All American parents guide: Is the CW series for all young Americans? Or just teens?

We're heading back to high school with All American! The CW series is finally back on the air for its sixth season after a far too-long break. And with the hype only building, you might be wondering: is All American a good show for kids?

Here's the gist of the show, in case you're not familiar. All American is inspired by the life of professional American football player Spencer Paysinger, who grew up in South Central Los Angeles before playing professionally for the New York Giants. The series shows a fictionalized version of Spencer as a Crenshaw native who is recruited to play at Beverly Hills High School. Spencer ends up moving in with the coach of the Beverly Hills football team, Billy Blanks, there are obvious cultural differences between Crenshaw and Beverly Hills and more specifically with Blanks' quarterback son, Jordan. The series explores racial identity, feuds, jealousy, sports politics, and more.

All American first premiered in 2018, and was so successful it even spawned a spin-off series that is about to head into its third season, All American: Homecoming. Cast members include Daniel Ezra as Spencer James, Bre-Z, as Coop, Greta Onieogou as Layla Keating, Samantha Logan as Olivia Baker, and Taye Diggs as coach Billy Baker.

But let's get back to the original question: is All American okay for kids? Will the series resonate harder with teens, than younger children? Read on to find out!

All American parents guide: explaining the TV-14 rating

All American is rated TV-14, and it airs on The CW. So even though the network has leaned into sports, reality shows, and foreign imports, if you've ever seen a CW series you have a fair idea of what you're getting into.

Sex & nudity: There are sex scenes throughout the series, you'll see some cheerleaders in skimpy clothes, and brief kissing scenes, but nothing too graphic is shown. This is a broadcast series so there's only so much that can be seen.

Violence & gore: This drama isn't without some sequences of violence. One of the lead characters gets shot in Season 2. Not only are there scenes in a hospital but gunshot wounds are shown too as the character is being treated. Graphic violence is not typical for this series but when it does happen, it plays a major part in the episode's storyline. In the series, gang violence occurs as well, such as a drive-by shooting.

Language: As you might imagine, a series like this one that is centered around classism and racism contains moments of suggestive and derogatory language. The F-word, the B-word, and other not-so-nice phrases are used throughout the series.

Drinking & drugs: With the series being set in high school, there are bound to be some drugs and drinking references. You see characters drinking in social/party settings, some characters are smoking marijuana, and there's an episode in a previous season where a lead character, who is revealed to be a drug addict, almost overdoses and dies due to their habit.

Overall verdict: Who is All American appropriate for?

The TV-14 rating is pretty appropriate for this show! The series does deal with darker subjects that could be a learning opportunity to talk about with your kids. The themes of redemption, friendships, forgiveness, and making the right decisions are all present throughout the series. However, the content can be intense, and might not work for much younger viewers. Teens? You're good to go.

Season 6 of All American premieres on The CW on Apr. 1 at 8 pm EST/PST.