Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hanging out with this gang is good family fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
HANGIN' WITH MR. COOPER, which originally aired in the 1990s, stars stand-up comedian Mark Curry as Mark Cooper, a retired NBA player who returns to his hometown of Oakland to take a job as a substitute teacher and part-time gym coach. He decides to move in with his childhood friend Robin Dumars (Dawnn Lewis) and her roommate, Vanessa Russell (Holly Robinson-Peete). As the single and self-perceived ladies' man adjusts to life with female roommates, he finds himself experiencing a lot of dating misadventures. Things get even more complicated when Robin moves out and cousin Geneva (Saundra Quarterman) moves in with her young daughter Nicole (Raven Symone). But no matter how crazy his life gets, Mark never forgets where he came from or what's really important in life.
Is It Any Good?
The show -- which was originally positioned as an adult-oriented comedy similar to '70s classic Three's Company but became more family targeted in later seasons -- showcases Curry's brand of humor and features lots of slapstick comedy. But beneath the silliness (especially in later seasons) is a strong message about the importance of friendship and the value of being supported by an extended family. It also highlights the importance of returning to your community and mentoring kids.
It's all pretty mild, but there is some subtle sexual innuendo, usually related to dating and romantic tensions between some of the main characters. Some of the jokes also include humorous references to violent behavior, including fights and drive bys. But much of this will most likely go over the head of younger viewers, and it's generally overshadowed by the show's overall positive message,making Hangin' with Mr. Cooper a decent viewing choice for older tweens and teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sitcoms. Are there any significant differences between the TV comedies that are popular today and those that were popular a decade ago? Is the humor itself different? Why are some shows still funny and popular 10, 20, or 30 years after they originally aired? Why aren't others? Which of today's shows do you think will stand the test of time?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 22, 1992
- Cast : Dawnn Lewis , Holly Robinson Peete , Mark Curry
- Network : Syndicated
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 4, 2022
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
Suggest an Update
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