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Surviving Suburbia

(Rated TV-PG, Comedy, Starring Bob Saget, Jere Burns, Cynthia Stevenson, Where to watch: ABC, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Jaded view of family life is best for empathetic adults.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The Pattersons are a strong family, but Steve is openly cynical about nearly all aspects of life, love, and family. He talks about his friends behind their backs and relishes the opportunity to snipe at others. The show makes light of some potentially troubling messages, as when Steve and Anne maintain a lie to a neighbor to get a free stay in his beachfront condo.

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Many remarks are laced with sexual undertones. A recurring character runs a strip club, so there are frequent references to strippers and sexual attraction. Suggestive flirting among adults, including some aimed at married men and women. Couples mention being "in the mood" and talk about their sexual encounters after the fact (for example, "That was fabulous; a lot less fumbling than usual").

  • Language:

    A handful of instances of words like "hell" and "damn" per episode.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Adults smoke infrequently, and social settings usually include alcohol like beer and scotch.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Surviving Suburbia

Parents need to know that although this sitcom centers on an average family coping with typical woes, it's not ideal for whole-family viewing. The main character is cynical about everything from helping out a neighbor to lending a hand on his kids' homework projects, and young viewers lack the life experience needed to grasp the humor in his gloomy outlook on life. That said, salty language ("hell" and "damn," mostly) is relatively minimum, and sexual content is limited to suggestive references between adults (talk of being "in the mood" and some talk about each other's performances, for example). But you can expect a fair amount of drinking among adults, both during social situations and as a way to deal with the chaos of life.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the messages this series sends about love, life, and family. What aspects of his life are most bothersome to Steve? How do you think these issues translate to real life? Do Steve's coping techniques ring true? How would you handle some of the issues he struggles with? How can the pressures of career and family interfere with a person's happiness? Kids: What are your goals for adulthood? How will you keep a positive outlook if things don't turn out the way you hope?
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