Common Sense Media Review
By Gemma Agravante
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sexist jokes kinda cringey despite A+ Black representation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
In the House
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
IN THE HOUSE, airing from 1995 to 1999 (get ready to giggle along with a laugh track) features LL Cool J (Lip Sync Battle) -- then, primarily known as a rapper -- playing former football player Marion Hill, who, sidelined by an injury and in need of cash, is forced to move into an apartment above his garage and rent out the rest of his home. Jackie Warren, played by Debbie Allen (Fame), a recently divorced mom and her two kids, teenage Tiffany (Maia Campbell) and elementary-aged Austin (Jeff Wood), become Marion's tenants. When Jackie has problems employing a reliable nanny, she enlists Marion's help; how will this unlikely arrangement work out?
Is It Any Good?
It's a pleasure to see LL Cool J at the coolest of his coolness and the inimitable Debbie Allen's comedy and charisma anchor this sitcom. Families will enjoy the many celebrity cameos throughout the series, particularly from folks whose talents endured in the public space for decades. In the House guest appearances include RuPaul, George Takei, a 19-year-old Kobe Bryant, and many more.
In the House isn't without its flaws, but overall it represents a critical cultural stepping stone toward normalizing Black stories in popular television. Try to think about it like this: Just like revisiting the words scrawled into our adolescent diaries, we might come across more cringe than we'd prefer. Talk to your kids about the shifts in culture that have happened since In the House aired, and consider what positive impacts it made for representation and diversity in television.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about In the House and the contributions Debbie Allen and LL Cool J have made (and continue to make) in the entertainment industry, particularly in light of the barriers they have cleared while making space for other aspiring Black artists.
Why is it important to be able to identify sexism? How can watching something from a not-so-distant era teach us useful critical-thinking tools to use today?
In the House includes a cast retool in later seasons; does it strengthen or detract from the series?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 10, 1995
- Cast : LL Cool J , Debbie Allen , Alfonso Ribeiro , Maia Campbell , Kim Wayans
- Network : Max
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 26, 2024
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