Necessary Roughness
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
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What parents need to know
Parents need to know that, although this primetime drama features a pair of secondary teen characters, it's mostly targeting adults with adult problems. That said, there's positive messaging and role modeling to be had if older teens tune in. Sexual content is mostly suggested, although the main character has an unintentional one-night stand (but notably regrets it), and one character frequents a strip club, etc. Audible language includes sexually charged terms like "hooker" and "banging," along with words like "damn," "hell," "bitch," etc. There's also some sports-oriented violence and social drinking.
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What's the story?
When Long Island psychotherapist and mother of two Dr. Dani Santino (Callie Thorne) discovers her husband's been playing the field behind her back, she finds herself facing divorce -- and financial ruin. But when the coach of the New York Hawks gets wind of Dr. Dani's professional skills, he promptly hires her to whip his star football player (Terrence King) -- an on- and off-the-field problem child -- back into shape. Good thing she's got the NECESSARY ROUGHNESS for the job.
Is it any good?
While Necessary Roughness lacks the instantaneous snap of the character-driven USA dramas White Collar, Suits, and Fairly Legal, it’s definitely got the drive to deliver. Although sometimes it feels like the female lead is trying a little too hard to convince us of her Long Island-laced, working mother street cred with lines like, "My specialties include chicken parmesan, cognitive behavior therapies, hypnotherapy, and kicking patients' butts." We get it, Dr. Dani: You're sassy.
A few lame lines aside, the show's premise is pretty intriguing. And Dr. Dani doesn't limit her hypnotic influence to the world of professional sports, but also takes on troubled politicians and news anchors.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about how sex is portrayed on the show. How does the level of sexual content compare to other shows or movies about male professional sports? Does the show's approach to sex suggest anything about its target audience (ie., a mostly male or female audience)?
Are the obstacles that Dr. Dani faces as a woman working in a traditionally male industry (professional football) any different than those a man might face in the same situation?
When it comes to stereotypes, does the main character challenge any assumptions about women in her particular line of work -- or women from similar socioeconomic backgrounds? Do you think she's a positive role model?
TV details
- Premiere date: June 29, 2011
- Cast: Callie Thorne, Mehcad Brooks, Scott Cohen
- Network: USA
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: September 21, 2019
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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.
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