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Frank TV

(Rated TV-14, Comedy, Starring Frank Caliendo, Where to watch: TBS, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Popular impressionist is fun for teens and up.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–16

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Lighthearted comedy is usually at the expense of political figures and celebrities, typically focusing on exaggerated personality quirks (Southern accents, facial expressions, catch phrases) rather than anything truly mean-spirited. Mature themes are occasionally at the heart of jokes.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Many skits joke about sexual topics -- alluding to sexual activity, showing drawings of female bodies with breast outlines, making light of serious topics like sexual harassment, etc. Women occasionally don skimpy outfits; some sketches include kissing. Some jokes refer to homosexuality.

  • Language:

    Infrequent use of expletives like "hell" and "ass."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Plenty of jokes about drinking; some skits show adults drinking alcohol.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Frank TV

Parents need to know that some of the jokes in this sketch comedy series include strong language ("hell" or "ass") and touch on mature topics like sexuality (references to the Kama Sutra, homosexuality, and sexual harassment, for instance) -- but it's probably nothing teens haven't seen before. Generally, the series pokes lighthearted fun at political figures and celebrities, exaggerating quirky traits like speech mannerisms, facial expressions, and catch phrases for laughs. Star Caliendo's visibility on Web sites like YouTube and MySpace contributes strongly to his popularity, so if your teens enjoy him, they may want to visit the sites for more.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how different media platforms help entertainers promote their work. Teens: Do you download music, movies, or other media from the Internet? Are there any drawbacks to this new technology? What does it take to become a "celebrity" in today's media world? Families can also discuss different types of comedy. Do you like Caliendo's comedy style? Why or why not? What are some of your favorite comedians? How does their style compare to his? And what role do issues like sex, language, and stereotypes play in comedy? Do you enjoy comedy that's rooted in mature content? Why or why not?
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