a realtor and ironman enthusiast from Arizona. The first question asks which magazine offers the best feature cover. Glenn jokes about the cover of AARP magazine. Julian jokes that the most popular magazine is not on the list: Costco Connection.
One elimination question asks what percentage of average Americans believe psychics have supernatural powers? In the bonus round, the audience can win a package of Red Vines.
Episode 1.2 “Beefcakes!”, Part One: Contestants include Darren from Mississippi, Arjune; self-proclaimed king of Halloween and father of three; and Sade, and recent college graduate from Florida. Questions cover topics such as whether cereal counts as soup and which Disney princess ranks as the best. Bargatze must guess celebrities named “People” Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive. The final contestant hopes to win the prize money for her single mother.
Episode 1.2, Part Two: Contestants include Yoland a nanny from New York: Laura, a cowboy hat designer from Austin, TX: Jospeh, an army reserve from Colorado. Joseph shares that he performs “below average” in games like Call of Duty despite his training. He defends a questionable answer about a blind date not being “hot” enough. Bargatze jokes, asking if Joseph feels “stupid,” then races to name as many snacks or candy as possible in 90 seconds. Julian jumps in, suggesting that feeding Bargatze might help and jokes that the idea feels intimate.
In the final round, the audience may win a Crunch Fitness membership. Bargatze jokes that people in Nashville invented the phrase “bless you” after a sneeze.
Episode 1.3 “I Am Definitely NOT a Game Show Host”, Part One: Contestants include Courtney, a new mom and University of Tennessee superfan; Mark, a steelworker from Indiana: and Brendan from Connecticut. Bargatze must name as many NFL teams as he can in 60 seconds. The final contestant shares plans to use winnings for childcare.
Episode 1.3, Part Two: Contestants include Christen, a 7th grade math teacher from Mississippi, Christen; a retired mail carrier from NYC; and Kelsie, a ghost tour guide from New Hampshire. Questions address scenarios such as meeting a Martian and identifying Roman numerals. Bargatze answers school questions for each grade level. The final contestant plans to use the winnings to travel.
The first three episodes of Season One of THE GREATEST AVERAGE AMERICAN present a strong moral worldview and offers wholesome, unproblematic content that avoids controversial subjects with ease. This formulaic show mirrors FAMILY FEUD with a JEOPARDY style contestant set-up based on survey questions, audience answers, and guesses about the host’s performance. The show delivers clean fun with southern appeal. MOVIEGUIDE® advises media wisdom for young children for minor questionable elements.
