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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this dull legal drama deals with violent crimes like rape, torture, and robbery, though the action is rarely graphic. The premise of the show is that danger lurks even in the safest-looking places -- not the most reassuring message for youngsters. On the plus side, the lead characters are both strong women in powerful positions, and the cast is generally multicultural.

Families can talk about appearance versus reality. Are the suburbs really safer than cities? What can make a place feel safe or dangerous? Parents can reassure kids that the show's criminal scenarios are written to be as dramatic as possible and are not necessarily realistic or common.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Sierra Filucci

The idea behind CLOSE TO HOME is an intriguing one. Take the cop-lawyer drama out of the city, where we all know big bad things happen, and move it into the picture-perfect suburbs. Then put a pretty, first-time mom (Jennifer Finnigan as lawyer Annabeth Chase) fresh from maternity leave into the lead prosecutor role and watch her protect her hearth and home from the creeping ugliness of abuse, arson, rape, burglary, and more.

Sadly, the premise doesn't reward the viewer with any real psychological or emotional payoff. The plots rely too heavily on well-worn territory that other shows, like Law & Order and CSI do with much more thrill. The actors are fine, especially Kimberly Elise, who plays Maureen Dobie, Annabeth's coworker and sometimes rival. But they're never given the space to dig in and show their stuff.

For example, one episode begins with a jewelry store robbery and ends up investigating an escape convict's possible abduction of a prison librarian. The librarian shows signs of Stockholm Syndrome, a la Patty Hearst, and might be pregnant with her abductor's child. It's all very racy stuff, but, sadly, it falls flat, and audiences can see the plot twist coming a mile ahead.

Close to Home's topics can tread into disturbing territory for young viewers. In the episode mentioned above, the mother suffering from Stockholm Syndrome rejects her preteen daughter upon their reunion. Another episode features kids who have been severely abused by a parent. And even if younger viewers can tolerate the sometimes-creepy storylines, they may still be bored by the lack of real drama.

If teens are interested in Close to Home, they might like Law & Order: Criminal Intent or The Practice even better.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content Adultery is discussed, but not shown.
Violence Only some minor violence is shown, but plenty is discussed (including rape).
Language Not common, but "bitch" and other mild curse words do pop up.
Message
	Social Behavior The main characters are upstanding citizens fighting on the side of the good guys. The lead character is a working mom.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco An occasional plotline is based on drug addiction or a drug-related crime.

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