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Parents' Guide to

Swinging

By Lucy Maher, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Sexed-up British sketch series isn't for kids.

TV Sundance Channel Comedy 2005
Swinging 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?

Each episode of racy British sketch comedy SWINGING looks at the sexual idiosyncrasies of a number of recurring characters. For example, there's an anxious sex therapist who can't talk about sex; a teacher who tries to seduce her student with promises of red wine and cocaine, an elderly woman who prepares a bowl of dog food for the latex-clad man living under her kitchen table, and a woman who will only talk about sex euphemistically (\"Will Mr. Thomas play with the magic bean?\").

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

While adults may be able to appreciate Swinging for the ironic spectacle that it is, the constant barrage of sexual content might be too much for all but the most mature teens. Some of the vignettes might even be considered emotionally distressing; in one episode, a girlfriend asks her husband -- who's admiring a female bartender -- if he finds her attractive. "No, you're attractive," he says. "She's stunning." Ouch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about sex and the media. Do today's TV shows include more sexual references and scenes than series did in the past? Why is that? When and how did the standards change? Who sets those standards to begin with? Are they different for network TV than they are for cable? Why? Are they different in England than they are in the United States? (If you don't know, how could you find out?)

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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