Parents' Guide to

Crowded

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Full-nest family comedy mixes messages with iffy behaviors.

TV NBC Comedy 2016
Crowded Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

ah5
ah5 Adult
April 24, 2016
age 16+

Inappropriate Language

My first time watching, with my 12 year olds. Thought is was a family comedy....at the end of the episode, use of the "p" word! Totally unnecessary and inappropriate!!!

This title has:

Too much swearing
Lee Istheman
Lee Istheman Adult
March 27, 2016
age 16+

Good stars, disappointing content

Love Patrick Warburton and the rest of the cast. Show has some funny moments and scenes. However the show is way too dependent on cheap adult scenes. One of the daughters has a lesbian one night stand. The 2 main characters have trouble with their sex life once the daughters move back in. The main characters smoke marijuana. The dad gets busted watching internet porn. And so on. Ok for adults but gets tiresome with little script creativity. Too bad, waste of a good cast.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the true-life experiences of executive producer Suzanne Martin, CROWDED is a comedy series about what home life can potentially become when adult children move back home. It stars Patrick Warburton as Mike Moore, who, along with his wife Martina (Carrie Preston), celebrated the departure of daughters Shea (Miranda Cosgrove) and Stella (Mia Serafino) when they left to begin their adult lives. But four years later, thanks to a lagging economy, they've moved back home. As a result, Mike's parents -- Bob (Stacy Keach) and his stepmother, Alice (Carlease Burke) -- want to stay close to their grandchildren rather than retire to Florida. As Mike and Martina readjust to having their now-adult children in the house, they all soon realize that they must negotiate their new family dynamic.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This pretty funny series taps into some of the many issues that parents whose kids haven't quite been able to fully leave the nest have to deal with. Despite the show's old-school format, which includes a laugh track, it raises contemporary questions about the reasons grown children are returning to their childhood homes, which range from attempting to survive a difficult economy to being enabled by their parents rather than being forced to do what they need to do to live as independent, responsible adults.

However, the way the series addresses these issues is confusing, as Mike and Martina bemoan making their kids' lives too easy but still can't seem to set appropriate boundaries or keep them from taking over their lives. Some viewers will also take issue with some of the adult behaviors featured here, including the open smoking of marijuana. But it's meant to be a lighthearted comedy, and, like it or not, it reflects many of the social changes that are taking place in American society.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about TV and movies that show behaviors such as drinking and smoking nicotine, marijuana, or other substances. Some of these behaviors are legal for adults, but what impact does showing these activities have on kids? Are there ways to make a TV program or film entertaining or edgy without showing these behaviors? Parents: How can you talk to your family about these behaviors?

  • Should comedies be used as a platform for discussing important or significant social issues? Or is it too hard to take these issues seriously (or pick up on them altogether) because the show is funny?

TV Details

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