Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bawdy series centers on a teen with a plus-sized "package."
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say the show is funny and relatable for mature teens, showcasing an exaggerated take on high school life and addressing themes like popularity and identity. However, many reviews caution that younger children might struggle to understand the humor and should be aware of its strong language and sexual content.
- humor appeal
- mature audience
- high school themes
- content warnings
- relatable characters
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE HARD TIMES OF RJ BERGER, the titular RJ (Paul Iacono) doesn't have much clout in the halls of Pinkerton High School. That is, until he drops his shorts in front of the entire student body and sheds light on his best-kept secret: his extra-large penis. It doesn't take long for RJ's peers to start looking at him differently, and for his best friend Miles (Jareb Dauplaise) to start plotting their road to popularity. But RJ's more interested in his budding friendship with school hottie Jenny Swanson (Amber Lancaster) -- and fending off his platonic friend Lily's (Kara Taitz) aggressive sexual advances.
Is It Any Good?
With the scripted series Hard Times, MTV is offering an antidote to its bloated menu of reality programming, and that's part of the reason it feels so fresh and funny. The other part is the whip-smart writing, with laugh-out-loud one-liners reminiscent of big-screen comedies like Superbad and American Pie. The difference here, of course, is that it's on the small screen -- and far more accessible to younger viewers, which begs the question: Is cable ready for so much raunch?
Execs behind the series insist episodes won't be "penis-driven," but that remains to be seen. Since it's set in high school, the show is clearly aimed at teens and older, though younger kids might want to watch too. The catch with Hard Times, then, is how parents will feel about its penchant for pushing the envelope when it comes to sexual content on TV. And chances are, based on what we've seen so far, they won't feel good.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how accurately your teens think this series portrays their sexual attitudes and emotions. Does the show get it just about right, or does it exaggerate fantasies and insecurities?
What's the show's target audience? How can you tell? Do you think the series will appeal to one gender more than the other?
Do you see any negative stereotypes being played out in particular characters?
Families might try and discuss why it is that parents don't find the same things funny that kids do when it comes to sex. Without being wet blanket, try to explain to your teens what concerns you in relationships portrayed.
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 6, 2010
- Cast : Jareb Dauplaise , Kara Taitz , Paul Iacono
- Network : MTV
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate