Suburgatory

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Edgy, satirical comedy is fun for older teens, adults.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fish-out-of-water comedy centers on a self-assured teen who's insightful, outspoken, and willing to stand up to peer pressure for her personal beliefs. Even better, these positive qualities are a direct result of the values instilled in her by her dad, whose devotion to his daughter makes him a model (but certainly not perfect) single parent. That said, the show falls back on stereotypes of suburbanites, socialites, and homosexuals for plenty of laughs, and there's a lot of sexual content that's definitely not appropriate for tweens (marital infidelity, teens talking about having sex, condoms). Language is also a concern ("bitch," "damn," "hell," and the like), as are exchanges between teens that make light of peer pressure and social bullying. If your teen is ready for this kind of content, though, this very funny series raises some discussion points for families and offers sweet moments that underscore themes like tolerance and respect for diversity.

  • Family dynamics, friendship, and social pressure to conform are explored, resulting in positive messages about individuality and self-esteem. While mean-girl attitudes and bullying are common among teens -- and most of the supporting characters (especially the women) are stereotyped as divas, mom types, and geeks -- the cast's lack of diversity is intentional, meant to take a jab at the "white-washed" nature of suburban life.
  • Tessa tries to be open-minded about her new surroundings while holding tight to her values and self-image. George puts his daughter's needs first. Stereotypes among the supporting cast are extensive but, in some cases, draw attention to the show's positive social messages.
  • Not applicable.
  • Mostly inferences and innuendo, including mention of teens' sexual activity, adult infidelity, "screwing," homosexuality, "vagitarian," "nympho," and paraphernalia like "rubbers" or condoms. Teen girls dress provocatively in revealing tops and short skirts, and in some cases, their moms encourage them to sex up their outfits to appeal to guys. Heavy flirting is common by both adults and teens, and some couples do engage in make-out sessions.
  • Occasional use of words like "damn," "bitch," and "hell."
  • Red Bull is the drink of choice for many of the characters, and the dialogue often draws attention to its prevalence in a way that pokes fun at their "addiction."
  • Some exchanges include references to smoking pot. Drinking in all forms (mixed concoctions, champagne, beer, wine) is common among adults.

What's the story?

When George (Jeremy Sisto) discovers a box of condoms in his teen daughter's nightstand, he uproots her and moves them both to the "safety" of the suburban town of Chatswin, hoping for a more wholesome life for Tessa (Jane Levy). A single father since Tessa's toddlerhood, George gets a little panicky when he thinks about how fast she's growing up and how living in the big city might be corrupting her, and he's banking on some of their new neighbors being good female influences. Unfortunately, Tessa is resentful of the move and has trouble fitting in among her new peers, whom she sees as pampered by their indulgent, Stepford-esque parents. As time wears on, Tessa begins to carve out her own niche and even starts to make friends, including her socially desperate neighbor, Lisa (Allie Grant), and manages an on-again/off-again cease-fire with her social nemesis, Dalia (Carly Chaikin). As for George, he keeps busy by deflecting the advances of the neighborhood single (and not-so-single) ladies, especially Dalia's newly available mom, Dallas (Cheryl Hines).


Is it any good?

 

SUBURGATORY has lots of fun parodying wealthy suburban life as seen through the critical eyes of a couple of level-headed newcomers, and Tessa and George's attempts to find a place in such foreign surroundings are both entertaining and relatable to anyone who's ever felt like a social outsider. Kudos to the show's brain trust for going the extra mile, though, and giving some real depth to the characters, reflecting the changing face of the American family without sacrificing positive messages. George's relationship with his teenage daughter toes the line between authority and camaraderie, offering some heartwarming moments offset by enough snarky banter over things like curfew, driving privileges, and dating rules to keep it realistic.

This sitcom's focus on life through the eyes of a teen and her father beckons to viewers who can relate to one or both of the main characters, but the content does have some trouble spots for young teens. Sex (including homosexuality) is a common topic among adults and teens, language is an issue, and stereotypes are fairly harsh. Some teens are catty and manipulative, using other people to get what they want with little regard for their feelings. Predictably all of this content (and then some) is spun for humor, so it's important that viewers don't misinterpret it as a reflection of real life. However, it does raise some issues that will hit home with parents and teens, all while entertaining viewers with razor-sharp writing delivered by a fantastic cast.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about body image. How does being around her new peers make Tessa feel about herself? To what extent is your self-confidence related to the way you look? How does the media influence your impression of the "perfect" body?

  • Teens: Did Tessa's experiences with her new peers ring true with you? Do you find that people's true character surprise you once you get to know them? Is it tempting to prejudge people? How can you avoid doing so?

  • How have the dynamics of the America family changed in recent years? What new challenges do families face in staying connected? What happens when communication breaks down? How does technology both positively and negatively affect our ability to stay in touch? 


This review was written by Emily Ashby
Parent
September 30, 2011
 
Program was misrated!
From my examinations, this should be TV-14-D!

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Parent of 5 and 10 year old
October 7, 2011
 
It's a no-go for kids and young teens!
Definitely not for kids. At the risk of sounding over-protective, I can't imagine letting anyone younger than 16 watch this show. The sexual references and innuendo are a big part of the plot. This past episode, Tessa was blindsided by her attraction to the "hot", but idiotic teenage boy across the street. He certainly wasn't her "type" but she couldn't stop herself from continuing to make out with him, and his rock-hard "guns" were a much discussed turn-on for her. This "relationship" started because a nasty girl in a group of rumpus room gathering teens dared him to kiss a lesbian (Tessa is not gay). I'm no prude, but I just can't imagine letting teens younger than 16 view this show. Furthermore, one of my main problems with Suburgatory is what age Tessa appears to be and what age she is in the show. I simply can not buy her as a high-school student. I just can't get past it; It distracts me from the plot every time she is on screen. I know teens on TV shows are typically much older in real life (Hello, Bev. Hills 90120) but it seems almost insulting to the viewing public that we are asked to see her as a 16 yr old. Maybe not an issue for others, but definitely is for me. Overall, for older teens and adults, it's somewhat amusing and mildly enjoyable.

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Teen, 14 years old
September 29, 2011
 
Thought sparking. Great for your teen girls.
This is a show about the teenage struggles. Something teens can relate to. And the messages that go out there about how to deal with those struggles. Media shows that getting in fights, doing drugs, and/or drink and drive is the way to go. But this show is different. And there is a lot of things about body image. There are girls that get nose jobs. Tessa meets a lot of girls who have gotten cosmetic procedures. And some comments about sex. But this show is hilarious.

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Adult
October 20, 2011
 
great
i dont get why all these parents are complaining about this show me and my siblings have watched it for the past 4 weeks and have not had that big of a problem with it and ps this show is so hilarious who could not love it i love it and i am a 22 year old man

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Parent
September 29, 2011
 
A disappointing show in an inappropriate time slot
We (family of 3 including a 10 year-old) started to watch "Suburgatory" after we had watched "The Middle". I was pretty shocked that this show aired in the 8:30 timeslot. The very beginning of the show shared the premise: Dad moving girl from the city to the suburbs because he found condoms (lubricated - you get to see the box) in her drawer. It goes downhill from there. We sent our daughter out of the room after 2 minutes. The specific content I remember in the first minutes included a crass comment about a skirt being so short that it would show a girl's vagina, another comment by a high school girl to another girl about their respective parents, "she wants to screw your dad". It was a very gratuitous use of sexual dialog, not even innuendo.

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Adult
October 20, 2011
 
why
why is this show getting sutch bad reviews from parents because this is a favorite around our house and we dont see how any one could possible hate this show it is just so cute and down right hilariously funny

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Teen, 14 years old
October 7, 2011
 
OK, just depends on your kid
Great show, just not approprate for kids. They talk alot about condoms and kissing lesbians and also some making out under the bleachers!

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Kid, 12 years old
December 26, 2011
 
Funny
Funny show! Some parts are a little "Urm ..." regarding sex. The main character (Tessa) is very open minded about her opinions and a very good role model.

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Kid, 12 years old
October 5, 2011
 
Good Show
It is a really good show but kind of inappropiate.

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Parent
September 29, 2011
 
For Older Tweens
My 10 year old saw the ads and wanted to see it. I check rating and saw it was TV PG so I wanted to watch it with her. She missed the vague reference to condoms at the beginning so we kept watching. The detailed condom conversation later in the show prompted me to turn it off. Not a show for those who don't want to have to explain what a condom is just yet!

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This review was written by Emily Ashby
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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