Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Episodes
By Kari Croop,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Smart, adult-oriented Hollywood spoof with strong language.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Episodes
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
What's the Story?
Fresh from raking in accolades for their hit Britcom Lyman's Boys -- a nuanced comedy about a portly headmaster (Richard Griffiths) and his daily dealings with staff and students -- married writers Beverly and Sean Lincoln (Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan) agree to move to Los Angeles and adapt the show for American television. But their modest hopes for mainstream success are shattered through a disheartening series of EPISODES when the network president (John Pankow) and his cronies decide to cast former Friends star Matt LeBlanc (Matt LeBlanc) as a hockey coach and rename the show Pucks!
Is It Any Good?
When you get wind of a series that's built around Matt LeBlanc -- the guy we all know as the catch-phrasing Joey "How YOU doin'?" Tribbiani -- it immediately conjures up bad memories of Lost In Space. Or Joey. But dare we say this Showtime dramedy is the best thing LeBlanc's done to date? Fans crowed for his broad antics on Friends. But by parodying his own career on Episodes and playing a fictionalized version of himself, he's funnier than ever before.
Greig and Mangan ground the story and turn in winning performances as the series' befuddled Brits, and the rest of the casting is spot-on. But the show's shrewd handling of the insidious relationship between British and American television -- and Hollywood's unabashed more-is-more approach to comedy -- is even more entertaining.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fame and what it means to be a celebrity in American culture. What does it take to be successful in the entertainment business? If you had your own chance to be rich and famous, where would you draw the line?
What are the major differences between television series that air in the United States and Britain, at least according to the show's writers? Which do you prefer? Is British humor really that much different than American comedy?
How close does the series get to the realities of Hollywood, particularly when it comes to the creation -- and occasional destruction -- of art?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 9, 2011
- Cast: Matt LeBlanc , Stephen Mangan , Tamsin Greig
- Network: Showtime
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Best Sitcoms for Your Next Family Binge-Watch
Offbeat Animated Movies
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