Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong female lead the best part of crude showbiz comedy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Loosely Exactly Nicole
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LOOSELY EXACTLY NICOLE is a semiautobiographical, scripted comedy series starring comedian Nicole Byer as herself. Nicole is trying to break into showbiz, but the closest she's gotten to Hollywood is living in Van Nuys, California, with her gay roommate David (Jacob Wysocki). There's a lack of casting opportunities for plus-sized African-American women, but she's taking advantage of every audition she can get. It gets frustrating, but she manages by having a casual relationship with Derrick (Kevin Bigley). Her best friend Veronica (Jen D'Angelo) offers lots of moral support, too.
Is It Any Good?
This female-driven, edgy series features a main character who's unapologetic about her size and comfortable with her sexuality. While Loosely Exactly Nicole is empowering in some ways, the show's reliance on crude sexual humor feels more like cheap attempts at getting laughs. The reliance on common racial and ethnic stereotypes doesn't help, either.
Nicole Byer's comic abilities are evident, but the show's writing is more silly than smart. As a result, it contains scenes (such as one that presents an Asian child in blackface) that cross the line from being politically charged to just being dim and offensive. Overall, the show has a lot of potential but doesn't quite reach it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about humor. Comedians often push the envelope of what's appropriate to get a laugh. Why? Does this show succeed at doing this? Should comedies ever rely on stereotypes for laughs? Why, or why not?
How can TV shows that feature larger-sized characters who are happy with how they look help us think about our bodies? Is showing women who are comfortable with their sexuality a positive thing? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 5, 2016
- Cast : Nicole Byer , Jacob Wysocki , Jen D'Angelo
- Network : MTV
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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