Surviving Jack

Set in the '90s, SURVIVING JACK is a coming-of-age story with a unique twist; rather than focusing entirely on the kids' maturing process, it gives equal energy to the evolution of the parents, and to Jack in particular. In many ways, he has the farthest to go among the four, from a seldom-seen workaholic dad who's used to fixing problems his way to a more nurturing parental figure in the home. It's not an easy process, and the growing pains are no walk in the park, but the end result promises to be worth the effort. Despite his rogue parenting style, Jack endears himself not only to his kids and wife but also to many of their friends. The result is a funny commentary on the imperfection of family life and the reversal of traditional gender roles between parents. 

That said, what poignancy exists in this series definitely isn't meant for all your family members, thanks to its fairly ribald content and red-letter dialogue. Very little is off-limits among adults and teens, so if yours aren't quite ready for frequent sexual themes, slang references to body parts, allusions to masturbation, and widely accepted teen sexuality, then you might want to pass on it for them. Adults, on the other hand, will find plenty to chuckle about in Jack and Joanne's polar-opposite parenting styles and the mixed success with which they use them.