Parents' Guide to Love Bites

TV NBC Comedy 2011
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Common Sense Media Review

Kari Croop By Kari Croop , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Adult romcom isn't funny, and sex jokes are constant.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Alternating between storylines -- and between coasts -- LOVE BITES is an anthological romcom concerning the romantic foibles of three main characters: Annie (Becki Newton), a pregnant but single New Yorker who's carrying a baby for her married sister and brother-in-law, and married couple Colleen and Judd (Constance Zimmer and Greg Grunberg), who live together in Venice Beach. But there's also an ever-changing coterie of guest stars, including Jennifer Love Hewitt and Craig Robinson.

Is It Any Good?

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

Even if Love Bites' frustrating "anthology" format worked, an entire hour is way too long, and there's a surprising lack of laughs for that much screen time.

It's also strange that, in spite of the 10 or so characters viewers meet in the first episode (including the ever-reliable Craig Robinson of The Office), the show's website warns that only three of them are permanent. (And, we'll tell you right now: It's not the best three.) So forget about love; the only thing that really bites here is the concept.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the show's portrayal of love and relationships. What messages does the show send about being single vs. being married? Of the couples you see on the show, who has the healthiest relationship? Are coupled-up characters "better off" than those who are single?

  • What role does sex play in these characters' lives? How do the single and married characters' attitudes about sex differ?

  • What do you think of the show's format? How does the decision to set each episode in several different cities affect the pacing and plot? Are some storylines more compelling than others?

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

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