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iCarly

(Rated TV-Y7, Comedy, Starring Nathan Kress, Miranda Cosgrove, Jennette McCurdy, Where to watch: Nickelodeon, DVD, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Interactive show meshes characters' online, real lives.

Themes in this show include:   friendship

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The show isn't designed to be educational, per se, but young viewers will learn a bit about interacting with media.
  • Messages:

    While friendship is very important on the show and the characters typically learn a lesson from any iffy behavior, not every take-away is positive. Sometimes the characters make questionable choices.
  • Role models:

    Carly is a strong, independent female character. But there's also some good-nature bullying, and Carly and Sam get into some sticky situations -- for instance, when they get caught gossiping about their peers in a video that's posted online (a situation that veers on cyberbulling). They also give out personal information on the Web at least once (a big no-no). The only authority figure is a young adult male who acts more like a kid than his tween sister does.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Some pushing and shoving among students, and a man falls from a ladder in one scene, but there's no injury.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Mild flirting among tweens, and one boy relentlessly pursues his female crush. Girls refer to boys as "hot." One scene includes a mention of the shape of a woman's boobs.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    The series and its sister Web site promote each other. Characters often encourage viewers to log on to the site to send in emails and videos for consideration for the show.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About iCarly

Parents need to know that this semi-interactive tween comedy -- which stars Miranda Cosgrove of Drake & Josh -- asks its young viewers to contribute material through its real-life Web site (iCarly.com). Characters reference the site many times in each episode, encouraging kids to log on and check out blogs and additional show footage, as well as submit their own story ideas, comments, and videos, some of which will be used on air. The show itself is fairly benign, featuring the standard amount of boy/girl flirting and other tween issues.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the Internet. What kinds of things can you see online? Is it good or bad to be able to access so much information and content? How does the Web affect your relationship with other people?
  •  What are some of the dangers associated with Internet use? Has anyone you know ever been bullied or otherwise mistreated online? How? What did they do?
  • Remind your kids that they should never say anything online that they wouldn't say to someone's face, and make sure tweens understand your rules for using the Internet, especially regarding uploading videos and providing personal information to any Web site. For more on Internet safety, click here.

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about iCarly?
  •  I think this show is

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See all 222 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Good for anyone, younger kids, parents could be with them, but they do not use any bad language, etc.

    My 4 year old loves watching I carly and i watch it with her! It is based for kids a few years older then her, but she loves the theme song, it is catchy! I know lots of other shows that i WOULD NOT let my children watch, but i have NEVER seen ANYTHING on ICARLY that was really negative! You guys are awesome!

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    not really for younglings

    my friend Anna and i are proud of icarly at my advanced age i get all the jokes and we aught together hahahahah i love this show but can be fairly sexual for young ones 1-6 is big no no anyway they never said crap so dont say they did cause not true u just hate this show meany i really like sam shes a strong female role model who expresses her self in a way that may be violent but she is alot like me expect im not mean i do however love ribs and is very tom boyish

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    good kids show

    TV KIDS SHOW CONTAINS SOME MATERIAL THAT MAY BE APPRIOATE FOR OLDER AUDIENCES

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    I rate this title off for age 4 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

  5. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 3.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

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