Parents' Guide to

The Millers

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Crass but sweet sitcom better suited to adults.

TV CBS Comedy 2013
The Millers 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 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Quick B.
Quick B. Adult
September 25, 2017
age 8+

Great movie

I think kids 10 and up should be able to watch this movie
meyger
meyger Adult
October 4, 2013
age 18+

The old test pattern days would be better viewing.

Great actors but stupid 12 year old level bathroom jokes and the worst laugh track ever heard. If the pilot was the best, future shows will only go downhill. It's a loser and should be gone by.....5 episodes. Of course with Americans taste, this will probably be a big hit

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Roving TV news reporter Nathan (Will Arnett) divorced his wife months ago but "forgot" to inform his mother, Carol (Margo Martindale), and dad, Tom (Beau Bridges), because he knew they'd yell at him. When they show up at his house unexpectedly and learn of the divorce, Tom is inspired to end his own 43-year marriage, defecting to Jack's sister's house to live and abandoning Carol at Jack's place. Now Jack is looking to celebrate his single status with the help of his cameraman pal (J.B. Smoove), with his mom sitting right there in the middle of everything. Meanwhile, Carol misses her ex and needs extra attention. Tom doesn't know how to do anything for himself and annoys daughter Debbie (Jayma Mays) and her husband (Nelson Franklin).

Is It Any Good?

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

THE MILLERS might not be the most sophisticated show, and the humor is a little crass. However, the terminally immature may still find themselves laughing at jokes, such as when Nathan complains that his ex made him eat "quinoa" and another character mishears it as a reference to oral sex. Hey, we haven't heard that joke before! Point in The Millers' favor! (But do you want to hear that joke sitting next to your teenager?)

In addition, Margo Martindale and Beau Bridges are old pros, and they're terrific. They have great chemistry with Will Arnett as their son and crackle whenever they're on-screen. The goings-on are a bit silly and sitcom-y, but these seasoned pros sell it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the Millers are a realistic family. Do you buy that these people are related or that they're real people? Why or why not?

  • Are the Millers supposed to be rich or poor? Examine the houses they live in, the clothes they wear, and the things around them. Did that change your answer?

  • Do you know any parents who moved in with their adult kids? Is this a realistic setup? Why or why not?

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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