Handpicked by Our Editors

True Jackson, VP
Age 8+
3

True Jackson, VP

Why We Recommend It

The aptly named heroine of this show demonstrates how to overcome obstacles by staying true to yourself.

Read our full review
Baffled by TV ratings? Don't give up!

Industry TV ratings aren't much help when it comes to finding good family TV. It's hard to translate television ratings that look like a string of letters into good choices, and the TV ratings themselves aren't so reliable when you realize that the people who make the shows provide the ratings. So whatever your concern -- sex, violence, or all the ads -- our TV ratings help you find age-appropriate shows and manage the messages that our kids get from them.

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showing: drama
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White Collar (USA)
Parents Need to Know...

that this character-driven crime drama is a lot lighter on language, sex, and violence than you might expect, making it a solid choice for parents and teens. There's essentially no swearing -- it's rare to even hear a "hell" or ... read more

Age 13+
White Collar
4
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My Super Psycho Sweet 16 (MTV)
Parents Need to Know...

that this made-for-TV movie about a Sweet 16 birthday party gone horribly, horribly wrong directly targets teens but has iffy messages concerning bullying and revenge. Violent imagery runs the gamut from stabbings, slayings, and ... read more

Age 14+
My Super Psycho Sweet 16
2
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Ally McBeal (Syndicated)
Parents Need to Know...

that this quirky lawyer dramedy is more about the characters' complicated lives than the cases they're working on. Those characters, while fun, aren't necessarily great role models, as many of them indulge in greedy, sexist, and selfish ... read more

Age 13+
Ally McBeal
4
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Three Rivers (CBS)
Parents Need to Know...

that this dramatic medical series focuses on organ transplants. The message is decidedly pro-organ donation, but it does explore some of the reasons why people do not donate. Potential donors are shown losing their lives (guns and bloody ... read more

Age 13+
Three Rivers
3
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Valemont (MTV, Online)
Parents Need to Know...

that this short-form TV/online vampire series from MTV is sponsored by Verizon Wireless and prominently incorporates the company’s mobile technology into its storyline. The main character resorts to some sneaky ways of investigating her ... read more

Age 13+
Valemont
3
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Trauma (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this medical drama -- which focuses on a team of paramedics -- blends intense life-and-death drama with the characters' emotional conflict as they deal with the personal aftermath of their extremely stressful jobs. There are ... read more

Age 14+
Trauma
2
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FlashForward (ABC)
Parents Need to Know...

that in this thought-provoking sci-fi drama, everybody on on the planet is inexplicably given a brief glimpse of their future ... and they're not all thrilled with what they see. Since the universal "blackout" causes many ... read more

Age 14+
FlashForward
4
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Eastwick (ABC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this a show about modern-day witches that clearly targets women, and it plays on the sexual tension between the witches and their mysterious mentor, Darryl Van Horne. Talk can get steamy (including comical conversations about ... read more

Age 14+
Eastwick
3
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Mercy (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this adult-oriented medical drama includes a strong female character who's still dealing with emotional battle scars after serving as a nurse in Iraq, where she cheated on her husband. Expect to see plenty of bloody and rather ... read more

Age 15+
Mercy
3
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The Forgotten (ABC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this crime drama about volunteers dedicated to identifying nameless murder victims has some pretty dark themes -- but it also humanizes these victims and highlights the importance of victim advocacy. Because of the subject matter, ... read more

Age 14+
The Forgotten
4
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The Good Wife (CBS)
Parents Need to Know...

that this drama about a woman who returns to the legal profession when her politician husband goes to jail after a highly publicized sex scandal deals with some mature themes, including illicit affairs and illegal activity. Expect plenty ... read more

Age 14+
The Good Wife
3
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NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
Parents Need to Know...

that this spin-off of popular crime drama NCIS is very similar to its parent show, focusing on a U.S. Navy unit that investigates crimes involving military personnel. Expect fairly frequent (though not overly graphic) violence, including ... read more

Age 14+
NCIS: Los Angeles
2
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The Beautiful Life: TBL (CW)
Parents Need to Know...

that this fashion-centric drama is driven by high-end labels and, as the title suggests, focuses on impossibly beautiful people, two of whom are teen models coming of age in a very adult world. Although both appear to be good-hearted with ... read more

Age 14+
The Beautiful Life: TBL
2
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The Vampire Diaries (CW)
Parents Need to Know...

that teens will probably want to watch this slickly produced vampire drama. One obvious reason is that it's about high schoolers -- and attractive ones at that. It also plays into the current popularity of all things vampire. But it's ... read more

Age 14+
The Vampire Diaries
4
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Melrose Place (2009) (CW)
Parents Need to Know...

that this update of the popular 1990s primetime soap is even edgier than its predecessor. Themes include adultery, murder, addiction, and prostitution -- just to name a few. There's lots of sexual content (groping, couples in bed, ... read more

Age 15+
Melrose Place (2009)
3
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Durham County (ION)
Parents Need to Know...

that this creepy thriller creates a palpable sense of menace and gloom. One of the two main characters may be a serial killer; the other is a detective investigating the murders. Both are hiding dark secrets, and their combustible ... read more

Age 15+
Durham County
3
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Acceptance (Lifetime Television)
Parents Need to Know...

that although this heartfelt TV movie about high school seniors dealing with the pressures of the college admissions process is geared toward teens, it has some pretty strong content, including references to sex acts, make-out sessions, ... read more

Age 14+
Acceptance
3
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Degrassi Goes Hollywood (TeenNick)
Parents Need to Know...

that this TV movie set in Hollywood offers less of the frank content that teens -- and their parents -- have come to expect from the series it's based on, Degrassi: The Next Generation. Still, you can expect some kissing and making out, ... read more

Age 14+
Degrassi Goes Hollywood
3
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Private (Online)
Parents Need to Know...

that this online series based on the popular boarding school novel by Kate Brian includes a main character being hazed and ridiculed. There are frequent references to death and suicide -- a student is shown falling to her death from a ... read more

Age 14+
Private
3
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Defying Gravity (ABC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series about a six-year space mission examines human conflicts and emotional interactions, making it more of a drama than a sci-fi space opera. There’s a good bit of drinking and plenty of (non-explicit) love scenes, which ... read more

Age 14+
Defying Gravity
2
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Being Human (BBC America)
Parents Need to Know...

that this British drama about a werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost examines what it really means to be human. The supernatural roommates support each other as they try to manage their unique physical conditions and seek happiness. In the ... read more

Age 14+
Being Human
4

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