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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that 1600 Penn is generally appropriate for families with older teens, who will likely gravitate toward storylines involving the president's two older children. Language is pretty light (mostly gateway words like "damn" and "ass," with the exception of some bleeped swearing for comedic effect), and social drinking and sex are kept to a minimum. That said, there's a storyline early on involving the president's teenage daughter and the repercussions of premarital sex.
Community Reviews
Funny new idea
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surprisingly good
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What's the Story?
When accident-prone Skip (Josh Gad) pulls a headline-making stunt at college, his dad -- sitting President Dale Gilchrist (Bill Pullman) -- promptly pulls him out of school and into the family home at 1600 PENN, where he joins siblings Becca (Martha MacIsaac), Marigold (Amara Miller), and Zander (Benjamin Stockham) and polished stepmom Emily Nash-Gilchrist (Jenna Elfman) in the White House. But Skip has a knack for making mistakes wherever he goes.
Is It Any Good?
Some critics have billed 1600 Penn as NBC's "answer" to Modern Family -- but if that's true, it's hardly a definitive one. For in spite of the presence of typically bankable leads Pullman and Elfman (and Broadway funnyman Gad, who nabbed rave reviews -- and a Tony nomination -- for his work in "The Book of Mormon"), the pilot, at least, is surprisingly short on laughs. That's not to say the show isn't funny. But the writers have a long way to go until 1600 Penn can be a viable candidate in the race for prime time ratings.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this ficticious First Family compares to real-life White House families, both present and past. How does it compare to other depictions of presidential families on the big and small screens?
What do you think it's like to be a kid growing up in the White House? What types of things do you take for granted as a "normal" kid that you might have to give up? (For example, what about your privacy?) Would your mom or dad parent you any differently if he or she was the president?
Does 1600 Penn have a political point of view? If so, how can you tell?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 17, 2012
- Cast: Bill Pullman, Jenna Elfman, Josh Gad
- Network: NBC
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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The West Wing
Intelligent political drama for mature viewers.
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The American President
Witty, wise, and idealized political romance.
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Independence Day
Nonstop over-the-top fun for teens and up.
For kids who love comedy
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