Parents' Guide to

One on One

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Silly sitcom feels fake, but teens might enjoy.

TV Syndicated , TeenNick Comedy 2001
One on One Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 1 parent review

Mimi G.
Mimi G. Adult
July 23, 2018
age 11+

When tv was honest !

The show is cute and silly enough to enjoy as a family.. It also touches topics both adults and kids deal with separately and together. Highlights lows and highs of parenting.
See all 1 parent review

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?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (7 ):

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

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.

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.

See how we rate