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Murphy Brown

(Rated TV-PG, Comedy, Starring Lily Tomlin, Candice Bergen, Faith Ford, Where to watch: Nickelodeon, DVD, Download)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Kids might not get memorable '90s sitcom.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–15

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Murphy is very wry and sarcastic, which at times makes her behavior seem insulting. She also famously became a single mother after deciding to go through with a surprise pregnancy. The FYI team members are good friends who support each other. Aside from her sharp tongue, Murphy is a strong, independent female role model who overcame addiction and rose to the top of her profession.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Mild sexual innuendo. Most of the characters are single adults, and they have sexual relationships (nothing shown on-screen) with whoever they're dating.

  • Language:

    Mild: "hell," "damn," etc.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Frequent social drinking at the neighborhood bar. Murphy is a recovering alcoholic.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Murphy Brown

Parents need to know that the main character Murphy, while a good role model for women in the workplace, is incredibly sarcastic, and her wry one-liners might fly over the heads of younger viewers. The show makes frequent references to politicians and other newsmakers of the late '80s and '90s; that, plus the already-dated fashions and hairstyles, may make the series seem irrelevant to today's kids.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about workplace etiquette. How do you do a job well and treat colleagues with respect? If you have a problem with someone you work with, how should you handle it? Is it ever OK to yell at or belittle a co-worker (or a classmate or a friend)? How is the FYI team like a family? Are people more likely to become close friends with co-workers if they spend long hours at the office?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    coolcat
    Lives in Nebraska
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    This Show Rocks!

    Murphy Brown is still my favorite TV Show;from the 1980s/1990s

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Has useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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