Parenting

A LITTLE HELP WITH CAROL BURNETT is a panel talk-show hosted by Carol Burnett who is joined by a group funny and straight-talking children ages 5 to 9 who give advice to adults in a brutally honest panel. Carol Burnett is best known for her comedy variety show that ran for 11 seasons from 1967 to 1978, and this is the first time in decades that the comedy icon has returned to do another program. The children on the panel offer their advice and opinions on different subjects including love, parenting and issues faced in everyday life. Each episode has a special celebrity guest who shares a personal dilemma and humorously asks the children for advice.

Each episode deals with a different topic with a special guest star, including appearances by Lisa Kudrow, DJ Khaled and Tony Hale. Some of the guest stars are merely an appearance piece for the show’s publicity and not actually good choices for a show oriented toward families. For example, the first episode with Kudrow addresses the topic of friendship and is for the most part wholesome in content. However, the sitcom FRIENDS in which Kudrow made her fame is not a family-friendly sitcom in that it touches on more adult-themed subjects. If a child were watching the show and wanted to know what program made Kudrow famous, it would not be the most pleasant conversation to explain that she made her career poking fun at themes of love and sex in a 90s sitcom. Regardless, the show is funny and has an upbeat vibe that pulls in children and adults alike.

While the program is for the most part wholesome in content, be mindful of times in the series where God-centered values may be inhibited. As believers, we are to be in the world and not of it. This does not mean to totally shut out the bad things in our world because frankly, that is impossible. We just must remember that the constant renewing of our minds brings us closer to Christ. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).