Me and My Grandma
By Jenny Nixon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
YouTube star's sitcom is plagued with stale storylines.
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Me and My Grandma
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What's the Story?
In ME AND MY GRANDMA, Janey (Eva Gutowski) is a recent college grad living at home in Michigan and spending most of her time cuddling with her grandma on the couch binge-watching reality shows. Her mom pushes her to pursue an accounting job, but Grandma (Rhea Perlman) encourages the disaffected 20-something to move to Hollywood and pursue her secret dream: to be an actress. She even offers to accompany Janey, but it's quickly revealed that Grandma has acting aspirations of her own. The unlikely duo's relationship is tested while they pursue their dreams of stardom and interact with various Hollywood types, including the snotty rival actress, the crush-worthy hot dude, and the quirky neighbor.
Is It Any Good?
Social media stars may have huge influence on kid audiences these days, but this show is proof positive that a big online following doesn't automatically translate into a quality sitcom. Since Gutowski has over 12 million followers on her YouTube channel, her series will likely appeal to her fan base -- but those outside the realm of the vlogger's network may find the predictable storylines and cardboard characters a bit harder to swallow.
The target audience for Me and My Grandma is unlikely to remember Rhea Perlman from her days on Cheers -- they've seen her in Matilda, maybe -- but she's a sharp and gifted comedic actress who struggles here under the weight of the cliché-filled dialogue and predictable storylines. Gutowski isn't without talent: She's playful and amiable as a YouTube personality, but her presence here is a bit stiff and one-note. Overall, the takeaway is that we've seen these types of stories before -- an improbable pair teams up to achieve a common goal and earns laughs along the way -- and it's been done better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it would be like to compete against a family member for something you want. Is friendly competition possible? And do Janey and Grandma act more like friends or family in Me and My Grandma?
What would it be like to move to a new city without knowing anyone? Do you think getting on your feet would be harder or easier than the show depicts?
Do your kids have a favorite YouTube personality? What do they love about them?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 22, 2017
- Cast: Rhea Perlman, Eva Gutowski, Steven Cox, Kayla Ewell, Shelby Rabara
- Network: YouTube
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: July 1, 2022
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