Parents' Guide to

Hung

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Sex-centric dramedy about unlikely gigolo isn't for kids.

TV HBO Comedy 2009
Hung 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 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Jyt
Jyt Parent of 8, 9 and 12-year-old
September 17, 2009
age 15+

Beware of Hung Classification @ Direct TV

The show is good for adult entertaiment but definitely not suitable for kids. Parents be aware that at least in my Direct TV box, the show is classified as TV-G while HBO classifies as TV-MA. If you have Parental Control only by classification, the show will go on. Careful!!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Single dad. Washed out pro ball player. High school basketball coach on a losing streak. Flat broke. Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane) seems like the very definition of down and out. By his own (very low) estimation, he's really only got one standout quality: a very large penis. Not that his genitalia is enough, on its own, seems to be enough to get him ahead in life. But when his house burns down and he's on the edge of financial ruin, Ray starts to reconsider: Maybe his penis can help him earn some extra cash. And thus is born a most unlikely gigolo.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (3):

As a conceit, HUNG seems pretty thin -- just as shallow as a bunch of high school guys (or older men who prefer not to grow up) who think that a big penis means so much more than it does. But this entertaining dramedy goes deeper than that. Yes, Ray seems glad to have been "blessed," and some of his lovers seem to appreciate it, including his extremely bitter ex-wife (Anne Heche), and Tanya (Jane Adams), a two-night-stand who becomes his pimp (she prefers to think of their business venture as an unusual marketing project).

But Hung isn't just about sex. Sure, there are plenty of sex scenes featuring male and female nudity (though the title-making body part doesn't get any screen time). But this show is really about a regular guy trying to get by -- and how he deals with his choices. The scenes showing Ray with his clients are just a small portion of the show; the more interesting scenes show him juggling his increasingly complicated life (including hiding his new job from his two teenage kids) and his relationship with Tanya, who wants to teach him how to satisfy a woman (hint: It takes more than just a penis). And if Ray can learn that, it's clear that he might be capable of learning much more.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the sex trade. Why does Ray become a male prostitute? Can you sympathize with his choice? Does the series make prostitution seem different for men than for women? How does this series compare to others that focus on men and women who sell their bodies?

  • Families can also discuss sex stereotypes. How does the show play into existing stereotypes? Does it dispel any of them?

TV Details

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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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