Parents' Guide to

About a Boy

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Sweet nontraditional friendships meet iffy sexual messages.

TV NBC Comedy 2014
About a Boy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Whole Mama
Whole Mama Adult
November 7, 2017
age 16+

Very Fun But Too Sexy for Kids

It starts out kind of awful and cringy - the main character pretends to have an ill kid just to lure a woman to bed, that woman brings her kids over and plans to have sex with him while the kids play in the house, main character later takes that kid to a party with women dancing in cages. It is definitely not for kids or even young teens, in my opinion, because of the frequent casual sex and drinking as a means to relax from stress and to deaden difficult feelings. I stuck with the show myself (without my kids) because of the sometimes quirky humor and sweet connection between characters who are so different, and because all the main characters grow over time. If my teens were watching it, I would discuss the different attitudes about sex that all the characters have (including married parents, new couple in a committed relationship, single guy having sex for fun and to escape his feelings of loss). Great message about tolerance and appreciation of people with different values and personalities.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Angela M.
Angela M. Adult
December 11, 2014
age 16+

Very funny show, but definitely not PG

me and my 10 year daughter started to watch this on Netflix because it was rated TV-PG. Definitely not. We watched the first two episodes and it was nothing but sex. Every other scenario or word is sex. I think this show should definitely be left to older teens.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the same Nick Hornby novel that also produced the well-regarded 2002 film also named About a Boy, this half-hour sitcom centers on Will Freeman (David Walton), a has-been rock star who made enough money from one Christmas song that, ever since, he's been able to coast, get pedicures, and careen from one woman to the next. His louche world is upended when Fiona (Minnie Driver), a freewheeling single mom, and her oddball 11-year-old son, Marcus (Benjamin Stockham), move next door. Their houses, it turns out, are connected by an old dumbwaiter. So though boozy, randy Will doesn't exactly intend to become friends with a pale, nerdy sixth grader and his meditating, vegan scold of a mother, he does, landing him in a brand-new world of complications.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (6 ):

Though ABOUT A BOY is a retread on the very popular movie, it still has a freshness about it: Intergenerational friendships are rare on television and so make for a ripe premise. Indeed, the warm connection between Will and Marcus is very sweet. Walton and Stockham are no Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult, but they're charming enough, and it's nice to see kids and adults relating to each other in a genuine, affectionate way.

All the sex stuff, however, may appall parents, particularly those of young kids. It isn't just that Will is a rake, it's that the women he "dates" are treated so disrespectfully, both by Will and by the show. They don't seem like people but like plot devices in black bras and underwear. One conquest listens to Will spin a yarn about curing his imaginary son of leukemia with voodoo, her eyes widening sympathetically. A few scenes later she comes to Will's house for a booty call, promising him sex while her two daughters play with his "son." Ugh. Meanwhile, everywhere Will goes, 20-something girls with very short skirts seem to flock. The fact that Will drags Marcus along on his adventures makes the gratuitous female flesh all the more cringe-inducing.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether Will's character is realistic. Have you ever known a man who seems to have as many women interested in him as Will? Are we supposed to relate to the women Will dates? Or to Will himself? How can you tell?

  • Who on-screen is the audience supposed to like best? Who gets the best lines? The most flattering camera angles?

  • Compare About a Boy to the other shows executive producer Jason Katims worked on: Parenthood and Friday Night Lights. How are these shows different? How are they similar? Each was a movie before it was a show. Compare the movie and television versions.

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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