Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Rowdy, funny comedy about a wild heiress and her caretaker.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Idiotsitter
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
After out-of-control heiress Gene (Jillian Bell) is discovered swilling from a liquor bottle while riding her horse down the highway, she's placed under house arrest. Rather than keeping an eye on her themselves, her indulgent father Kent (Stephen Root) and out-of-it stepmother Tanzy (Jennifer Elise Cox) decide to hire Harvard-educated Billie (Charlotte Newhouse) to be Gene's court-appointed monitor, the IDIOTSITTER of the title. Now Billie has to somehow keep Gene home and relatively sober, help her pass her GED, and keep her from getting in any more trouble -- which, knowing Gene, is not going to be easy.
Is It Any Good?
The ol' uptight-person-in-charge-of-a-big-mess plot line is hardly new or fresh, but absurd, unexpected jokes and delightfully over-the-top acting from the show's female leads make the timeworn device fresh once more. In one scene, Billie and Gene argue over who's the worst: "I thought your favorite movie was Pretty Woman because you love the opera and you're a whore for money!" hisses Gene. "Well, your favorite movie must be Waterworld because it's expensive and terrible like you!" returns Billie. That's some mighty weak wordplay, but the way the actresses deliver the lines as if they're solid burns is hilarious. It's all quite stupid, but the show's not trying to be anything but, and all the actors are so appealing it makes for fizzy fun.
This show is way too dirty for young teens, but older ones who can see the tenderness beneath the vulgar jokes will be charmed -- though parents may want to watch with them to counter any questionable messages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how shows and movies in which a straightlaced character is put in charge of an irresponsible one are quite common. How many can you name? How is this show alike or different from these examples?
Is the audience supposed to like Gene? What about Billy? How can you tell?
How would this show change if Gene weren't rich? Would it be less interesting? Less amusing?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 26, 2014
- Cast : Jennifer Elise Cox , Stephen Root , Charlotte Newhouse
- Network : Comedy Central
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 8, 2025
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