Common Sense Media Review
By Will Wade , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 17+
Raunchy, unoriginal comedy mixes football, drinking, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a lot
Several scenes show people drinking excessively at wild college parties; some characters also take drugs, including cocaine and pot.
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Language
a lot
Nearly every scene features swearing, including "s--t," "d-ck," "p---y," "bitch," "tits," and more.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
Extremely racy. Guys talk graphically about having sex, and many scenes suggest people engaged in masturbation, threesomes, casual sex, and more. There's some partial nudity (bare buttocks, topless women seen from behind, etc.), several scenes with girls in their underwear, and some scenes showing people entwined; though no genitalia is visible, the images are quite suggestive. Sex is treated as casual recreation. One key character has a long-term girlfriend who takes delight in denying him sex; he's derided for sticking with her instead of breaking up to pursue football groupies. Some hazing scenes feature naked men, in the shower room or in jockstraps, with their backsides clearly visible.
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Violence & Scariness
a little
There are some heavy-duty hits on the football field -- and a few scenes feature hazing, intimidation, and trash-talking -- but there's little actual fighting.
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Positive Messages
very little
The series glorifies the joys of a lifestyle centered around drinking and partying. One character explains that his goal is "to get drunk and laid as often as possible."
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Positive Role Models
very little
The show focuses on the antics of football players at a college that treats them like gods who can get away with almost anything. They view women as playthings, studying is optional, partying and football are the only things that matter, and their coach makes it clear that losing isn't an option.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this raunchy comedy about a college football team follows the Animal House model, in which the "educational experience" seems to center on getting drunk and having sex. The athletes at the center of the series can do no wrong; they trade on their celebrity to engage in casual sex and spend most of their time partying instead of studying. Expect plenty of sex, drinking, drugs, and swearing (including "s--t"). Teens may find the show entertaining, but they won't get anything positive out of watching, and they'll almost certainly take away the wrong idea about university life.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Blue Mountain State
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents say (4)
- Kids say (5)
age 15+
Based on 4 parent reviews
EliteMovieCritic Adult
April 13, 2020
age 18+
Extreme late night comedy filth
Depending on the maturity of the adult this show won’t be watched at all! Any self respecting human alive won’t watch this grotesque raunchy, filth including, but not limited to nudity, trashy sex talk, and sick unhealthy lifestyles. It’s a tragic waste of time for anyone to view This is inexcusable depravity!!
Laura20 Adult
March 6, 2019
age 13+
If you think your child is matured enough, then yeah
Depending of the maturity of the kid. This show is good for people in their teen years!
See all 4 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Being a top football player at BLUE MOUNTAIN STATE must be great fun. You never need to go to class, there's always a raging party, and women are constantly throwing themselves at you. At least that's the way it seems in this raunchy comedy that focuses on incoming backup quarterback Alex (Darin Brooks), top-rated freshman sensation Craig (Sam Jones), and Thad (Alan Ritchson), the team captain who lives to haze the team's newbies. Alex's educational goal is to get drunk and have sex as often as possible. Craig is a bit more focused on his gridiron career, mainly because of his controlling girlfriend, who's planned out their entire future together and looks down on any off-field activities that might distract him – especially parties and scantily clad football groupies.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (5):
The problem with trying to follow the Animal House model is that it's hard to be original. Raging parties? Check. Sex? Oh, yes. Madcap drunken antics? Definitely. Monomaniacal coach? Yep, seen that before, too. Sure, these ingredients are good fodder for humor, but we've seen it all so many times before that alone, they no longer make for laughs.
Blue Mountain State is crude and juvenile, but that isn't always a bad thing (The Hangover, anyone?). The show's biggest problem is that it's just so derivative. The lack of honest laughs is a direct result of a script that lacks originality.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about college. How does the university lifestyle here compare to other movies and TV shows? Does it seem realistic? Would you want to go to a school were football and parties are more important than classes?
What are the real-life consequences of behavior like that showcased in this series, including drinking and casual sex?
Do you think star athletes at big sports schools are really treated like celebrities? How do you think that affects the way they learn to view the world? Do they end up with a sense of entitlement?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 11, 2010
- Cast: Alan Ritchson, Sam Jones III
- Network: Spike
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: December 24, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
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Blue Mountain State
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