Life with Derek

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Modern day Brady Bunch from the teen perspective.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know boys talk about the female anatomy. Both girls and boys develop and talk about crushes on each other. This is normal adolescent behavior but you may want to consider if your tween is ready for this kind of thing before they tune in.

  • Older siblings take care of the younger ones.
  • Not applicable.
  • Teen girls wear skimpy clothes and boys discuss the female anatomy.

What's the story?

A newly married couple moves in together with children from previous marriage. Sound familiar? This time around the show focuses on the power struggle of the two oldest siblings, Casey (Ashley Leggat) and Derek (Michael Seater). Both 15 years old, these teens are accustomed to being the top dogs in their households and controlling their younger sibs. But who's the alpha between the two of them? Each episode plays on this struggle whether it's in the home, school, or community.


Is it any good?

 

Sibling issues are bound to touch a nerve with tween and teen viewers who experience sibling wars in their own households. Casey is smart, idealistic, and a budding feminist who demands to be treated equally. Derek gets under her skin with his posters of girls in bathing suits on his bedroom walls, love of video games like "Babe Raider," and sugary sweet patronizing manner with girls.

LIFE WITH DEREK is a show that kids will relate to and find funny. But be prepared for them observing teen behavior including talk about attractions to the anatomy of the opposite sex and girls wearing skimpy outfits to impress boys. Bottom line: This is mostly fine, but you may want to preview before you share with your kids under age 10.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the challenges of the blended family. How common is this type of family and do the members of this one act in a realistic way? Parents and kids could also talk about birth order and how that affects family relationships.


This review was written by Pam Gelman
Teen, 15 years old
October 11, 2010
 
Realistic and Funny Family Show
This was a very fun family friendly show (and its in Canada!) Casey can be a bit controlling, but the point is she's trying to overcome that, especially when she has to be stuck in the same Household as Derek! They're all funny together, especially Edwin, Lizzy and Marty. The romance gets a tad annoying with the make-up break-ups (the parents get irritated with it too) but still, its realistic and comical. And the acting is actually good! Their problems aren't rediculous either, real and genuine and the characters can relate to a person (It NEEDs to come back on for the sake of all that's good!)

Flag as inappropriate 
April 9, 2008
 
Brady Bunch Gets Real
It deals with issues in a step-family from as realistic a perspective as a Disney sitcom can. Those issues mostly center around life with a step-sibling and sibling rivalry issues, as well with adjusting to a new family and school. The protagonist, an uptight teenage over-achiever usually ends up learning something within the course of an episode.

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Parent of 3 and 13 year old
April 9, 2008
 
Great Show
My 10 and 6 love this show their not scared of anything .

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Kid, 13 years old
July 15, 2011
 
Watch out
This show is great. But it is really sexy. Not good for younger kids, but at the end it always ends up setting a great example. There was an episode that derek liked to play a game called baberator. Its about a game and the character in the game had huge breasts and in the game she said "you want bra power, I will give you bra power". Then there was an episode about this girl at there school and derek started hitting on her. and at the end of the episode they where making out on the couch. That same episode they where talking about how big her breasts where. And nora wanter to borrow one of Caseys bras.

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Teen, 16 years old
May 11, 2010
 
Two stars?
First, let me address commonsense's two stars. This show is better than anything else on the Disney channel and you give it two stars? This show has many more laughs, much more talent, and better direction (and concept) than Hannah Montana and Sonny with a Chance and all of that other crap on the channel, and you give them all 3 stars. Yet this well made show comes along and you give it two stars? It doesn't have any consumerism in it, has better morals, and is better for kids yet you give it two stars? Whatever, this show is better than anything else on the channel, and is very enjoyable. I won't go into detail because I'd just be re-iterating what I said above.

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Teen, 15 years old
March 12, 2010
 
Well. . its okay, there's just too much lovey dovey junk in there, other wise its cool.

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Kid, 11 years old
September 4, 2009
 

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Teen, 15 years old
February 2, 2009
 
Best Show on Family Channel
This show shows that that's really what goes in our lives. I mean, all brothers and sisters fight, but in the show, Casey moves into Derek's family so she didn't even grow up with Derek. There is nothing wrong with this show at all. So I can see why Casey and Derek always fight because they didn't even grow up with each other and they have their differences. But all brothers and sisters fight. It is a show that can relate to all of us. (Well, most of us or some of us!) BEST SHOW ON FAMILY CHANNEL! P.S. Why did CommonSense put a kitten as the picture for Life with Derek? It's kinda creepy!

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Kid, 12 years old
March 13, 2011
 
ages 11+

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Teen, 16 years old
March 6, 2011
 
i love this show.its amazing.theres nothing really that bad in it.

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This review was written by Pam Gelman
This review was written by Pam Gelman
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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