 | 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. |
Players
Common Sense Media says
Crass, mediocre sports-bar comedy too liquored up for teens.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this crass comedy about two brothers who run a sports bar has plenty of drinking, including drunkeness, and lots of references to casual sex. Characters tell war stories about getting too drunk or having wild sexual excursions. There’s also some swearing, including bleeped "s--t" and "f--k." The bigger issue is a serious dearth of genuine laughs.
What's the story?
The division of labor at the Phoenix sports bar PLAYERS is pretty clear: Overly-organized Ken (Ian Roberts) takes the lead on administration, and loves to impose the latest management principles. His brother and co-owner Bruce (Matt Walsh) is happy with a much looser organization, and so are most of their coworkers. With alcohol flowing freely, there’s plenty of room for bickering, bantering, and brotherly conflict. To spice up the mix, there’s Krista (Danielle Schneider), a cocktail waitress who likes to discuss her extremely active sex life, and Barb (June Diane Raphael), whose insecurities are amplified by uncertainty about her relationship with Bruce.
Is it any good?
Players comes across as a low-grade version of Cheers, the classic barroom sitcom. But without good writing or chemistry between the actors, it falls back on frat-boy humor. The biggest jokes seem to play on the characters’ willingness to describe their drunken antics and sexual exploits. These incidents generally take place outside the bar and are rarely seen.
Krista in particular seems less like a real person, and more like a male writer’s idea of the perfectly available one-night stand. She frequently discusses her eagerness to bed just about anyone, but has little interest in any kind of relationship. The one thing that rings true is the relationship between Ken and Bruce; they interact like real brothers, sometimes exasperated with each other and often frustrated, but always ready to stand by each other. Which is more than most viewers should be willing to do for this mediocre show.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the alcohol use in the show. The employees and patrons of this bar often talk about getting wasted. Do you think their adventures sound like fun? Do any of these antics seem less exciting when described the next day? What are the real consequences of drinking too much?
What do you think about Krista’s constant talk about her sexual exploits? Do you think she is a realistic female character? Do you know any people like this? How would people react to someone like Krista in real life?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
| TV rating: | NR |
| Network: | Spike |
| Cast: | Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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