Parents' Guide to

Wendell & Vinnie

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Lackluster sitcom has mixed messages about parenting.

Wendell & Vinnie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 40 parent reviews

age 18+

Not Even for 9 Year Olds and It's Disgusting

Wendell & Vinnie had lots of sexual content and language, it even said that the only thing the internet was useful for is porn, which is totally wrong, This show wasn't even appropriate for 9 year olds, more like for 18.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
age 8+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (40 ):
Kids say (69 ):

Nickelodeon taps a familiar face in Trainor for the lead role in this sitcom, and those who knew him as iCarly's Spencer won't be surprised at how naturally he slips into the role of grown-up slacker Vinnie. He's hardly parenting material, but Wendell's serious enough for both of them, and the two opposing forces make for some laughable -- if predictable -- exchanges that always wind up having a lesson of some sort for each of them. With Vinnie's help, Wendell learns to relate a little better to his peers, and Vinnie eventually discovers that there's value in shouldering responsibility after all.

But short of poignant moments between this unlikely couple of characters, Trainor's comedic talents account for most of this show's appeal. The trite content has Wendell and Vinnie often vying for the spotlight, and the fact that Wendell's saddled with keeping Vinnie on the straight and narrow has questionable messages for kids about healthy family relationships. What's more, it glosses over instances of bullying, grief, and kids' social challenges in favor of comedy, missing the opportunity to explore them in a meaningful way for viewers.

TV Details

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