Parents' Guide to

Accidentally on Purpose

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Sitcom's premise hangs on consequences of casual sex.

TV CBS Comedy 2009
Accidentally on Purpose 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 16+

Based on 1 parent review

angmom
angmom Parent of 8 and 10-year-old
April 9, 2010
age 16+

Not for kids at all

I personally like the show. However it is not appropriate for kids before High School. Very sex oriented.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

On the rebound from a breakup with her boss, James (Grant Show), unmarried Billie (Jenna Elfman) jumps into bed with Zack (Jon Foster), a cute younger man she met at a bar. But she's hardly prepared for the unplanned pregnancy that results from the careless encounter ... which could have been ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE. Billie resolves to keep the baby and invites Zack, who has no place to live, to move in with her as a platonic houseguest. Meanwhile, James expresses second thoughts about getting serious.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

As far as sitcoms go, Accidentally on Purpose is entertaining enough, with some generally funny writing and a strong cast (although Foster, like his character, seems a bit green compared to his co-stars). Elfman lays it on thick with offbeat charm to create a satisfyingly quirky protagonist, and it's great to see Ashley Jensen (Extras) in a supporting turn as her ballsy gal pal. Lines like "He smelled like a Skittle; I feel like I tasted the rainbow" and "I prefer the term 'linx' or 'ocelot' [to 'cougar']" definitely work.

That said, some aspects -- including the premise of having your baby daddy living in your apartment long-term -- seem less certain. And what happens when the baby comes along?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the real-life consequences of casual sex -- including pregnancy, parenthood, and a complete change of lifestyle. Are there different complications when it comes to teen pregnancy? Why do some movies and TV shows portray unplanned pregnancies as funny?

  • What do you make of Billie's choices? What do you think about Zack's commitment to be a part of the baby's life? Are either of them ready for parenthood? What makes someone a good parent?

  • Who's the show's target audience? How can you tell?

TV Details

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