 | 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. |
White Collar
Common Sense Media says
Fun odd-couple crime drama is tamer than you'd expect.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this character-driven crime drama is a lot lighter on language, sex, and violence than you might expect, making it a solid choice for parents and teens. There's essentially no swearing -- it's rare to even hear a "hell" or a "damn" -- and the sexual content is tamer than comparable shows. Alcohol consumption is equally scarce, and when it happens it's generally in a social setting and involves adult characters.
What's the story?
When convicted bond forger Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) stages an early exit from prison (i.e., he escapes), Peter Stokes (Tim DeKay) -- the FBI agent who spent three years of his life putting Neal behind bars -- promptly throws him back in the slammer. But instead of staying locked up, Neal suggests a tempting alternative: He'll put his criminal mind to work for the feds while wearing a tracking device that limits his mobility. As the pair tests out their tenuous partnership, Neal rents a room from a wealthy widow (Diahann Carroll), reconnects with a former associate (Willie Garson), and helps Peter score points with his wife (Tiffani Thiessen).
Is it any good?
The whole "bad guy works with the good guys to catch bad guys" schtick has been done many times before -- and rather successfully, to boot (most notably in Martin Scorsese's Oscar winner The Departed). So why do we need another also-ran? Well, for one thing, because this one is pretty darn entertaining. Once the main characters strike a bargain and begin working together to find an elusive forger, the real fun begins. (That said, the female characters leave a bit to be desired.)
You might not have heard of Bomer or DeKay before (they're best known for their work on Chuck and Tell Me You Love Me, respectively), but that doesn't mean they lack the charisma to sell every line they're given -- particularly in their scenes together. Whether the ongoing story line keeps audiences interested remains to be seen, but based on tone, premise, and execution, this one's got a fighting chance.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the show's relatively low levels of sex, violence, and language. Can you imagine a racier, more violent version of this show? Would it be more or less enjoyable? Why?
Have you seen this good guy/bad guy buddy formula before in television or on the big screen? Why does it work? What does this series do to liven up the idea?
What do you make of the show's female characters? Do they play a prominent role in the proceedings?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Perfect for Teens
I LOVE this show. Its a great show for teens, and isn't TV-14 like CSI or NCIS. Its very clean, good entertainment.
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AGE
Not appropriate for anyone anymore.
I did love the show until Neal used God's name in vain. I have banned this show from our house.
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AGE
Great score in my book!
I absolutely adore this show.
I've watched every episode since it aired (i heart tivo) and the only "sex" i saw was when a girl visiting Neil pretended she was there having sex with him, but it was a cover to hide that she was visiting "something else" (spoiler!).
There is no outstanding language use that comes to mind, and little to no violence. The only thing I can even think of to "keep in mind" is that it does "glamour-fy" theft. Just make sure your kids know that while the IDEA of being a classy, art-stealing guy sounds fun, its certainly not a career option
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AGE
love it
this is a great funny show for 9 and up!
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AGE
Not really a show for kids, but great for tweens and up
Entertaining, funny, exciting, and a lot more kid friendly than most crime shows. There is occasional swearing, but not so much that it’s a problem. White Collar has a lot less violence than most crime shows, but still not something for young kids to watch. All in all I think it is an awesome show and would recommend it for anyone over 10, as long as it held their interest.
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AGE
It's like Catch me if you can, all over again!
Well, the only thing that would disuade me from saying it's on for kids is the fact that Neal broke the law. He was in prison and although being released legally, it just shows children they can do what they want, and then everything will be fine. But otherwise the show is very good. The main cop characters are very well portrayed as to not be 'bad' or 'crooked' cops, and there isn't too much sex or language.
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AGE
When I looked at ratings for this show I noticed that only kids had reviewed it. As a parent, I'm always more interested in what other parents think of a show. Our whole family has watched White Collar since it's first episode. My youngest child is a 12 year old girl. The show is entertaining and has interesting characters. The FBI agent's marriage is often a topic in the show and portrayed well. The characters are honorable. The "bad" guy isn't really so bad and is actually quite likable. The show is mildly funny and there are twists in the plots to keep viewer interest. As family shows go, this one is a keeper for our family. Even my husband will watch it and enjoy it and he generally prefers DVDs of Gunsmoke and Hawaii Five-O more than current shows.
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AGE
Great show with nothing iffy :)
Even though Neal is a criminal, he becomes friends with the person he believed to be his enemy, Peter. Their friendship is rocky sometimes when they both have trust issues (with each other), but in the end they really want to help one another. Unlike other crime shows, this one does not feel the need to show people making out or talk about sex all the time. It's kind of a refreshing change, it makes it easier to watch with your parents. I find homicides to be a common and absorbing topic on TV, but White Collar makes fraud, theft and cons very interesting.
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AGE
Super!!!
GREAT show!! Almost my favorite (besides burn notice). It has superb actors, and it is better than any cop show i have ever seen. I can honestly not find anything wrong with it.
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AGE
perfect for you if you like ncis
it is one of my faveorite shows
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| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | USA |
| Cast: | Matthew Bomer, Tiffani Thiessen, Tim DeKay |
| Genre: | Drama |
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