Parents' Guide to

The Assistants

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Upbeat showbiz bcomedy centers on strong female character.

TV TeenNick Comedy 2009
The Assistants 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 17+

Based on 2 parent reviews

FatherOf3
FatherOf3 Adult
March 11, 2010
age 17+

Overly Sexualized. Characters have breasts overly exposed and Characters having Sex? On Nick?

Saw an episode where a character lost his virginity and he stepped out of the car to do a celebration dance and then the girl was shown inside the car looking out the window - she was on her hands and knees with her breasts showing far too much. Constantly pushing breasts up and out of clothing to a ridiculous level - this is not good for teenagers. Sex, and overly sexualized, etc. Also there have been repeated sexual references and indecent sexual behavior - what a great show for kids.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Jpbiglin
Jpbiglin Parent of 13-year-old
August 21, 2009
age 17+

Definately not for tweens, and no adult would enjoy it either, awful

My son had this show on today. I am so incredibly disgusted with Nickelodeon for airing a show like this. In 30 minutes I heard the word "ass" two times, one guy referred to "junkies" as "poor bastards" One girl said "son of a muffin basket bi*ch". Two people drinking alcohol, while one of them strips and twists his nipple! A girl talks about selling her body for a dress. On two occasions there was discussion about "boob grabbing". During a commercial break there was a commercial for "Degrassi" where kids takled about "getting high" and "bitches". WHAT IS GOING ON WITH NICKELODEON?!?!?!?

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE ASSISTANTS takes a tongue-in-cheek look at life in Hollywood, following the daily grind for four producer's assistants hoping to make it big in the entertainment industry. When Gillian Young (Britt Irvin) lands a job with producer Zach Del Toro (Zak Santiago), she thinks she's finally on the fast track to directing stardom. Little does she know that there's nothing glitzy about binding scripts and going on coffee runs, or that she's now among the masses trying to claw their way to the top. But with a little luck and the help of her new coworkers Rigby (Meaghan Rath), Danny (Brendan Penny), and Nate (Michael B. Jordan), Gillian hopes that one day she'll be on the receiving end of the royal treatment.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This lighthearted comedy takes a few jabs at the Hollywood caste system and imparts some sympathy for the unrecognized grunts who grease the wheels for eccentric execs and stars. The show's humorous nature makes the characters' occasional bad behavior forgivable -- teen viewers certainly won't be misled into thinking it's an accurate representation of a work environment.

In the end, only Gillian emerges as a character worth admiring, but she demonstrates good sense and a strong character when she faces difficult decisions. Parents' biggest concern with this series is likely to be the sporadic strong language, but chances are none of it will be new to teens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the show's messages about working. Are the characters' actions believable in light of their responsibilities? Do they seem serious about what they do? Do you think you'd enjoy a job that required catering to someone else?

  • What personal values are most important to you? How do you stick to them, even in the face of hard decisions?

  • Parents and teens can also discuss friendships and social relationships. How do you get along with people you don't consider friends? How do you know when someone is a friend? How has the Internet changed how we develop relationships?

TV Details

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