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Desperate Housewives

(Rated TV-PG, Drama, Starring Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Where to watch: ABC, DVD, Online, Cell phone)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Desperately addictive, but majorly mature.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Wisteria Lane's ladies wield power in pretty traditional ways, for a soap opera -- manipulation, sex appeal, deceiving people they care about, etc. Most of the characters are Caucasian, though Gabrielle and Carlos are Latino, and season two featured an African-American family.
  • Violence:

    Suicide, murder, hit-and-run. One teen character held a gun on his father and threatened to shoot another character.
  • Sex:

    Plenty of skimpy outfits and making out/foreplay; several scenes in which lovemaking is implied (but no sensitive body parts shown). One of the housewives was involved in an affair with a teenager. Others have also strayed or been tempted to. Some teen sex.
  • Language:

    Mostly mild ("damn," "hell"), with the occasional "ass" or "bitch."
  • Consumerism:

    Product placements from Buick, KFC, Halston, etc.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some teen drinking and drug use. A protagonist was addicted to her kids' medication. The ladies frequently get together for wine and/or margaritas.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Desperate Housewives

Parents need to know that this show's focus on adult characters and situations makes it age inappropriate for your kids and teens. Characters (adults and teens alike) have had affairs, covered up crimes, been addicted to drugs and alcohol, lied, and manipulated other characters in just about every imaginable way. Many of the storylines are presented in a tongue-in-cheek way, but young viewers may not be able to differentiate between parody and drama.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the "desperate" housewives themselves: Are they good or bad role models for women? How are they stereotypical -- and how do they defy those stereotypes? How do they get power in their lives? What do they get from each other? The teen characters on the show -- who have been shown drinking, doing drugs, having sex with adults, and lying to parents -- also warrant some discussion. Is their behavior realistic? How should their parents respond when they catch them in the act?

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Our Members Say

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See all 36 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    It Really is "Desperately" Addictive

    I love this show. Some characters aren't model people, but Lynette is a very good mother and cares deeply for her children, as do the other housewives.

  2. I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    Anyone over 10

    I think its great. My 11 year old loves to watch it with me.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 5.0

    Great show!

    I suppose some of the content is iffy, but its a highly addictive interesting show overall. The child just has to understand that this is all just drama, not a way of life.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    This is THE best show you will EVER watch !!!!!!!!!!

    Desperate Housewives is simply the BEST show ever !!! It really does have every sort of drama you can think of .... a tornado, a hostage situation, gun shots, murder, affairs, EVERYTHING !! You should HONESTLY watch it .. you will NOT be disappointed !!

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0

    I have been watching this show since I was 11. Four years later I can honestly say it has had no negative impact on me whatsoever. I highley recommend it to anyone is is mature enough to follow the storlyline.

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