The Grocery Store as a Gladiator Arena
The 2020 reboot of Supermarket Sweep takes the cozy, slightly beige energy of the 90s original and cranks the volume to eleven. Much of that is thanks to Leslie Jones, who hosts with the kind of frantic enthusiasm usually reserved for winning the lottery. For kids, the appeal is almost entirely in the final 'Big Sweep.' Watching adults sprint through aisles, knocking over displays to find a hidden inflatable 'bonus' item, is peak physical comedy.
A Giant Commercial?
Let's be real: the show is essentially a 42-minute commercial for brand-name groceries. You’re going to see a lot of Tide, Pepsi, and Green Giant. If you're trying to minimize brand-consciousness in your house, this isn't the show for you. However, if you want a low-stakes way to talk about budgeting or how much things actually cost, it’s a surprisingly decent jumping-off point. You can pause the screen and ask your kids to guess the price of items, which is a sneaky way to build some real-world awareness.
Why it's 'Mid'
The reason it sits in the middle of the pack—and earned a 5.6 on IMDb—is the pacing. The trivia rounds can drag, and if you aren't a fan of Leslie Jones's specific brand of high-decibel comedy, the host segments will grate quickly. It’s perfect 'background TV'—the kind of thing you have on while folding laundry or eating a Tuesday night taco dinner. It’s not a 'must-watch' by any stretch, but it’s a safe, reliable option when you just want the TV to wash over you.