Common Sense Media Review
By Jill Murphy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bland comedy pits beauty vs. brains; OK for teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
TWINS pits polar-opposite twin sisters Mitchee (Sara Gilbert) and Farrah (Molly Stanton) against each other as they struggle to run the family business -- lingerie company Arnold Undergarments -- after their parents, sensible Alan (Mark Linn-Baker) and aging \"dumb blonde\" Lee (Melanie Griffith), settle into early retirement. As co-presidents, career-minded Mitchee and lingerie model Farrah must find a way to use their brains and beauty, respectively, to keep the company at the top of its game.
Is It Any Good?
The stereotypes foisted upon the sisters, who are in their 20s, are over the top and referenced in almost every episode. There are very cliched moments when Farrah -- the "dumb" blonde -- realizes that she's smart after all, only to redeem her airhead ways with a less-than-original quip and giggle. Mitchee, on the other hand, is desperate to be noticed for something other than her brains and typically sees her sister's perfection as her own flaw.
With its stock characters, weak humor, and suggestive dialogue, Twins is far from innovative. Because of the lingerie company setting and the girls' 20-something age, sexual themes are plentiful. Bottom line: The content is formulaic for adults, and the show isn't appropriate for young kids or tweens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the stereotypes the show perpetuates. Why are blondes considered pretty and dumb, while brunettes are portrayed as smart but unattractive? Do your kids know any twins that are complete oppposites? What do you think being a twin would be like?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 16, 2005
- Cast : Melanie Griffith , Molly Stanton , Sara Gilbert
- Network : WB
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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