Parents' Guide to

Mr. Box Office

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Lackluster sitcom has likable messages at heart.

TV BET Comedy 2012
Mr. Box Office Poster Image

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

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What's the Story?

When Hollywood star Marcus Jackson's (Bill Bellamy) heated encounter with paparazzi lands him in court, the judge orders him to teach at the disadvantaged South Central High School for community service. Even more shocking than the sentence itself is how much Marcus comes to enjoy working with the students, and eventually he decides to forego acting and continue teaching, much to the dismay of his pushy agent, Bobby Gold (Jon Lovitz), who wants his star client back in the headlines. But balancing the needs of his new career and the antics of his live-in houseguests, Jamal (Alex Thomas) and Tony (Tony T. Roberts), is enough for him right now. The show also stars Tim Meadows, Vivica A. Fox, and Essence Atkins as a few of Marcus' coworkers.

Is It Any Good?

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

MR. BOX OFFICE takes a comical look at the fall and subsequent rise of a (fictional) celebrity, but it does so with a surprisingly sentimental element to the main character's evolution. Here's a guy fully ingrained in the atmosphere of fame who winds up thriving in a new, more meaningful life challenge. What's more, he values this change because he realizes his duties as a role model... Yes, the plot is contrived (a movie star who just happens to have a teaching license stashed away?), and the story is often pretty corny, but there is some value in the story of a fish-out-of-water celebrity who values a less conspicuous kind of success.

Despite a talented cast, though, Mr. Box Office comes up short on sharp writing, production value, and general originality, with a plot that bears the marks of Welcome Back, Kotter, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and a handful of other sitcoms that preceded it. It's not destined to be a classic, but it does take a curious look at the nature of fame and ask you to ponder the definition of success, both of which are good points of discussion with your tweens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Marcus' reasoning for embracing teaching. Is it a conscious decision for him? How does he use his experiences to inspire his students?

  • Kids: Who are some of your personal role models? Do you know each one personally? If not, how do you know that person's true personality? What is this show's message about celebrities' images vs. their true nature?

  • Did you notice any instances of stereotyping in the show? Did they contribute to the comedy? Are they ever acceptable in entertainment?

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.

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