Parents' Guide to

Girlfriends

By Lucy Maher, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

A tamer Sex and the City -- mature teens.

TV CW Comedy 2000
Girlfriends Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

Kingdeym
Kingdeym Parent of 15-year-old
January 11, 2019
age 10+
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

The GIRLFRIENDS are four African-American women who lean on each other as they experience romantic and professional highs and lows. Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross), is a talented lawyer-turned-restaurateur who attempts to salvage her friendship with William (Reginald C. Hayes) after an ill-fated stab at dating him; her friend Toni (Jill Marie Jones) is a successful Realtor and single mom dealing with a painful divorce; Lynn (Persia White) is a free-spirited student; and Maya (Golden Brooks) is Joan's assistant, who also serves as her voice of reason. The foursome live in Los Angeles, and like their East Coast counterparts -- Sex and the City's Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda -- these ladies must keep their wits about them as they go about dating, proving themselves professionally, and finding time for one another.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (7):

With its sharp writing and well-acted characters, this show is a true-to-life take on female friendships in the 21st century. Because of this, there are scenes and dialogue that might be too mature for kids under 13; the gals do make out with their dates in the search for Mr. Right. Even so, Girlfriends' message -- that friendships are to be cherished -- is one that has good lessons for teen viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how to balance being a good friend with other responsibilities. How can teens make sure they do well in school, succeed in their extra-curricular activities, and hold down an after-school job while still maintaining a social life? Have they ever had to choose between friends and other responsibilities? How did they make that choice? What were the consequences of that choice?

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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