Baby Daddy

Unexpected single parenting isn't a new shtick in the comedy genre, and Baby Daddy has a lot of funny elements that harken back to classics like Three Men and a Baby and Look Who's Talking. But what easily could be a trite rehashing of the man-learns-to-cope-with-baby's-bodily-functions quips (of which there are plenty) turns out to have some heart, not just in Ben's developing affection for his baby daughter but also in the relationships among the adult cast. Not even a love triangle between the brothers and Riley darkens the sense of camaraderie that exists among this likable group of characters.

Still, as funny and sweet as Baby Daddy can be, the fact that it glosses over the type of casual physical relationship that eventually led to the darling baby at the center of the story says a lot about how sexuality tends to be portrayed on TV. While the dialogue isn't quite as bold as what you might hear on many primetime network shows, any teen with a keen ear and some curiosity will pick up on references to "intimacy" and a mental calculation of how old a baby is based on the timing of a sexual encounter, so if yours do tune in, be proactive in discussing responsible sexuality with them and pointing out the differences between the show's rosy view of single parenting and the real-life version.