Parents' Guide to

Marlon

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Bland family comedy has language, relies on stereotypes.

TV NBC Comedy 2017
Marlon Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Michelle012
Michelle012 Adult
October 2, 2020
age 6+

Enjoy the Laughs

It's a relatable show, it's funny and two of my children names are in the show lol

This title has:

Great messages
Horizonsmanager
Horizonsmanager Adult
December 19, 2019
age 14+

Not for kids

While the show is funny, it is in no way appropriate for young kids. Too much cursing and explicit language about drugs and sex. Netflix lists this a rated PG which it definitely is NOT.

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

MARLON is a comedy starring Marlon Wayans as Marlon Wayne, an Internet celebrity who shares parenting responsibilities with his ex-wife, Ashley (Essence Atkins). Raising Marley (Notlim Taylor) and Zak (Amir O'Neil) is his priority, but his larger-than-life personality often leads to some questionable guidance and unexpected mishaps. Marlon's couch-surfing friend Stevie (Diallo Riddle) acts as his sounding board when he's trying to figure things out, while Ashley's best friend, Yvette (Bresha Webb), always watches him with a judgmental eye. Sometimes Marlon can't help but act like an adult child, but in the end, family always comes first.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (10):

This pretty predictable series, which is loosely based on Marlon Wayans' life, blandly updates the classic family-centered comedy. With the help of terms like "co-parenting," and consistently showing scenes of Marlon and Ashley together with the children, it weaves in the post-divorce narrative in a way that doesn't detract from the close family dynamic, but still allows it to be a central theme.

Despite the modern-day nuances, neither the conflict-inducing scenarios presented here, or their eventual resolutions, are very original. Wayans' comedy stylings add some energy to the show, though they sometimes comes across as a desperate attempt for a laugh. Ultimately, Marlon will appeal to Wayans' fans, but folks looking for a unique comedy won't find it here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the meaning of family. Is it possible for a family to continue to be very close after the parents get divorced? Do you think Marlon offers a realistic portrayal of what that's like?

  • Much of the humor in Marlon addresses differences in various racial communities. Is it possible to do this without using stereotypes? Would this show be funny without them?

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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