Players
By Will Wade,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Crass, mediocre sports-bar comedy too liquored up for teens.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Report this review
What's the Story?
The division of labor at the Phoenix sports bar PLAYERS is pretty clear: Overly-organized Ken (Ian Roberts) takes the lead on administration, and loves to impose the latest management principles. His brother and co-owner Bruce (Matt Walsh) is happy with a much looser organization, and so are most of their coworkers. With alcohol flowing freely, there's plenty of room for bickering, bantering, and brotherly conflict. To spice up the mix, there's Krista (Danielle Schneider), a cocktail waitress who likes to discuss her extremely active sex life, and Barb (June Diane Raphael), whose insecurities are amplified by uncertainty about her relationship with Bruce.
Is It Any Good?
Players comes across as a low-grade version of Cheers, the classic barroom sitcom. But without good writing or chemistry between the actors, it falls back on frat-boy humor. The biggest jokes seem to play on the characters' willingness to describe their drunken antics and sexual exploits. These incidents generally take place outside the bar and are rarely seen.
Krista in particular seems less like a real person, and more like a male writer's idea of the perfectly available one-night stand. She frequently discusses her eagerness to bed just about anyone, but has little interest in any kind of relationship. The one thing that rings true is the relationship between Ken and Bruce; they interact like real brothers, sometimes exasperated with each other and often frustrated, but always ready to stand by each other. Which is more than most viewers should be willing to do for this mediocre show.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the alcohol use in the show. The employees and patrons of this bar often talk about getting wasted. Do you think their adventures sound like fun? Do any of these antics seem less exciting when described the next day? What are the real consequences of drinking too much?
What do you think about Krista's constant talk about her sexual exploits? Do you think she is a realistic female character? Do you know any people like this? How would people react to someone like Krista in real life?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 2, 2010
- Cast: Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh
- Network: Spike
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: October 13, 2022
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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