Parents' Guide to

The Guest Book

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Hijinks happen in irreverent comedy's mysterious cabin.

TV TBS Comedy 2017
The Guest Book Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 18+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Amber L.
Amber L. Adult
March 1, 2018
age 18+

Shouldn’t be on cable tv

I’m all for crude humor however the fact that this show is on cable tv and easily accessible for kids is ridiculous. The use of extremely profane langue (p---y, d--k, t--ty, etc) with no censorship it should be on something like HBO. Don’t get me wrong it’s kinda funny but the fact it’s on regular tv channels like TBS isn’t okay.

This title has:

Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
M. S.
M. S. Parent of 8-year-old
October 25, 2018
age 18+

Writing is somewhat hit or miss, but enjoyable. The main negative is the writing is definitely more from a male viewpoint.

Not for children, the go to jokes are all sexually explicit.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

From My Name Is Earl creator Greg Garcia comes THE GUEST BOOK, an anthology series about the wacky experiences of guests who rent a rustic mountain cottage. Wilfred (Charles Robinson) and his wife, Emma (Aloma Wright), manage a cluster of cabins in Mount Trace, a place so beautiful that it is referred to as "God's Country." It's a quiet and pretty place, but the guests who stay in the cottage known as Froggy Cottage never seem to have a dull moment while they are there. They are also compelled to write down the details of their crazy experiences in the cabin guest book. Meanwhile, Wilfred and some of the other locals, including Dr. Andrew Brown (Garrett Dillahunt), Officer Kimberly Leahy (Kellie Martin), and local hustler Vivian (Carly Jibson), along with her sensitive stepson, Frank (Lou Wilson), add their own brand of behind-the-scenes madness to the sleepy town.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Clever and quirky, this irreverent comedy is based on the fictional stories that series creator Greg Garcia wrote in rental cabin guest books during his vacations. From a married couple trying to decompress after the recent birth of their child, to a misguided young Amish man trying to make the most of his rumspringa (year off), the series is full of well-timed quips and laugh-out-loud moments. The colorful roster of Froggy Cottage visitors, played by actors like Jaime Pressly, Stockard Channing, and Orson Bean, also adds to the show's robustness.

Part of the fun comes from catching the instances when the different guests' experiences somehow overlap. But what really makes The Guest Book worth watching is the way each episode tells a story that is funny and fresh. Meanwhile, thanks to some good writing, their brief (albeit wild) experiences are woven into the everyday lives of the locals, who are coping with their own personal issues. If you enjoy shows with lots of smart and derisive wit, no doubt you will find this one very entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about humor. What makes things funny? When does being funny cross the line to being in bad taste or just plain mean? Is it OK to poke fun of serious topics, like religion or drug use? Do you think The Guest Book is funny?

  • How much of The Guest Book relies on the connections between different Froggy Cottage guests? If they didn't overlap in some way, would it change the dynamic of the overall series?

TV Details

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