Friends Tv Show Age Rating

Friends, Age Ratings, and That One Time I Tried to Watch It with My Kid

So, I was sitting there, my 10-year-old nestled in beside me, ready for a good laugh. I thought, "Hey, I'll introduce them to Friends. It's a classic, right?" Wrong. So wrong. I mean, I knew there were some... let's say, colorful phrases, but I didn't realize it was like the Super Bowl of Swearing.

Age Ratings: What's the Deal?

Now, I'm not one to shy away from a good swear word (I've been known to drop a "pivot!" or two in my time), but when the first episode had more swear words than my kid's entire vocabulary, I started to sweat. That's when I realized, I should've checked the age rating. You know, like you do with those video games they're always begging for.

Turns out, Friends is rated TV-14 here in the US. That's right, 14. I mean, I remember watching it when I was 14, and I was fine. But then again, I was also fine with eating ice cream for breakfast, so who knows?

What's a Parent to Do?

I mean, I could've just turned it off, but I was in too deep. I'd already explained what a "smelly cat" was, and I couldn't just leave them hanging. So, I did what any responsible parent would do. I started bleeping out the swear words. Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. It was either that or explain what a "lobster" is, and I wasn't ready for that conversation.

Friends Rating at Ashley Eaton blog

I mean, I get it. Friends is a classic. It's funny, it's relatable, it's a piece of pop culture history. But it's also a time capsule from a time when swear words were a little more... liberal. And that's okay. It just means we need to be a little more mindful when we're sharing these classics with the kiddos.

So, What's the Takeaway?

Check the age rating. I know, I know, it's not as fun as just diving in, but trust me, it's worth it. You don't want to be the parent who has to explain what "we were on a break!" means. Unless, of course, you're ready for that conversation. In which case, more power to you.

Friends Cast Age - YouTube

And hey, if all else fails, there's always The Office. I mean, sure, there's some swearing there too, but at least it's not the Super Bowl of Swearing. Plus, who doesn't love a good "that's what she said"?

Until next time, parents. Keep 'em laughing. And keep 'em learning. Just maybe not too much about Ross's divorce history.