Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Dave

By Marty Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Music industry comedy features sex jokes, marijuana.

TV FXX Comedy 2020
Dave Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 17+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Mindi S.
Mindi S. Parent of 14 and 17-year-old
March 29, 2023
age 17+

Great show - not for kids, though

I have watched several episodes of Dave. I can honestly say this is not for kids, as it is sporadically inappropriate. There are a lot of sexual scenes/jokes and certainly drug references throughout. That said, it is funny (think Hangover type humor/images) and often touching. This show is deeper than it initially appears and really is worth watching, just not with kids in the room.
wizardortitan
wizardortitan Parent
August 12, 2021
age 16+

Pervasive crude sexual content

While certainly humorous and likely familiar to teens considering Lil Dicky's success, the sexual content in this show stretches basic cable limits as far as they will go. There are numerous sex scenes which contain thrusting and buttock detail. The third episode in particular contains a number of crude sexual references relating to fetishes, pornography, sexual positions, and almost everything under the sun that are ultimately resolved in the protagonist's girlfriend making him a "milking machine" (I'll leave you to guess what that entails). Strictly not for kids or young teens.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The title character in DAVE is also known as Lil Dicky, an aspiring rapper with a viral hit or two on his resume but not much else. As Lil Dicky struggles to get his music career off the ground, he's supported by his producer (Travis "Taco" Bennett), kindergarten teacher girlfriend (Taylor Misiak), day trader roommate (Andrew Santino), and fellow aspiring rapper GaTa (Davionte Ganter).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Hip hop has been a monumental cultural force for nearly 50 years. so it's offputting to see this show indulge in a lot of the same easy jokes about rappers that have been made for decades. Expect jokes in Dave about thugs and gangsters and posses, and how everyone is absolutely astonished to find out a White guy can rap. The series is a lot more self-aware than it would have been even 10 or 15 years ago (one of the running jokes involves Lil Dicky's producer calling out ways he unwittingly stereotypes Black people), and it's clear from the guest stars that show up (including YG, Young Thug, J Balvin, Tierra Whack, Rae Srummerd, and a ton more) that, despite being labelled as a satirical rapper, Lil Dicky has some legitimate credibility in the industry. Still, there's a lot of tired material here alongside the stuff that feels contemporary.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Lil Dicky. How would you describe the show's central character? Were you aware of Lil Dicky's career before Dave? How realistic do you think Dave is about Lil Dicky's experiences in the music industry? Is Lil Dicky a good rapper?

  • What is Lil Dicky's persona? How does he carry himself in his raps vs. his real life? How does his rap career affect his personal life?

  • How are rappers' careers portrayed in Dave? What seems realistic and unrealistic about these portrayals? How is the music industry portrayed?

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