Parents' Guide to

Drake & Josh

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Opposite stepbrothers tough it out in tween-friendly sitcom.

TV Nickelodeon Comedy 2004
Drake & Josh Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 8+

Based on 32 parent reviews

Mikestvreviews
Mikestvreviews Adult
June 23, 2020
age 8+

Best teen sitcom ever

Drake and Josh is one of the funniest and most memorable teen sitcoms ever and just like spongebob can use any scene to describe any event. Classic show with memorable moments
nachiux
nachiux Adult
January 25, 2019
age 7+

el mejor live-action de nickelodeon

es bastante bueno al principio me molestaba como sufría tanto josh y drake lo dejaba morir por chicas lindas pero en las ultimas temporadas me agrado cuando drake se volvió mas tonto y gracias a eso metía en situaciones a el y josh y al igual que en victorious trataban de salir de ese gran lió

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
See all 32 parent reviews

What's the Story?

DRAKE & JOSH suddenly become brothers when their parents get married. Drake (Drake Bell), a guitar-playing dude who cruises for chicks and uses hair product, is the cooler of the two, while Josh (Josh Peck) is the smart, awkward one who loves his grandmother and helps his stepbrother with his homework. Whether these two very different types of teenage boys would actually get along as well as Drake and Josh do isn't really the point of this show (which is a spin-off of Nickelodeon's popular The Amanda Show). More important is their willingness to try. Drake helps Josh to be "smooth with the ladies," while Josh helps his new brother to be smart with the ladies.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (32):
Kids say (120):

The boys' parents are peripheral characters with lighthearted attitudes. (It's hard not to wonder how rules are set and followed in the household.) However, when Josh's Grammy (Randee Heller) shows up, a sterner, though jovial, role model appears. Grammy clearly wears the pants in the family, which might explain Josh's inherent self-confidence even when he's struggling with his self-esteem. Most self-proclaimed "dorks" wouldn't approach life with so much humor, or willingness to try new things ("How do we de-dorkify me?" he asks.)

Drake's female foil is his little sister, Megan (Miranda Cosgrove) -- the smarty pants in the family -- who is cleverer and possibly cooler than her older brother. In other words, the boys are kept in check by strong female characters who don't apologize for their strength. Drake & Josh certainly wins fans with its heart. That's a step in the right direction for Nickelodeon, which often depends on gross or violent jokes to fetch laughs.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the issues the show tackles, such as cheating, lying, getting busted for forgery, favoritism within the family, and, of course, girl problems.

  • The program's premise -- divorce breaking families apart and bringing new ones together -- is a very real topic for discussion. Is Drake and Josh's situation realistic? How would it feel to be brought into a new home with a new mom or dad and new siblings?

  • For kids who've experienced a similar transition: Do you enjoy the lighthearted humor with which Drake and Josh deal with their circumstances?

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.

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