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Flight of the Conchords

(Rated TV-MA, Comedy, Starring Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement, Where to watch: HBO, DVD, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Mock-folk music duo strums hip Kiwi comedy.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The guys are earnest and well-intentioned, but they aren't terribly clever. One considers himself a "ladies man," though he's not very successful with women. Songs and episodes mock misogyny, xenophobia, and other social/cultural issues.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Some dating and kissing, as well as talk about the possibility of sex. In one episode, Bret has sex (nothing graphic shown) with an aggressive date; in another, a fan proposes a three-way to the guys. But overall, most of their dating attempts fail.
  • Language:

    Regular profanity like "s--t," "f--k," "a--hole," "dick," etc. Since it's pay cable, nothing is bleeped -- but it's worth noting that Jemaine and Bret themselves rarely swear, opting instead for terms like "motherflipper" and "motherucker."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Occasional social drinking and discussion of drug use. In one episode, the guys are pressured into doing a "sixteenth" of acid -- which leads to a trippy song-and-dance sequence.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Flight of the Conchords

Parents need to know that this musical comedy about a faux folk duo is pretty mild for HBO. The language is uncensored, but it's nowhere near the levels of shows like Deadwood and Six Feet Under. And while some scenes show social drinking and touch on drug use, and storylines typically revolve around dating attempts (most of which fail), there's probably nothing here that mature teens haven't seen or heard before. Song lyrics occasionally insult women, but they're more intended to poke fun at traditional pop music than to reveal any inherent misogyny.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the series' take on pop and folk music. Which aspects of each genre are being made fun of? What makes them good targets for comedy? Do the guys on the show remind you of any real bands? How does the fact that the stars are from New Zealand affect the show's humor? Do you think it would be as funny if it were about Americans?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    This show would be ok for 13 years easliy there is some drug references though in one of the episode along with some foul gestures

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Maybe

    Okay. I'm just going to start off by saying...this is the best show on television. The funniest thing I've ever seen. But it might not be appropriate. Everything is a moderate offense, except for maybe language. Words like S**t, D**k, and A*s are used in moderation, with even an occasional F-Bomb. Since Flight of the Conchords is on HBO, there are no bleeps, so you hear the words. The swearing, although offensive, is used in moderation. The two main characters never use swear words, instead they use substitutes. For example, Bret says "Flip" when he's mad, a song starts off with Jemaine saying "I'm the motherflippin'...", and one song is called "Mother Uckers" with the repeated lyrics "Too many mother uckers ucking with my shi".

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Maine
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    I laughed until I cried

    Flight of the Conchords was humor beyond humor. Bret and Jemaine's individual personalities ricochet beautifully off each other, making it a hilarious television program. While it may not be appropriate for kids my age, (eh, my parents let it slide,) I think that if you watch it with your preteen and explain the subtle humor, it might even turn into a family comedy! I think this is a must-see for anyone over 13.

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