• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 13.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Edgy-but-quirky comedy's music, message will win teens over.

Why We Rated This for Ages 13–15

The good stuff

• Messages:

  Although the show plays up stereotypes for comedic effect (the jocks and cheerleaders are predictably cruel, the glee club's resident "diva" is a full-figured black girl, etc.), the general message is for students to step out of their cliquish "boxes" and work together.
• Role models:

  Many of the central characters are dedicated, enthusiastic teachers and students who care very much about what matters to them. And characters who exhibit iffy or mean behavior typically reap what they sow. Said behavior includes some bullying and name-calling on the part of students; adults can also be manipulative and vindictive (especially cheerleading coach Sue). Homophobia is discussed (a jock calls the glee club "Homo Explosion"; other athletes worry about seeming "gay" if they learn how to dance).

What to watch out for

• Violence:

  Some mild bullying. There's a recurring image of a postal carrier being hit by a car, but it's played for humor.
• Sex:

  Teen pregnancy, sexual orientation, and sexuality are frequently discussed/addressed; characters use phrases like "get in her pants" and "grind" and make euphemistic references to premature ejaculation. Some episodes suggest trysts in the locker room shower, but little more than kissing is actually shown. One character is president of the school's Celibacy Club but doesn't always follow its rules. A married couple is shown bathing together (no nudity) and in bed, and there's also an ongoing sexual tension/attraction between a single female teacher and her married colleague.
• Language:

  Infrequent use of words like "hell," "crap," and "damn," plus occasional use of terms like "penis," "tap this" (as in, "have sex with"), and "cripple."
• Consumerism:

  In addition to labels that look like recognizable brands (a coffee cup logo that's nearly identical to Starbucks', and a linen superstore called Sheets N Things, for example), there are actual logos for companies like Pottery Barn; characters also mention brands like Marc Jacobs, MySpace, Fox Sports Net, and iPhone.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Some teen drinking (in one episode, for instance, a character shows up at school drunk after an older friend encourages him to have a drink or three in the morning to calm his anxieties). Social drinking among adults, some of whom sometimes overindulge. A former teacher who was fired for sexually harrassing a male student ends up getting a prescription for medical marijuana and becoming a small-time drug dealer. He sells to the high school gym teacher, among other clients. In one episode, an adult gives teens pseudoephedrine to help boost their energy levels (she excuses her behavior by saying it's over the counter, so it's safe). The school also rents out the gym to a local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter.

What Parents Need to Know

About Glee

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