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White Collar

(Rated TV-PG, Drama, Starring Matthew Bomer, Tim DeKay, Tiffani Thiessen, Where to watch: USA, DVD)

  • 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?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fun odd-couple crime drama is tamer than you'd expect.

Themes in this show include:   friendship, honesty

Why We Rated This on for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The take-away is that a criminal's mind can be put to use for a good cause. Friendship and teamwork are reinforced.
 

What to watch out for

  • Role models:

    While one of the main characters has a criminal past (he's a convicted bond forger who escapes from jail and proceeds to lie, steal, and swindle his way back onto the grid), his counterpart is a law-abiding FBI agent who help keep his baser instincts in check. The criminal agrees to use his know-how to help the feds catch other bad guys. On the downside, the show's female characters aren't particularly complex.

  • Violence:

    Some characters carry guns; occasional explosions, but blood is rare.

  • Sex:

    Some sexual innuendo (for example, the use of a phrase like "between the sheets") and kissing, but it's pretty light.

  • Language:

    Some "gateway" words ("damn," "hell"), but they're rarely used.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Adult characters occasionally drink alcohol in social situations.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About White Collar

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.

Did this review help you decide?

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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Our Members Say

Have you seen it? Review It!

  • What did you think about White Collar?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Hidden_light96
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    Funny show for a hot criminal ;) lol

    I've only seen a few episodes of this show but I like it :)

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    gbboone
    I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Good

    I like it.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    hmph11
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    love it

    this is a great funny show for 9 and up!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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