Parents' Guide to Just a Dash

TV Netflix Reality TV 2026
Just a Dash TV show poster: Matty Matheson sprinkles salt into a pan with green vegetables in it. He wears a hat and a striped robe.

Common Sense Media Review

By Ty'Kira Smalls , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Swearing, smoking in fever-dream food mockumentary.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Just a Dash Trailer
  • Just a Dash TV show screenshot 1: Matty Matheson and Michelle Rabin stand at a kitchen island. Rabin holds out a large strip of pasta across her arms.
  • Just a Dash TV show screenshot 2: Matheson leans to catch a pan sliding off the stove. He wears a flannel shirt, trucker hat, and white tee.
  • Just a Dash TV show screenshot 3: Matheson pulls a giant king crab out of a pot. He wears a gray suit jacket, white shirt, badge, and patterned tie.

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all

What's the Story?

Matty Matheson (The Bear) gets kicked out of the house by his wife, so he takes JUST A DASH on the road. From airplane tray tables to a therapy session, if there's fire, there's a kitchen. With his chaotic film crew, trusty producer Michelle Rabin, and his best friend (Ricky Staffieri), Matheson is out to make a good meal and leave a mark (messy or delicious) at every stop.

Is It Any Good?

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

This series heats up traditional cooking shows to a comedic and chaotic degree. Just a Dash is rapid, raucous, and refreshing. Mattheson and his crew continue to have fun and serve tasty mayhem, while still dropping in randomly reflective moments amidst the fire. With the language, smoking, and innuendos, this is definitely isn't for young kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about web series. Just a Dash was originally a YouTube series. Were you familiar with the show before this? What other shows were online before they became streamer/network series? How do the shows develop as they change platforms?

  • As creator and star of the show, Matty Matheson uses aspects of his own life throughout each episode. Can you tell what's reality and what's played up for the cameras?

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

Just a Dash TV show poster: Matty Matheson sprinkles salt into a pan with green vegetables in it. He wears a hat and a striped robe.

What to Watch Next

See all

Mockumentaries for Teens

See all

Cooking & Baking Shows

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