My Wife and Kids (ABC, Nickelodeon)

common sense media says

Family dynamic creates few laughs for the family.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this sitcom is based in contemporary upper-class suburbia and focuses on a "traditional" father in a non-traditional world. The parents are always making jokes about their sex life, and the father and son joke about owning porn. Some families will find the show funny, while others may find it offensive. Episodes often deal with heavy issues like teen pregnancy, drug use, and body image. The effect, however, is that of a show that doesn't take itself seriously.

Positive messages: Parents are not very responsible, arguing and ridiculing the kids. The kids often seem hurt by their banter.
Violence: Slaps and hits and threats are common in the Kyle household. Not bloody, but questionable.
Sex: Dad and son admit to owning "pornos" without remorse. Parents allude to sexual frolicking in almost every episode. A major storyline involves teen pregnancy.
Language: "Shut up" is the most commonly repeated phrase on the show.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Issues about drugs are discussed and dealt with maturely.

More on My Wife and Kids

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the relationship between the kids and their parents. Is it over the top or realistic? The family members also tease each other a lot. You might want to ask your kids if casual violence is ever funny or appropriate, or if teasing or being teased by family members is OK.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Though it's a madcap comedy, MY WIFE AND KIDS' comic formula centers on one family's dynamic. Mom Janet (Tisha Campbell) is the breadwinner and sets the rules, dad Michael (Damon Wayans) is the caregiver and the loose screw, son Michael Jr. (George Gore II) is a dolt, elder daughter Claire (played by both Jazz Raycole and Jennifer Freeman) is a clumsy beauty, and youngest daughter Kady (Parker McKenna Posey) is smart and sassy. The family members constantly gang up on each other before sharing advice and love at the end of the show.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

What happens in between the teasing and the advice-giving is where the series goes awry. Serious issues like teen pregnancy, fears about social acceptance, drug use, body image, and placing value on a spouse's contribution to the household are mixed in with ridiculous behavior such as slaps, threats, and angry outbursts. The issues themselves are often glossed over, and the fact that they're addressed at all shouldn't overshadow the reality that the adults might handle them poorly. Janet and Michael admonish their kids' chaotic behavior at the same time that they exhibit very childish behavior themselves -- it might be difficult for tweens and young teens to understand what's meaningless banter and what's inappropriate behavior.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: ABC
Cast: Damon Wayans, George Gore II, Tisha Campbell
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: ABC

This review was written by Joly Herman
 
 

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What parents & educators say

15

Most useful reviews by all members

undergurl
kid, 12 years old
 
I LOVE this show I am actually watchign it righ tnow on NICK! I think this is a good show for learning abotu what might happen if I do this or that or that kind of stuff. Very funny.

tiny22
teen, 14 years old
 
Love it i love i love i love i love <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

zazmopepperz
teen, 16 years old
 
Perfect for older kids but not for tweens
Really funny show, junior is so amazingly stupid that in every scene he is in you WILL laugh. However the show has a lot of sex talk in it including masturbation, anal sex and all time of this stuff. Should have been TV-14. Still good though.

The Review Guy
teen, 15 years old
 
Very questionable family sitcom is still funny
Messages:Although the message is that family should stick together,the parents make some very questionable actions,such as slapping their children for humor and embrassment,or to always think about sex.And there are some VERY questionable messages in some episodes. Role Models:Michael is a terrible role model,he slaps his kids,doesn't trust any of his family,except for his wife,and even at times cares for other things rather than his family,although at times he does help them,there's nothing redeeming about him.The children are both shallow and dumb. Violence:Some comic pratfalls,but the worst is when he repeatedly slaps his kids,it's not bloody but it's very questionable. Sex:Michael and his wife say plenty of suggestive banter,some talk of pornography,a major storyline involves an eighteen year old pregnant woman. Language:Infrequent use of "A**","D*mn",and "h*ll" Consumerism:Some mentions of TV shows Drinking,Drugs and Smoking:Some Social Drinking,sometimes to the point of drunkness.

WebCriticGirl76
teen, 18 years old
 
Boring and Pointless
All I can say is how much I hate this show. It isn't that bad, but just straight out boring. It is also inappropriate. Over half of the jokes are sex related, and Kyle is always trying to get Jay to have sex with him. Junior and his girlfriend Vanessa had a baby in their parents' bed, and Junior proposed to her being much too young. And they insult their kids a lot, and do not encourage them to get along. They are immature parents and clearly do not understand each other. They use a**, da**, he**, "Oh My God", and are just messed up.

arthur16morgana
teen, 16 years old
 
i love this show.its hilarious

Mysterious_bal ...
teen, 17 years old
 
Stupid
Really a bad show I hate it the messages are bad and it's not really funny there are NO role models besides maybe the girl in the family she's smart but still the father is mean, sarcastic, and plain rude....dumb show don't waste your time watching it

thought
adult
 
Okay, I have watched 4 episodes of this show back to back. All four discussed Sex. TOO MUCH!

 
Sexual content is a problem
I don't believe this show is age appropriate for 11-14. This show is geared more toward what happens in a marriage, i.e. jealousy, sex, adult language between adults, and raising children. The focus is on the marriage... hence the title of the show.

Classic
kid, 13 years old
 
My Wife And Kids!
Personally I like the show but I defiantly wouldn't let my 10 year old sister watch it... To much talk about porn and sex. The characters are funny but to many swear words. You really have to be old enough to under stand some of the jokes. My Wife And Kids also has a lot of love going on... between couples and a 16 year old son making a young women pregnant it would be a lot for a little kid to handle!

killswitch10184
teen, 15 years old
 
Really funny show not for ages 11 and down but entertaining nothing really inappropiate few inappropiate conversations

bookwormbrat
kid, 12 years old
 
watch it yourself
ok. i know it's really not for kids but, it's on nick at night which it comes on really late and kids arent up

dancechick1597
teen, 15 years old
 
It's ok, too much sex talk.
It has some bad language, and It has alot of talk about sex, and I'm not allowed to watch stuff like that.

silly_samsters
teen, 17 years old
 
Good
This show is really good. The one thing is not that good is that the son that is about 15 or 16 and he is having a kid (but there is a lot of shows like that now)but otherwise then that this show is awsome i try to watch it every night if i can.

migel9170
kid, 12 years old
 
LOVE IT
This show is very funny, im watching this right now.Nothing you need to worry about.

starwars reviewer
kid, 13 years old
 
Funny Show, But Crude: I Love It!
I watch this a lot, and it is funny! I would not recommend it for younger kids though! The way Mr. Kyle regularly berates his children is awful! His 'life lessons' are taught in a way that could scar them for life. At least it's funny! Tweens may like this one! Thanks for reading!

EspumaMarina
teen, 15 years old
 
So' kay
It's funny, but pretty inappropreate. Kyle and Jay are pretty horrible parents, hitting and disguraging the kids all the time. They fight and over react, and almost always have sexual contacts throughout the show. They're shown sitting in bed, but they usually end up making out, my mom turned it off when I wasn't paying much attention to it because it was discusting and embarressed her. TJ's girlfriend ends up pregnet by the way, the only thing that truely makes me laugh is Katy and that one boy thats really smart.

LuckOfTheIrish33
kid, 11 years old
 
BEST SHOW EVER!!!!!
I <3 <3 HEART THIS SHOW SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

9001
teen, 15 years old
 
Bad show, not for kids.
I tried to watch this show once, but it was just sick. I came in on a scene where a guy was cheating on his wife by getting ready to have s** with a different woman.

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ON: Content is 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