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Original poster

Don't want to watch 'Friends' with DD. Any ideas?

131 replies

Ihatesandwiches · 18/10/2020 22:24

DD (9) wants to watch this with me. A couple of her school friends watch it with their mums. I loved Friends and watched it and ER with mum every week. But I was mid teens! We watched a couple of episodes but I felt it was very dated and I didn't enjoy it. Any ideas for a more modern, slightly grown up series for us to watch? We have Netflix and free view. TIA

OP posts:
MerchantOfVenom · 19/10/2020 03:16

I love Friends - absolutely love it - but it is riddled with porn and sex references.

Skip over them? How, exactly...? Confused Print out the script for each episode and FF all the many references, rendering it unwatchable?!

There’s no way I’d be watching it with my 10YO.

BensonStabler · 19/10/2020 03:29

The Friends episodes shown on Comedy Central during the daytime are extremely edited now to be more child and family friendly. Maybe record those ones rather than Netflix ones. The you could watch ahead the first few episodes to check all of it is acceptable.

Applefairy · 19/10/2020 03:45

Another vote for Gilmore Girls

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9 year olds TV
Applefairy · 19/10/2020 03:48

Also The Middle and Full House

airbags · 19/10/2020 04:06

Poor kid. I think it's lovely that your daughter wants to share this with you and think you need to suck it up. It also gives her common ground with her friends the she can chat about. Hence why finding an alternative isn't really a solution.

If you still look for an alternative I don't agree with Big Bang Theory - too much grown up content. Modern family isn't too bad. I also suggest Outnumbered.

Make the most of your little girl - it won't be long before you miss this time and she's off in her bedroom chatting to friends, door shut and NOT wanting to spend time with you.

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 19/10/2020 04:11

Wow super surprised at thos eof you that would wath friends or big bang theory with a 9 year old!!

I tried bbt as I loved it with my just turnwd 11 yewr old to realise in the first episode they were having casual sex all the time./jokes related to that.

We talked about it a bit and then I decided we'd leave it tilcshe was a bit older.

A 9 year old doesn't need that influence! We said no to friends too. Common Sense Media, which we use a lot, has both at 14!!!

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 19/10/2020 04:12

Excuse where I cnat type 🤦‍♀️.

Untangled87 · 19/10/2020 04:16

Yeah I think if you skipped the episodes containing sexual references, you'd be left with a dozen episodes at most! I watched an episode on Channel 5 at midday yesterday (the one with Rachel's dirty book) and there were several uncensored mentions of porn. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned but I'd feel extremely uncomfortable watching it with a nine year old.

How about the IT Crowd? I think that's mostly suitable for kids.

TheNestedIf · 19/10/2020 04:19

The first series of Ghosts on the BBC was funny, I thought (I've yet to see the second). It involves the Horrible Histories crew. Might be a nice bridge to a more adult comedy.

Untangled87 · 19/10/2020 04:21

Actually ignore my recommendation for The IT Crowd, I've just seen it's rated 15. It's been a long time since I've watched it.

ShelbyCherryBlossom · 19/10/2020 04:26

Agree with PP that it is a good chance to bond with you and she won't feel left out with her friends.

Personally I think it's a good idea to watch it. She'll hear numerous things at school about god knows what and to be honest I'd rather be the one explaining these references to my kid than hearing it at school. You can explain to her why fat-shaming Monica is wrong and the lesbian jokes aren't acceptable. She can ask you questions without feeling awkward as you're watching it too. Make it a positive experience!

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 19/10/2020 04:26

We've watched Ashley Garcia in love onnNetflix, and similar, together mother-daughter and without the little child. Felt a bit more grown up and shared time but still more of a teen drama.

Lifeisabeach09 · 19/10/2020 04:30

I watched the Friends with my DD (10 at the time)-the porn references went over her head, tbh. We enjoyed Joey and Phoebe the most and the general daftness.

DinosApple · 19/10/2020 06:31

The first series of Ghosts has some mentions of sex (it was shown at 9pm when it first aired). We watched it last weekend with our 9 & 11yo. Me and DH cringed over the tops of their heads at each other, but the DC didn't appear to take much notice.

It was nothing compared to the amount of sex in Friends though - which we definitely wouldn't watch with them.

The second series is definitely fine (airing at 8.30pm). Both are very funny though and we binge watched the lot with them.

Alternatively, the things that I used to think were hilarious as a child and teen, and would like to watch again now with them, are Malcolm in the Middle and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

rattlemehearties · 19/10/2020 06:41

www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/friends

Recommended as age 14+
I definitely won't be rushing to watch Friends with my preteen.

Copperblack · 19/10/2020 06:41

‘The Next Step’ is another alternative - I started watching it with my 11 yr old and it’s so cheesy but I got ridiculously into it.

Northernbeachbum · 19/10/2020 06:45

I was around 9 when Friends first aired, I can tell you ALL of the rudeness went over my head! Parents were laughing and I had no idea why but I still loved watching with them

HelloDaisy · 19/10/2020 06:48

I wouldn’t watch friends with my dc when they were that age, even if their friends were all watching it. They are too young as it’s full of sexual references so not appropriate.

Modern family is a good alternative or Death in Paradise as you can watch either of them together.

MillieEpple · 19/10/2020 06:55

My son is older (12) we just watched outnumbered and miranda. He found the slapstick side of miranda very funny and the innuendi did seem to go over his head. He likes My Family too.
With Friends its not that people have sex its just seems very isnt porn fantastic and its the whole point of some episodes so its hard to gloss over.

Michaelbaubles · 19/10/2020 06:58

My DC enjoyed Malcom in the Middle - there are adult jokes that went over their heads but they found it funny on the whole.

LittleRa · 19/10/2020 07:07

I was going to say there must be daytime edited versions of Friends but bit where where you’d find them. However I’d also add another vote to those suggesting Gilmore Girls.

Original poster
Ihatesandwiches · 19/10/2020 07:08

Thanks, everyone. We have always watched TV together and we are very close :-). I think I'm going to stick to my guns and not watch Friends! I'm definitely not uncomfortable answering questions about sex, relationships, etc. She liked Fuller House. Think we might try Gilmore Girls.

OP posts:
Flumo · 19/10/2020 07:20

My 9 year old absolutely loves friends and has watched it since she was 7. She asks about certain words or things, I just say it must be an American thing as I've never heard of it 🙈

SheldontheWonderSchlong · 19/10/2020 07:20

My almost 9 dd loves watching The Goldbergs (All4) with me - it's our evening watch together. She finds it hilarious. There is some beeped out swearing, but it adds to the humour. Amazing 80s clothes as well!

cravingthelook · 19/10/2020 07:24

I'm really happy my 9 yr old is going to be more into sci-fi and fantasy, she loves dragons. We are currently watching Merlin (the BBC one) on Netflix.
From a healthy female prospective, I also wouldn't watch friends with her.
Is there something that your daughter is into that can help you choose something else?

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