The G Word with Adam Conover
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The G Word with Adam Conover
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The G Word with Adam Conover is an educational comedy series produced by former President Barack Obama. It's designed to inform viewers about what the U.S. government does and its impact on our daily lives both positive and negative. The content is informative, but edgy, and features swearing, occasional sexual innuendo, drinking, and cigarette smoking. It also addresses serious topics like death due to things ranging from poor food quality to military drone attacks and police violence. The overall series sends the message that government is not politics, and that while it's not perfect, the U.S. government does a lot of good things.
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Conover Demeans Himself, the Obamas, and the Audience
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What's the Story?
Produced by former President Barack Obama's production company Higher Ground Productions, THE G WORD WITH ADAM CONOVER is a Netflix series designed to show people what the United States government does. Hosted by comedian Adam Conover, it explores the good and bad aspects of the U.S government by deconstructing how different government departments and agencies are designed to improve the public's lives. It also addresses some of the problems within these agencies, as well as some of the more controversial issues associated with them. Throughout it all, animation and comedy sketches help illustrate key issues and events, and Conover also meets with civil servants who work with these agencies to discuss what they do, some of the challenges they face, and how it impacts the American public. Appearances by Penn & Teller and President Obama also add humorous, but important, insights.
Is It Any Good?
This informative series uses edgy humor as a way to move beyond politics and talk about how the United States government actually works. From looking at the potentially life-saving work of the USDA and the National Weather Service to questioning how the Department of Defense's use of advanced technology is potentially leading to greater losses of life, it discusses why specific government agencies were created and how they are meant to serve the U.S. public. It also addresses some of the systemic problems associated with these organizations, thanks to political maneuvering, bureaucracy, racism, and, in some cases, a failure in leadership. It's fun, and there's a lot to be learned from it. But despite its claims to the contrary, and the use of cited research to back up its claims, The G Word with Adam Conover sometimes reflects a liberal point of view. Nonetheless, there's a lot to be learned here, and it's a lot more entertaining than your average civics class.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the difference between politics and government. How does one impact the other? Does media coverage of government and politics clearly define the two concepts differently?
Does The G Word with Adam Conover talk about government objectively? Does the fact that the series is produced by former President Barack Obama's production company automatically make it biased? If the series had been produced by former President George W. Bush or Donald Trump, would the messages it offers about how the U.S. government works be any different?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 19, 2022
- Cast: Adam Conover, Barack Obama
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: History
- Character Strengths: Curiosity
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: June 25, 2022
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