Baby talk

Just watched Bet On Your Baby, and there's a problem. The natural temptation with a show like this is to be a smart-aleck and say something like, I want to frow up. After all, a heaping dose of cynicism is required of TV critics, because so much of TV is cynical exploitation of our worst instincts.

Well, I didn't frow up, even if the show did everything to make the toddlers - not really babies - as winsomely attractive as possible to audiences (and advertisers). It's just a cute little stunt show, where one parent bets on how well the other parent will coax their toddler to do some stupid human trick, like spinning around seven times. Yes, it's brainless and over-sugared. But it's not gut-wrenchingly awful.

The show's host Melissa Peterman keeps things sweet, which is her job, after all. She gets along well with the kids, or at least the footage is edited to make it look like she gets along well with them. The parents coo and cheer for their toddlers, as parents should. No, the show isn't Jeopardy. It's not even Minute To Win It. But it's harmless frivolity.

UPDATE: The show got mediocre ratings at best for its premiere: 2.3 million viewers and a 0.6 18-49 rating. Pretty weak even for Saturday night.