Parents' Guide to

Mike & Molly

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Sitcom charms when the focus is on love, not fat.

TV CBS Comedy 2010
Mike & Molly Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 9 parent reviews

Susan D.
Susan D. Adult
May 24, 2023
age 15+

Molly ruined entire show.

I really liked the first couple seasons of Mike and Molly...but then it became all about this pushy woman who did whatever she wanted without ever considering anyone else espepecially her husband while spending them into 1000's of dollars of debt. She wasn't funny, she wasn't lovable...the whole world had to revolve around her or else. It had such a great beginning.
Loretta T.
Loretta T. Parent of 5 and 6-year-old
April 9, 2023
age 15+

Mostly funny..favorite season is 1,3,4

Too much drinking going on, which I think is bad for young kids. Molly is very disrespectful a lot of times.. Too much sex talk which may be inappropriate for younger children

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After spying each other at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting, MIKE & MOLLY (Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy) strike up a romance based on a shared sense of humor -- and a few extra pounds they'd like to lose. But while police officer Mike's biggest enemy is himself, grade-school teacher Molly's got her skinny mother (Swoosie Kurtz) and sister (Katy Mixon) to contend with. Reno Wilson co-stars as Mike's loyal partner, Carl, who tries to keep him from falling off the wagon.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Like most other sitcoms, Mike & Molly is taking a gamble on a gimmick. But in this case, that gimmick is an ongoing romance between two plus-sized people who meet at Overeaters Anonymous. (Insert requisite "fat joke" here.) And while it's not necessarily done in poor taste, it's a shame that a show about two people who don't fit the traditional leading-role body types chooses to play the weight card so heavy-handedly.

As a result, you're sometimes left wondering whether you're laughing at Mike and Molly or with them -- and we'd like to think most viewers will choose the latter. Because if you strip away the fact that the leads are locked in a love affair with food, the show is really more about their romantic journey as two formerly lonely people and less about the fact that they're "fat." The real message is much bigger than that.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the relationship between body image and weight. Does the show reinforce or dispel negative stereotypes about overweight people? How realistic are the characters' struggles with food and exercise?

  • How does carrying extra weight affect men and women when it comes to romance? Is attractiveness measured in pounds -- and does the answer differ depending on gender?

  • How does this comedy compare to other shows or movies with overweight protagonists?

TV Details

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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.

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