Parents' Guide to

Raising Hope

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Quirky family sitcom about young dad has lots of heart.

TV Fox Comedy 2010
Raising Hope Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 7 parent reviews

Dimitrix
Dimitrix Adult
June 1, 2019
age 16+

Concern for certain influences.

My 11 yr old had a friend over for the weekend who introduced this to my daughter. After a couple of episodes, I told them I wasn't ok with it and to watch something else. This is not for younger kids, and younger kids don't have the maturity to know what's best for them or not. It's why they don't have jobs and support families, but rather they have parents who are there to make decisions for their best interests. This show has heavy influences in wrong directions, such as making lying into something funny, encouraging the belief that chasing someone else's significant other is ok, borderline pornography and sexual influence, etc, etc. Thereis already enough idiocracy in the world, and shows that influence stupidity. Our younger, and most easily influenced, children should be raised to be a bit more respectable and better decision makers. They shouldn't be watching things that are misguiding about life choices.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Killerkace13
Killerkace13 Adult
July 5, 2018
age 11+

Binge worthy

Great show, a little iffy for younger kids but ok for older kids

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Offbeat sitcom RAISING HOPE stars Lucas Neff as Jimmy Chance, a 23-year-old pool skimmer looking for a higher purpose in life. After discovering that he fathered a baby girl during a one-night stand with a convicted killer, Jimmy chooses to raise his daughter rather than give her up for adoption. But being a single father isn't easy, especially when he's relying on his wacky family for help, including his strong-willed mother, Virginia (Martha Plimpton); his goofball dad, Burt, (Garret Dillahunt); and his incoherent great-grandmother, Maw-Maw (Cloris Leachman). Jimmy's sarcastic friend/co-worker Sabrina (Shannon Woodward) often offers her unique brand of guidance, too. It's definitely crazy, but together the Chance family figures out that while they may not be rich or perfect, the one thing they can offer baby Hope is a lot of love.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (21):

Raising Hope has plenty of madcap comedy to offer thanks to the antics of its eccentric cast of characters. But amidst all the quips and zaniness is a heartfelt story about a young man who willingly takes responsibility for his child and about a family who, despite all its problems, genuinely cares enough to help him throughout this journey.

Some of the show's slapstick-like humor comes from stereotypes about lower-income families, as well as topics like teen/unwed pregnancy and aging. But these themes are offered within the context of learning life lessons, growing up, and discovering what it really means to be a parent. Best of all, the show successfully offers these lessons in a way that's both funny and heartfelt.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what's funny. Is it appropriate to use topics like murder or single parenthood to make people laugh? Why or why not?

  • Can humor be used to teach people about serious issues? How? Are there any issues that you think TV writers and/or comedians should never poke fun at?

  • What stereotypes does Raising Hope reference in its jokes/humor? Is that OK? When is and isn't it appropriate to use stereotypes?

TV Details

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