Parents' Guide to

How to Be a Gentleman

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Odd-couple comedy lacks chemistry, relies on stereotypes.

TV CBS Comedy 2011
How to Be a Gentleman Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

When his sister (Mary Lynn Rajskub) gets him a gift certificate for a personal training session at the local gym, tightly wound columnist Andrew Carlson (David Hornsby) comes face to face with the one person he never wanted to see again: Bert Lansing (Kevin Dillon), the guy who made his high school days a living hell. But the two soon form an unlikely friendship that teaches Andrew how to let go of his outdated notions of HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (1):

When the Odd Couple formula works, it's classic comedy, whether it's the original small-screen team of Tony Randall and Jack Klugman or the cross-dressing Bosom Buddies. But when it doesn't, it just feels like a painful cliche. The two keys, of course, are character and casting.

Unfortunately, Gentleman falls short on both counts; neither main character is well-written or compelling, and together, Hornsby and Dillon have zero chemistry. And that's a real shame, too, considering that the supporting cast includes some consistently funny character actors (Rajskub and Nancy Lenehan) whose talents are largely wasted here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Odd Couple formula and why it's become such a go-to cliche. Does the use of clear-cut stereotypes help or hinder the laugh factor? Can you imagine what these characters would be like if they were less predictable?

  • How does this sitcom relate to the source material that spawned it (John Bridges' nonfiction book How to Be a Gentleman)? How does it differ in tone and concept? Do the book and the TV show have anything in common besides the title? How do you think the book became a series?

  • What's your take on the gentleman vs. man debate? Is it really so bad to be a gentleman? What does "being a man" mean to you?

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.

See all recommended tv lists

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