 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The New Adventures of Old Christine
- CBS, Syndicated
- Genre: Comedy
Common Sense Media says
A "family show" that's not for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although Christine spends plenty of heartwarming moments with her third-grader, this sitcom isn't really about parenting. It's actually more adult, dealing humorously with such issues as how middle-class types mingle with their super-rich counterparts, how women size each other up, and how ex-spouses move on and move up in the world.
What's the story?
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine, a woman who owns a Curves-type gym franchise and is trying to forge an identity beyond that of mother and ex-wife. Endearing and insecure, Christine struggles with life as a single mother after her son starts attending a new, more exclusive school and her ex takes on a younger, spacier Christine (yes, they share the same name, which is why Louis-Dreyfus' character is the "old" Christine). Her ex, Richard (Clark Gregg), is cavalier about having a new girlfriend; Christine's co-worker gets all the witty one-liners; and her roommate (her brother) is slacker-snarky, ever the observer.
Is it any good?
In the able hands of Louis-Dreyfus, Christine sometimes manages to be complex, but only for a moment, until she's drowned out by the ubiquitous laugh track. All too quickly, the show falls into stereotypes -- the rich-stay-at-home moms are brittle and bitter; the new girlfriend is pretty, and pretty vapid -- but the intended irony may not be clear, especially to young viewers. Instead, they may think new girlfriends of divorced fathers are usually vacuous (and good in bed, if inferences are to be believed); that divorced moms are frantic and sex-starved (one episode mentions "sex" so many times that nothing else seems important); and that children of divorce suffer only from a severe case of flatly written dialogue.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what happens when a nuclear family detonates, and what the fall-out is for both parents and children. How can families survive divorce? What's it like for kids? They can also explore questions of race and class, both of which are brought up in the episodes that deal with Christine's son switch from public to private school. Is it easy to start over? How does one begin again?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
yikes, what a dumb show
I HAD SOME HOPE THAT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD SHOW BUT GIVE ME A BREAK--JUST PLAIN DUMB -THERE ARE OTHER THINGS IN LIFE FOR 40+DIVORCED MOMS THAN WHAT THIS SHOW PORTRAYS. DUMB,DUMB,DUMB. AND I AM NO PRUDE. LOVE TWO AND ONE HALF MEN.
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AGE
Sorta sad...
I was really hoping for the great humor of Louis-Dreyfus' character in Seinfeld, but it is not to be. I watched this show twice, and found it very shallow, and the characters rather flat. Nothing really to like about it. Actually, rather depressing. Nothing funny about a family destroyed by divorce, and not a good basis for a TV show.
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AGE
Gives Single Moms a Bad Name
Main character seems to spend all of her time worrying about her sex life. Almost all the 'humor' is sex/bodily function based and is openly shared with the young boys character.
I really hope this one gets canned quick. Ttuly horrible female stereotype.
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AGE
Very adult humor
My son thinks this show is funny, but I try to watch it (on TiVo) after he goes to bed because there is a lot of content I don't want him to see.
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AGE
Funny
Pretty good family sitcom, despite the sex references.
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AGE
Good adult fun - not for kids
While this comedy is not suitable for kids under the age of 15 -16, for adults, and especially divorced parents, there are some positive messages here. Christine admittedly drinks too much, is promiscuous, and seems to be prejudiced against everyone (equally!); however, this divorced couple has figured out how to work well together to raise their son. Dad's steady relationship with "new" Christine is dealt with straight forward, and "old" Christine's attempts to find love and happiness are character studies in what works and what doesn't - in both cases.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Networks: | CBS, Syndicated |
| Cast: | Clark Gregg, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Trevor Gagnon |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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