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Parents' Guide to

Running Wilde

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Offbeat sitcom has potential to charm teens and parents.

TV Fox , FX Comedy 2010
Running Wilde Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

In RUNNING WILDE, self-absorbed playboy Steven Wilde (Will Arnett) makes a desperate attempt to reunite with a childhood crush -- do-gooding Emmy Kadubic (Keri Russell) -- by restyling himself as a humanitarian. But when Emmy flies home from the Amazon with her 12-year-old daughter, Puddle (Stefania Owen), in tow to see the newly transformed Steven for herself, she discovers that he hasn't really changed at all. But to give Puddle a chance at a normal childhood, she agrees to stick around, taking up residence in a treehouse on Steven's property.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (2 ):

When a show touts its ties to Mitch Hurwitz, the Emmy Award-winning creator of the innovative comedy Arrested Development, you expect it to be good. And when that new show spotlights the talents of two Arrested Development alumni -- Arnett and David Cross (who plays a supporting part as a bungling ecoterrorist) -- you expect it to be great. So when it fails to deliver, you're left feeling a little underwhelmed.

That's definitely the case with Running Wilde, although it does have its moments (large man + tiny horse = funny) -- and the potential to become a must-see series if it can work out some of the kinks that, strangely, make it feel a lot like Billy Madison. Mainly though, it's a matter of putting faith in Hurwitz, Arnett, and Cross and hoping they can re-create some magic. We sincerely hope so.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this show portrays kids, particularly in terms of how they relate to adults. Teens: Can you relate to Puddle ... and are you supposed to? Does the show take a realistic approach to growing up?

  • Does it work to have a 12-year-old narrate the show? Why do you think the show's creators wanted to tell the story from a kid's perspective?

  • How does Steven measure up as a role model? Is it possible to have a lot of money and be a good person? Conversely, does having less mean you'll always do the right thing?

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.

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