Parents' Guide to New Girl

TV Fox Comedy 2011
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Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Heartwarming roommate comedy with innuendo, drinking.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 14+

Based on 18 parent reviews

age 13+

Based on 80 kid reviews

Kids say this show is a mix of humor and mature themes, with many noting that it contains frequent sexual innuendos, drinking, and some profanity, making it more suitable for older teens or young adults. While many find the characters relatable and the comedy enjoyable, some express concerns about its appropriateness for younger viewers, emphasizing that it should be approached with an understanding of its adult content.

  • mature themes
  • relatable characters
  • frequent innuendos
  • teenage suitability
  • humor and comedy
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

NEW GIRL stars actress and singer Zooey Deschanel as Jessica Day, an awkward but lovable 20-something looking for a new place to live after she discovers that her longtime boyfriend is cheating on her. Luckily she meets three single guys -- sensitive Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), womanizer Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and athletic Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris) -- who have a fantastic apartment and a room to rent. Adjusting to a female roommate isn't easy for the guys, but helping them get used to her is Cece (Hannah Simone), Jess' best friend, who also happens to be a beautiful model. Together they create an unorthodox family and support each other through good and bad times.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 18 ):
Kids say ( 80 ):

This lighthearted series offers some well-timed witty moments thanks to Deschanel's performance. The group dynamic between the men in New Girl is funny too. Some of the slapstick jokes fall a little flat, but this goofball humor is part of the show's overall charm. Thanks to its focus on dating, romance, and sex, New Girl has lots of mature subject matter, none of which is discussed in explicit terms. But the show's overall focus on friendship makes it a heartwarming choice for teens and up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes a TV show like New Girl funny. Is it the writing? The acting? The timing? Are there things that you think TV shows and movies show as being funny that really aren't? Why not?

  • Who would you pick as roommates to share an apartment with? How would you divide household duties?

  • Do you have people in your life you aren't biologically related to, but you consider family?

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

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What to Watch Next

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