The Parent 'Hood - TV-PG

Fun '90s family comedy is fine for tweens.

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details

TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: TBS, Syndicated
Cast: Robert Townsend, Suzzanne Douglass, Curtis Williams
Genre: Comedy

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this '90s sitcom is all about family and strong-but-loving parents and focuses on promoting education and respect. Overall, the show is very family-friendly, but it does occasionally deal with serious topics, including teen pregnancy and gangs (although always in a way that teaches positive lessons). Parents may want to prescreen before letting younger tweens watch.

Families can talk about family dynamics. Why do parents set and enforce rules? Kids, what things do your parents do that make you happy? Angry? Families can also discuss how TV represents African-American families. Why is it important to show positive images of diverse people on TV? Is it possible to create an image that's "too perfect"?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Positive representations of family, parents, friendship, and the African-American community.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Occasional shoving and pushing, but these actions don't cause any real harm and usually lead to a demonstration of the danger of violence, gangs, and guns.

Sex

Includes references to dating and boy/girl relationships. At least one episode deals with teen motherhood/pregnancy, but it's not discussed within the context of sexual relationships.

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Melissa Camacho

Highlighting family values, education, and humor, THE PARENT 'HOOD follows the life of the Petersons, an average African-American upper-middle class family living in New York City. New York University college professor Robert Peterson and his wife, law student Jerri, are continually working to balance their careers with their roles as good parents to their four children. Teenagers Michael and Zaria must contend with having caring-but-unhip parents, while grade school-aged Nicholas and preschooler Cece enjoy causing mischief and being cute. Robert's "hands-on" parenting style and the siblings' somewhat idealistically close relationship play a big role in the family's efforts to resolve the various issues that arise in each episode. Family friends -- including Robert's wacky best friend Wendell Wilcox -- also add to the storylines.

Is it any good?

The Parent 'Hood (which originally ran from 1994 to 1999 and still airs in syndication) is quite family-friendly, but some episodes cover serious topics, including teen pregnancy, gangs, and dropping out of school. Michael and Zaria also deal with the difficulties of being teenagers in a world filled with peer pressure. Nonetheless, the show promotes a very positive image of family and the African-American community. It also sends the message that parenting, while not easy, can be fun.