The Tony Rock Project

Sketchy comedy makes fun of social stereotypes.
Parents say
Based on 1 review
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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 this sketch comedy series uses humor to poke fun at social prejudices and stereotyping. While some of the skits effectively accomplish that goal, others just seem to be going for cheap laughs, and some viewers may find the rampant cultural generalizations offensive. There's some salty language (the strongest curse words are bleeped/blurred but are sometimes still understandable) and some mild sexual innuendo (including references to porn and people's rear ends). There are also lots of references to racially motivated police violence and other aggressive behavior.
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What's the Story?
THE TONY ROCK PROJECT is a sketch comedy show that uses humor to highlight social prejudices based on race, class, gender, and more. Tony Rock (younger brother of actor/comedian Chris Rock) stars along with Whitney Cummings; the show combines Rock's stand-up comedy routines with amusing spoofs, street interviews, and other segments. The goal? To poke fun at long-standing stereotypes and other biases.
Is It Any Good?
The younger Rock proves that he's a funny entertainer when he's spoofing celebrities like
While the show doesn't cross too many lines (perhaps because it's on network television instead of cable), some of the generalizations about different cultures could offend some viewers. The language and drug/alcohol references are also a bit strong. Bottom line? It's not an ideal choice for tweens, and some young teens may not be able to handle it either. But mature viewers may appreciate Rock's humor, as well as the unique brand of social commentary he's offering here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the media explores social prejudices. Do TV shows like this one dispel or reinforce existing stereotypes? Is humor an appropriate way to discuss serious and often controversial issues like discrimination? Why or why not? Families can also discuss whether it's ever appropriate to use stereotypes, even when they're intended to critically highlight a specific problem or issue. Can you think of ways that the media could address stereotypes without actually using them as a form of entertainment?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 8, 2008
- Cast: Tony Rock, Whitney Cummings
- Network: MyNetworkTV
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
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