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Sophie (ABC Family)

common sense media says

Perky star lights up predictable but teen-safe comedy.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this sitcom centers on an unwed -- and recently unattached -- new mom. While the show often glosses over the potential messiness of her life (loose ends are neatly tied up within each episode), most of the content is age appropriate for teens. Expect occasional strong language (mostly "hell" and "ass"), sexual situations (including partial nudity, but nothing too risque), and references to characters' sexuality. And be ready to follow up with a discussion about the real-world repercussions of the issues the show raises.

Positive messages: Extramarital affairs and their repercussions (an illegitimate child, for example) are treated lightly and without judgment. Matt's homosexuality is often referred to in a humorous manner. While the show centers on a newly single mom struggling to balance her personal and professional lives, there's little reality to the stories, which predictably resolve themselves within the show's 30-minute timeframe.
Violence: Lighthearted incidents are occasionally played for humor, as when a woman threatens her cheating boyfriend with a letter opener and throws it at him, narrowly missing his head.
Sex: Some instances of simulated sex with moderate nudity (a man's bare chest and a woman's bare back as she sits atop him in bed, for instance). A main character is homosexual, so there are frequent references to his "playing for the other team" and the like.
Language: Rare use of "ass"; "hell" is a more common choice in heated arguments.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Sophie

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how TV series' portrayal of events compares to real life -- especially when it comes to sitcoms. What aspects of Sophie's life don't seem realistic? How might things be different if what happened to her happened in real life? What other sitcoms have you seen that cast serious events in a humorous light? Families can also dicuss overcoming adversity. Teens: Have you ever faced a life-altering event? How did you deal with it? Who do you turn to for support and guidance when times get tough? How do you offer support to others in need?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Deliriously in love and eight months pregnant, talent agent Sophie Parker (Natalie Brown) thinks that life couldn't get much better. But her world comes crashing down when her boyfriend, Rick (Sebatstian Spence), ditches her for her best friend, Melissa (Amy Lalonde), just before their baby is born. Unprepared for single motherhood, Sophie is further devastated to learn that Rick has opened a competing agency and has started luring away her clients one by one. With a quirky support group that includes her manipulative mother, Judith (Mimi Kuzyk), her friend Matt (Jeff Geddis), and her eccentric last client standing, Estelle (Sara Botsford), Sophie must dig deep to put a positive spin on the unexpected course her life has taken.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

There's little that sets SOPHIE apart from TV's crowd of other sitcoms, but it's a lighthearted series that makes it easy to laugh at many everyday woes that working parents may relate to. Sophie's struggles over coping with adversity, relating to family, and rediscovering heself amid life's chaos will resonate with adults who have experienced -- and managed to overcome -- similarly life-altering events. Parker's performance is a bright spot in this otherwise average show, and she lights up the screen with Sophie's sparkling personality and undaunting attitude.

Content-wise, there's nothing here that will be too shocking to teens. Occasional strong language and sexual inferences are fairly tame by primetime standards, but if your teens do tune in, be sure to talk with them about the issues that are raised by the show's plot, including irresponsible sex, balancing family demands with professional goals, and coping with life's unexpected surprises.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: ABC Family
Cast: Jeff Geddis, Natalie Brown, Sebastian Spence
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: ABC Family
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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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
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