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Kate & Allie

(Rated TV-PG, Comedy, Starring Jane Curtin, Susan St. James, Ari Meyers, Where to watch: WE, Syndicated, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    80s fave about single moms, friendship, and fun.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Kate and Allie are best friends who rely on each other as they rebuild their lives after their divorces; with their children, they form a strong family unit. There are some discussions of unfaithful and unstable partners, but usually within the context of the women becoming empowered. The cast is Caucasian; one episode features Kate dating an African American.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Teen and adult dating, including some kissing and making out. Mild references to infidelity and sexual behavior, most of which will go over younger viewers' head. Some episodes include lesbian relationships as part of the storyline (Kate and Allie's landlady is gay; Kate and Allie at one point pretend to be gay so that their rent won't go up).

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Occasional references to film or TV stars (like Paul Newman). Jennie, an aspiring singer, occasionally sings popular '80s music.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Smoking, wine, and hard liquor are occasionally visible.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Kate & Allie

Parents need to know that this hit '80s sitcom -- which follows two best friends who combine households after getting divorced -- highlights some of the tricky issues that arise as a result of divorce and blending families together. Teen and adult characters date (though kissing is about as "graphic" as it gets), and there's some mild (especially by today's standards) sexual innuendo that will likely go over younger viewers' heads. Some episodes include discussion of topics like infidelity, and the show in general looks at the changing roles of women in society.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what it's like to live in a blended family. What are some of the challenges that come with merging two families? Are television's examples of blended family realistic? Can you think of other shows that feature blended families? Families can also discuss women's changing roles in society. How are divorced women and/or single parents seen now? How were they seen when this show originally aired in the '80s? Has a lot changed? What's different?
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