Parents' Guide to Bob Hearts Abishola

This series uses humor to create lighthearted stories about the immigrant experience in the United States at a time when immigrants, and immigration, are subjects of controversy. The awkward pairing of Bob and Abishola, whose differences range from being of separate racial and ethnic backgrounds to the ways they each reach for the American Dream, allows for some social commentary about the subject.

While some may find this groundbreaking, others may take issue with some of the all-too-standard conventions the show presents, such as the pursuit and (hopeful) romantic conquest of a black woman by a white man, and jokes about immigrants wanting to marry wealthy Americans. But there's also an earnestness about Bob Hearts Abishola that makes it likable, and the writers' efforts at slowly bringing the two characters together to find common ground give these stereotypes some context. Not everyone will appreciate it, or find it entertaining. Nonetheless, the positive messages the show presents about who immigrants are, the work that goes into building a life here, and the important role immigrants play in this country are a good thing.