 | 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. |
Ruby & the Rockits
- ABC Family
- Genre: Comedy
Common Sense Media says
Upbeat take on family dysfunction is funny and endearing.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this upbeat sitcom’s generally age-appropriate content makes it a fine choice for older tweens and teens. The mildly dysfunctional Gallagher clan deals with common family issues like differences of opinion and effective communication, but the show’s lighthearted spin makes it all relatable and even fun. Occasional episodes touch on issues like underage drinking and driving without a license, but overall the show is one of ABC Family's milder offerings. Adults (especially those old enough to recall The Partridge Family) will get an extra kick out of David Cassidy’s portrayal of a singer who refuses to acknowledge that his heyday is past.
What's the story?
Former ‘80s rock star David Gallagher (David Cassidy) gets the surprise of his life when teenage Ruby (Alexa Vega) shows up and claims to be his daughter. Since the prospect of child-rearing doesn’t jive with his efforts to revive his musical glory days, he looks for help from his more responsible brother/former band mate, Patrick (Cassidy's real-life half-brother, Patrick Cassidy). Patrick and his wife, Audie (Katie Amanda Keane), welcome Ruby with open arms, and she finds fast friends in their two sons, Jordan (Austin Butler) and Ben (Kurt Doss). But Ruby’s deepest desire is to have a relationship with her father, and it will take compromise and forgiveness on everyone’s part to become a true family.
Is it any good?
RUBY & THE ROCKITS is an unexpected gem among contemporary family sitcoms. The story puts a fresh spin on the concept of family drama, and it’s fun to assume that David and Patrick’s opposing personalities might be inspired by the Cassidy brothers’ real-life experiences. Vega shines as spunky, optimistic Ruby, and the rest of the cast rounds out a well-scripted series that reminds viewers that every family has an element of dysfunction.
What’s more, the show manages to work in some positive messages without coming across as hokey. In order to become the type of family Ruby envisions, for instance, David and Patrick must set aside their personal differences and put her needs first. And Ruby, too, realizes that she has to bend a bit on her high standards and appreciate her father's efforts. With its largely worry-free content and take-aways like these, it’s easy to like this fun, family-friendly series.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about making appropriate media choices. Tweens: What are some of your favorite TV shows? Have you seen shows or movies that you think are inappropriate for your age? How did you come across them?
How does our society view celebrities? What gives some stars more
staying power than others? Should celebrities be held to a higher
standard than we are because of their status?How do the Gallaghers’ family struggles compare to your own? Is their
situation believable? Which character do you most identify with? How
does your family work through communication issues and differences of
opinion?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 11 years old
March 21, 2010
AGE
how could you miss the language!!
The language is not very strong, but there is cursing that includes a**, h**l, and b*****(only in TV-14 episodes) Each episode has a very infrequent use of these. There is a INNOCENT crush throughout the show. I will tell you the truth. I usaully hate shows like this (hannah montana, wizards of waverly place, etc). Most of the characters in the show are generally good role models.
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AGE
Show Tanked Quickly!
We watched the first few episodes of Ruby and were encouraged. Our daughters are 8 and 11 and are big Disney Channel fans. Sadly this show has taken a turn. Last week's episode on under age drinking was handled in a non constructive manner and just came off as flip. This week's episode took the cake, though. The use of foul language (a**, b**ch) are bad enough, but making Ruby's love interest gay was something I didn't want to talk to my 8 year old about. Also the way he "came out" to Ruby was also another example of how this show takes a big issue and just makes a crass, uneducated joke about it. I was super disappointed in ABC Family for allowing this.
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AGE
Fun show to watch
Although I have only seen the first episode, this looks like a show with great potential.
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AGE
Language: A**
Sex: A boy has a huge crush on his pretty cousin.
Good show, but gets boring. Nice to watch, though.
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AGE
Doesn't matter what age
i love this show. its really funny. and its got alexa vega and austin butler in it. I watch it with my little sister and she loves it too!
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AGE
Not that funny
I have watched the first two episodes, and find the show slightly dull and not very funny. The father is a bad rolemodel and again, it's not that funny!
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AGE
Underage drinking is not OK!
I watched the first few episodes with my daughters, ages 9 and 13. We stopped watching after the episode dealing with underage drinking. To say that they treated this extremely sensitive topic in a flip manner doesn't go far enough. The teenaged cousin of the main character lied to his parents so he could go to a party and get drunk. His ride also got drunk and there are so many drunken parties at the address that the "taxi won't go there anymore". He called the title character, who doesn't have a license, to pick him up. She brought her younger cousin in the car also.
When they got caught, the main problem was that the title character had taken a brand-new car. Really. That is what they cared about. The underage drinking was treated like no problem, because he didn't drive. The fact that she drove, with a child in the car, even though she didn't have a license wasn't a problem.
We will never watch this show again. I hope that the impression left by the show is not what my children remember.
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AGE
Good show to watch with your kids!
Very cute show with positive messages. There are not many shows on tv these days that deal with all kinds of family situations without being too intense. This is light goofy comedy for the whole family.
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AGE
Looked better in previews before show premiered.
Parents too much like friends, not parents.
Too much back talk and insulting by the boys to their parents. Ruby's father is too much immature and encouraging bad behavior in his daughter. There is something wrong when a daughter has to lecture the father about behavior. Jokes too silly and storylines predictable and seen on other sitcoms before.
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | ABC Family |
| Cast: | Alexa Vega, David Cassidy, Patrick Cassidy |
| Genre: | Comedy |
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