Parents' Guide to

Hello Ladies

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Shallow protagonist hits the clubs to find love -- and sex.

TV HBO Comedy 2013
Hello Ladies Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

Lanky English Web designer Stuart Pritchard (Stephen Merchant) skipped across the pond to Los Angeles with dreams of landing a girlfriend with his go-to phrase, "Hello, ladies!" But he's been unlucky in love for two reasons: He's awkward, and he's kind of a jerk. Meanwhile, his struggling-actress roommate, Jessica (Christine Woods), takes pleasure in tormenting him while she works on writing and directing her own Web series...and on trying to stop sleeping with her agent.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Thanks to the transformational success of their hit mockumentary series The Office and Extras, Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais are forever linked. So for Merchant, branching out on his own -- not only in his first starring role but without his longtime creative partner -- marks a big step toward his developing some professional autonomy. The result is awkwardly funny, much like Merchant, which stands to reason since much of the dialogue is based on his real-life experiences wading through (and towering above) the L.A. social scene. Still, it's tough to root for a main character whose heart always seems to be in the wrong place.

That said, you do end up hoping that Stuart will someday get a clue and realize that the real "Mrs. Right" could be right in front of him. Still, we can't see Jessica going for it -- and that would also mean the show would be over.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Hello Ladies' comedy style and what type of audience it's targeting. Is it more difficult for low-key comedies like this one to appeal to the masses?

  • How does Stuart measure up as a role model? Is he intentionally shallow and offensive, or do his social gaffes stem from self-absorption and general cluelessness?

  • How does Hello Ladies compare to the critically acclaimed series Merchant worked on with Gervais (The Office and Extras)? What are the downsides to being seen as the "other half" of a comedy writing duo?

TV Details

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