Common Sense Media Review
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Silly sitcom feels fake, but teens might enjoy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Long-running sitcom ONE ON ONE has shifted from a family setting to focus on a group of college-age friends who are navigating the tricky terrain of early adulthood. These friends are also roommates, and they argue over household chores, help each other study for exams, party together, and find ways to make money. The main relationship is between Breanna Barnes (Kyla Pratt), a smart, outspoken young woman, and her on-again / off-again boyfriend, Arnaz Ballard (Robert Ri'chard).
Is It Any Good?
As with many sitcoms, the show's storylines are somewhat predictable and the conflicts over-dramatized. One on One feels particularly forced -- almost as if you were watching the show from the stage below as the actors shouted their lines into the audience and walked in carefully choreographed steps across the set. Nothing feels real, from the dialogue to the relationships. And while the series' overall messages are positive -- it promotes friendship, doing well in school, and successful independence -- the humor too often relies on destructive stereotypes.
While the show keeps it pretty clean overall -- the characters drink soda at parties and usually say "darn" when they're upset -- sexual language and innuendo play a heavy role. One of the friends, Darrell "D-Money" McGinty (Ray J. Norwood, brother to singer Brandy) has a crush on Breanna, and as she works to get over her relationship with Arnaz, D-Money makes constant sexual remarks to her, referring to "sexual healing" and "lying in bed together naked."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it would be like for teens to be on their own for the first time. What choices would you have to make? What kind of mistakes would you expect to pop up? How would you solve unexpected problems? They can also talk about stereotypes. How are the different women on the show portrayed? Do they act the way your friends act? Is that good or bad?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 3, 2001
- Cast : Flex Alexander , Kelly Perine , Kyla Pratt
- Networks : Syndicated , TeenNick
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : January 28, 2022
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