 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Community
Common Sense Media says
College comedy's wit trumps some stereotyping.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Community -- a sitcom about a motley crew of community college students -- has plenty of sexual innuendo and stereotypes about community colleges and those who attend them, but it also has messages about the importance of friendship (and, secondarily, pursuing an education at any age). The main characters make plenty of iffy choices, and they're all flawed, but they're also a strong group of friends who support each other through thick and thin. Expect some salty language ("crap," "ass," etc.), occasional cigarette smoking and drinking, exaggerated violence played for laughs, and tons of pop culture references and jokes.
What's the story?
COMMUNITY centers on Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), a sharp-witted lawyer who finds himself at Greendale Community College after his degree gets revoked. Hoping to attract the attention of fellow student Britta (Gillian Jacobs) while scoring some easy As, Jeff forms a Spanish study group that unexpectedly brings together an eclectic group of students -- including pop-culture junkie Abed (Danny Pudi), hippie-turned-businessman Pierce (Chevy Chase), middle-aged divorcee Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), neurotic perfectionist Annie (Alison Brie), and former high school jock Troy (Donald Glover). Things tend to get a little crazy, especially when the group goes up against Chang (Ken Jeong). But as Jeff learns that street smarts don't replace book smarts, he also finds himself getting a social education.
Is it any good?
Created by the directors of Arrested Development, this well-written series successfully mixes traditional sitcom humor with some of the quirky social interactions made famous in The Breakfast Club. It's also mildly edgy thanks to the way the humor plays off of stereotypes associated with community colleges, the professors who teach there, and the people who attend them.
The members of the study group are far from perfect, but buried within the jokes is a positive message about the importance of getting an education at any age, as well as the importance of friendship. It's definitely funny, and ultimately, Community manages to score high marks.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about whether it's ever appropriate to use stereotypes to create humor. Why or why not?
Would you consider the characters role models? Are their relationships realistic? How do they change over the course of the series? What do they learn?
What's the difference between a community college and a university? What are the benefits of attending one or the other? Disadvantages?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Teen, 16 years old
July 3, 2011
AGE
Stereotype jokes, but it's ok...
It's a funny show! I think it should be 13+, as long as your kids don't copy what they see or hear.
I've learned a lot from Abed, a character on the show- you can learn to solve a situation by finding a movie that's just like what's going on in your life. With me, it was Pete's Dragon- my boyfriend being Paul, me being Nora, metaphorically, of course. My boyfriend disappeared, but I'm sure he'll be found again someday.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Adult
October 25, 2010
AGE
I Love Community! Chevy Chase rocks my world!
100% awesome!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 16 years old
October 25, 2009
AGE
When presented to its appropriate audience, this show is golden!
Obviously there are some inappropriate aspects of this show, but perhaps that is what gives it the edgy push that makes it so hilarious. When presented to its appropriate audience, this show is golden!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
April 10, 2011
AGE
Funny For Teens, Inapropriate For Tweens and Younger
I LOVE THIS SERIES. It's cute, sarcastic, and teaches many valuable messages about friendship and unity. In almost every episode, arrogant Jeff Winger is humbled in some aspect. My favorite characters are Abed and Troy, the creative, boy-minded bffs who are always doing something new and different. Abed tends to integrate the plots of popular TV shows and movies into the plot and has a TON of little side adventures!
BUT BE WARNED. There is a lot of consumerism, which, for my family, isn't that impactful, but they constantly mention name-brands. (Ugg Boots, iPods, iPads, Dungeons and Dragons, KFC, etc.) Peirce, the oldest of the group, is constantly making racist, sexist, or vulgar remarks. Jeff is picking up girls decades younger than him. Shirley constantly mentions her ex-husbands relationship with a stripper. Jeff and Pierce don't make very positive role models, (I've mentioned Pierce and Jeff's problems) But Annie, Abed, Troy, Shirley, and at some times Britta, all try to bring positive messages to the story.
Overall, this is a very funny and quirky Thursday night comedy that I would recommend to fellow teenagers, but not tweens.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Parent of 12 year old
June 14, 2010
AGE
this show is a family favorite !
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
February 16, 2011
AGE
Stupid show, okay for teens
I don't know how the heck this is a comedy or what it's even about, but when I watch-- for the most part-- all there is, is "crapola". There is the occasional laugh, but I laugh at this show very rarely.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 14 years old
December 17, 2010
AGE
Great charecters!
I love the charecters in this series, they are all very different, they seem to have some fights, but always seem to be there for eachother.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
July 26, 2010
AGE
FUNNY
I think this show is so funny!
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
January 29, 2010
AGE
Perfect for young to older teens and parrents
i think this is one of the funniest shows arround
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Teen, 13 years old
January 16, 2011
AGE
Wonderful show! Great for teens and young adults!
Oh I just love this show! The humor is so crafty and the characters are so lovable. The sexual behavior is a little much for some kids, but I'm 13 and I really think it isn't anything teenagers and mature tweens can't handle.
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | friendship |
| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | NBC |
| Cast: | Alison Brie, Chevy Chase, Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, Joel McHale |
| Genre: | Comedy |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
