Parents' Guide to See Dad Run

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Common Sense Media Review

Emily Ashby By Emily Ashby , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

Sitcom's take on gender roles is fun for tweens, teens.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 9+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 11+

Based on 14 kid reviews

Kids say this show is funny and appealing, especially for older tweens and teens, but it contains some inappropriate language and themes that may not be suitable for younger viewers. Many parents express concern over the show's content, including smoking depictions and adult humor, making it challenging to recommend for children under eleven.

  • language concerns
  • suitable for older kids
  • depicts inappropriate behavior
  • enjoyable family comedy
  • parental caution advised
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

In SEE DAD RUN, Scott Baio stars as David Hobbs, a longtime TV star-turned-stay-at-home-dad who takes over the household and child-rearing duties at home when his wife, Amy (Alanna Ubach), reprises her role on a soap opera. But David quickly realizes that being a hands-on father is a lot different from playing an award-winning one on TV, and when the daily needs of his three kids -- Emily (Ryan Newman), Joe (Jackson Brundage), and Janie (Bailey Michelle Brown) -- are more than he can handle, he calls in reinforcements in his ex-assistant, Kevin (Ramy Youssef), and his former boss, Marcus (Mark Curry).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 4 ):
Kids say ( 14 ):

See Dad Run is a laugh-out-loud sitcom that marks the triumphant return to scripted comedy for the still-charming Baio. Instead of settling for a run-of-the-mill show hanging its hopes on the reputation of a well-known star, this show goes the extra mile in casting and in content. Baio is surrounded by talent that complements his own, so much so that he's often outshined by his lesser-known costars, and the writing attempts to take an honest (if somewhat sanitized) look at issues that face many busy families, especially those whose make-up doesn't match the "traditional" family structure.

The concept of an inexperienced Mr. Mom's trial by fire isn't new to comedy (or to Charles in Charge alum Baio, for that matter), but he manages to make the show feel fresh, funny, and poignant with seemingly little effort. From soothing his son's anxieties to reconnecting with his teenage daughter, Baio's character accepts every challenge his new role forces on him, and he does it so that his wife can have the career she gave up while he was busy with his own. Not only does this make for heartwarming moments, it also pays homage to the changing appearance of modern families.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how they relate to each other. How do your interactions with your parents and siblings differ from those in the Hobbs household? Are the troubles that they face relatable to you?

  • Teens: Do you think this show is attempting to teach you something, or is it just intended as entertainment? What does its content say about gender roles? Does the fact that it's a comedy lessen the impact of those messages?

  • Is there such a thing as a "typical" American family? How does the household structure differ now from a few decades ago? In what ways have the changes improved our quality of life? Are any of them a detriment to us?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

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