Parents' Guide to

Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Sweet family sitcom has predictable humor, some edgy stuff.

TV Netflix Comedy 2021
Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

SoCalMom2020
SoCalMom2020 Adult
April 25, 2021
age 13+

Off Color

The show has potential but the adults of the family smoking “medicinal marijuana” together, constant sexual references and language gives me more concern than humor. There isn’t much that’s funny. The teen references seem to be on point according to my 11 year old and the show was interesting to her. Good to start watching with younger teens to discuss issues that might create questions or misunderstanding.

This title has:

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

What's the Story?

DAD STOP EMBARRASSING ME! is built around the Dixon family. There's single dad Brian (Jamie Foxx), who's trying to keep his mother's cosmetic company and his own romantic life afloat in the midst of trying to bond with his 15-year-old daughter, Sasha (Kyla-Drew). As for Sasha, she's simultaneously grieving the recent death of her mother, trying to readjust to her new life in Atlanta, and dealing with her dad's many cringe-inducing ways. Joining Sasha and Brian in the Dixon family home is the rowdy Pops (David Alan Grier) and Brian's sister, Chelsea (Porscha Coleman).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (12 ):

The cast has chemistry, and Jamie Foxx is richly blessed with comic gifts, but the comedy is shticky and broad and the setup feels dated in this throwback sitcom that seems imported from another era. Perhaps from 1990s WB, where The Jamie Foxx Show ran from 1996 to 2001, also with a high-concept setup, a laugh track, and Foxx delivering irascible commentary and physical comedy -- and also produced by Foxx's Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! co-creator, Bentley Kyle Evans. It can't be denied that the guy's good at it; in the show's pilot, the gift of a pair of white skinny jeans is the trigger for a cascading series of gags in which Foxx uncomfortably twitches his way through a social occasion in said skintight pants.

To its credit, Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! leans into sweet moments too, in which the Dixon family comes together to support Sasha -- there are hugs and lessons learned. David Allen Grier is a comic highlight as a weed-smoking lothario of a grandpa, despite the fact that he's only 11 years older than Foxx; his habits are the source of much of the teens-and-up mature laughs. For a certain type of humor, Dad is like a warm hug: predictable, an occasional guffaw, and actors you like spending time with.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why family life is such an enduring setting for TV comedies. What's the comedic potential? Can most people relate to the foibles of a family? Why is this an appealing setting?

  • Jamie Foxx and David Alan Grier were in an iconic 1990s comedy show together, In Living Color. What's the difference between the satirical sketch comedy of that show and the more broad family comedy here? Are both funny? Which is funnier to you?

  • TV shows that revolve around a generation gap are common. Can you name any? What's funny about parents and children misunderstanding each other? Are real-life issues between parents and children ever amusing like they are on television?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate