The Jeff Foxworthy Show - TV-PG

Blue-collar comedy star's sitcom falls flat.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: Nickelodeon Cast: Jonathan Lipnicki, Haley Joel Osment, Jeff Foxworthy Genre: Comedy
Available on: DVDDownload

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this sitcom finds its humor in the family life of a blue-collar American couple facing everyday marriage and job-related issues. The husband's troubles with his boss, the couple's communication failures, and the financial and emotional fall-out for a woman being a stay-at-home mom are typical household conversation. On a positive note, once they're done arguing (which is always played for laughs), both partners try to understand each other's needs and vow to improve their communication.

Families can talk about the issues within the Foxworthy home. How can a parent's job add to family stress? What can family members do to help parents work through this tension? Families also can discuss the parents' methods of dealing with their marital issues. Do the characters seem realistic in how they work out problems? How do they make sure that their kids know they still love each other?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Emily Ashby

THE JEFF FOXWORTHY SHOW is a short-lived sitcom from the mid-'90s starring Southern-born funny man Jeff Foxworthy. Despite his tremendous popularity as a stand-up comedian (his 1993 album "You Might Be a Redneck If ..." is one of the highest-selling comedy albums of all time), the show failed to gain a following during back-to-back stints on ABC and NBC. But it's found new life thanks to DVD and syndication.

The blue-collar life of Foxworthy's on-screen character, Jeff Foxworthy, is loosely modeled after his own. Jeff and his wife, Karen (played first by Anita Barone and then by Ann Cusack), tackle family, relationship, and parenting issues much like most other couples. Their son, Matt, is played by a young Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense, Forrest Gump), and at the end of the first season, Karen gives birth to a baby girl.

It was at this point that the show endured a number of audience-perplexing changes. Not only did it switch networks (from ABC to NBC), it abruptly changed venues (from the Midwest to the South), and the baby girl character was inexplicably omitted, replaced by a 5-year-old boy played by Jonathan Lipnicki (Stuart Little, Jerry Maguire).

Despite Foxworthy's notable talent and guest appearances by comedians like Bill Engvall (Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie) and Jay Mohr (Jerry Maguire), the show's humor is tired, and its storylines are well worn. Foxworthy seems uncomfortable in such a clichéd role, although the show occasionally picks up a bit when he works in a few lines inspired by his famous stand-up routines.

Family sitcom fans should check out Everybody Loves Raymond instead. Foxworthy followers will want to see him in Blue Collar TV and Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie with Engvall, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Some implication of sexual encounters to come, but nothing more than kissing is shown. Husband and wife sometimes discuss past sexual partners in teasing tones.
Violence There's the occasional rough-and-tumble fistfight, but it's strictly for laughs, and no one appears worse for the wear.
Language Characters say "damn," "suck," "hell," "butt," and the like, but pretty infrequently.
Message
	Social Behavior The parents show a deep desire to improve communication and respect for each other, and they always put their children's needs first.
	Commercialism Brandless soda, beer, and junk food sometimes show up.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Adults drink beer once in a while, but never in the presence of kids.