Parents need to know that, on the upside, this series has black and white characters interacting regularly as friends and family, and characters are often ribbed across color lines. But characters are also (less-successfully) mocked across gender-role lines, with many jokes based on traditional stereotypes: Ridicule is heaped on men who are gentle or affectionate, women who are anything other than sexy, and anyone who doesn't fit neat models of "attractive" perfection.

Families can talk about why so few TV shows and movies have truly interracial casts. How accurate is Hollywood's reflection of real life, both in terms of race and gender roles? Also, when and how is it okay to make jokes about ethnicity, gender roles, and similar topics? What makes a joke offensive? How do you know you've gone too far? Why do you feel OK about making a joke around certain people, and not around others?