Parents' Guide to Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn

Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn sells itself on the idea that sibling rivalry is an inarguable truth of life in a family, and to some degree that's true. But the show takes bothering, bugging, and bickering to a whole new level at the hands of these polar-opposite brothers and sister, to the point where it dominates even the heartwarming messages about family ties and overcoming differences that it tries to sell.

Parents will feel particular exasperation with the grown-ups, who too often cave to the whims of their scheming and somewhat argumentative children. Rarely do they assert authority, and in some cases they even celebrate unworthy moments, such as discovering that the kids worked together (a good thing) to keep their parents in the dark about ruining something special that belonged to their dad (a not-so-good thing). Of course, kids will find this kind of alternate reality very amusing, but you may not. It's worth noting that Season 3 of the show, when the quads are middle school-aged, takes on slightly more mature subject matter, with storylines that deal with petty thievery, popularity, puberty, and school pranks. In various episodes, various Harpers shave their legs, rebel against a teacher and refuse to do classwork, and go on dates to a Renaissance faire. But their tween antics are still pretty innocent, with episodes that revolve around winning a photo contest or the Harpers' hopes of starring in their own reality show.