History Main / FamilyFriendlyMatureContent

Even in universes of family-friendly shows, mature content exists. Sometimes it's even shown. But how can it while keeping the show family-friendly (or at least [[MediaNotes/MediaClassifications TV-14, 14+]], [[MediaNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating PG-13]], [[UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingBoard T]], or PEGI 12)?

** Calvin's comics come straight from UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, and so are full of edgy content like exaggerated violence and improbable anatomy (indirectly naming MostCommonSuperpower). At one point we [[https://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1994/02/20 actually see a page of one of them]], and it features what is probably probably the most extreme, realistic violence anyone has ever managed to get into the funny pages.

* In the ''[[WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfJimmyNeutronBoyGenius Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius]]'' episode "Grumpy Young Men", Jimmy and his friends want to get the M-Rated game "Doom Bringer II", but can't because they're under 17, so Jimmy invents something to make them older.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' sees Doug trying to see an ultra-violent action movie called ''Targetman'', an in-universe stand-in for Franchise/{{Robocop}}. The viewers are never shown the more violent parts of the movie, but we get descriptions of characters being messily decapitated or torn limb from limb with loud squishing and squelching noises, and Doug is visibly sick to his stomach when he does end up watching it.

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': In "Scary-Oke", when Dipper is going through Stan's stuff he finds [[PoorMansPorn magazines]] called ''Lady Swimwear'' (which features a woman in a wetsuit on the cover) and ''Fully Clothed Women Magazine'' (the "Trenchcoat Issue").
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'': In "Grandpa's Date", Grandpa Lou babysits Tommy and Chuckie and rents some movies for them to watch, including two Reptar movies and his "personal favorite", ''Lonely Space Vixens''.
-->'''Grandpa Lou:''' That's for after you go to bed.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
** The recurring ShowWithinAShow ''The Itchy & Scratchy Show'' is a BloodierAndGorier send-up of ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'', with the clips usually ending with Itchy the mouse bloodily maiming or killing Scratchy the cat.
** In "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment", an early-era episode, Bart caught sight of ''The Top Hat Channel'', a BrandX of ''The Playboy Channel'', and charged other kids to sneak into his living room and watch it. He even wore a top hat for showmanship.

Even in universes of family-friendly shows, mature content exists. Sometimes it's even shown. But how can it while keeping the show family-friendly (or at least [[UsefulNotes/MediaClassifications TV-14, 14+]], [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating PG-13]], [[UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingBoard T]], or PEGI 12)?

** In the beginning of season 2 episode 4 "Arthur Makes a Movie", Arthur wants to see a ''James Hound'' movie, being his universe's equivalent to ''Film/JamesBond''. However, since it's PG-13, he can't see it without his parents until he is 13 ([[NotAllowedToGrowUp he is 8]])[[note]]In RealLife, the MPAA's PG-13 rating works differently. The PG-13 rating still allows minors to see the movies on their own, and merely means "[[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating parents strongly cautioned]]". [[UsefulNotes/MediaClassifications It's not until the R rating that people under 17 need parental supervision to see it]]. However, Arthur's inability to see it can still be [[JustifiedTrope justified]] since the movie is still exclusively in theaters, and Arthur needs his parents' permission to see it.[[/note]], who don't want to take him to see it. [[AmateurFilmMakingPlot Arthur makes his own version with his friends instead]].

Even in universes of family-friendly shows, mature content exists. Sometimes it's even shown. But how can it while keeping the show family-friendly (or at least [[UsefulNotes/MediaClassifications TV-14]], [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating PG-13]] or [[UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingBoard T]])?

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' sees Doug trying to see an ultra-violent action movie called ''Targetman''. The viewers are never shown the more violent parts of the movie, but we get descriptions of characters being messily decapitated or torn limb from limb with loud squishing and squelching noises, and Doug is visibly sick to his stomach when he does end up watching it.

** Season 1 episode 4 "Mind Over Murder" has a ShowWithinAShow called "[[Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet Homicide: Life on]] Series/SesameStreet". Bert and Ernie are shown as a gay couple lying in bed together naked.

** In the season 6 episode 2 "Mission Responsible", Timmy Turner is tasked with babysitting Poof. He soon engages in "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin watching things you're not supposed to with the window wide open]]". The TV shows a movie showing a red sports car [[RampJump using an empty car carrier as a ramp]] to jump over a train blocking a crossing.

** The season 4 episode 14 "PTV" has a rare example that's not a show within a show. "The FCC Song" has Peter, Stewie, and Brian rattling off a list of things you supposedly can't say on TV... which, give that this is a network TV show, obviously you can.

May overlap with KidsShouldntWatchHorrorFilms or EntertainmentAboveTheirAge. May also take the form of a UltraSuperDeathGoreFestChainsawer3000 if dealing with {{Fictional Video Game}}s. If the mature show-within-show does show content more mature than the show itself, that could also be GettingCrapPastTheRadar.

* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Doug}}'' sees Doug trying to see an ultra-violent action movie called ''Targetman''.

* In ''[[Animation/TheMindsEye The Gate to The Mind's Eye]]'' segment "Nuvogue", there is a family of FacelessEye[=s=]. One of the child eyes is watching a gangster show named ''Private Eye'' on its own.

Even in universes of family-friendly shows, mature content exists. Sometimes it's even shown. But how can it while keeping the show family-friendly ([[WeAllLiveInAmerica or at least]] [[UsefulNotes/MediaClassifications TV-14]], [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating PG-13]] or [[UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingBoard T]])?

Why, with Family-Friendly Mature Content! These are usually (but not always) a ShowWithinAShow, and bear more mature ratings than the show itself. They may also take the form of a FamilyFriendlyStripper, or have a large shootout involving FamilyFriendlyFirearms.

* One Advertising/{{Protegent}} ad revolves around a teacher using the software to find which of her students was watching porn on school computers. We only see work-safe images of fully-clothed people kissing, but judging by the teacher's reaction, much more explicit material was also viewed off-screen,

[[caption-width-right:Instead of doggy style, you get a dog stylin'.]]

This can also give the in-universe censors or MoralGuardians something to complain about.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment", an early-era episode, Bart caught sight of ''The Top Hat Channel'', a BrandX of ''The Playboy Channel'', and charged other kids to sneak into his living room and watch it. He even wore a top hat for showmanship.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'': In "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment", an early-era episode, Bart caught sight of ''The Top Hat Channel'', a BrandX of ''The Playboy Channel'', and charged other kids to sneak into his living room and watch it. He even wore a top hat for showmanship.

May overlap with KidsShouldntWatchHorrorFilms. May also take the form of a UltraSuperDeathGoreFestChainsawer3000 if dealing with {{Fictional Video Game}}s. If the mature show-within-show does show content more mature than the show itself, that could also be GettingCrapPastTheRadar.

--->'''Gangster:''' Ugh! This is ''terrible'' apple pie, it's [=***=]! My mother. Now ''there'' was a woman who could make [=***ing amazing apple pie. When she made it, the whole *** neighborhood stood outside her house! *** say ***=] that woman was. If it's okay with you T, I'd like to give that pastry chef a taste of his own canoli.\\

Even in universes of family-friendly shows, mature content exists. Sometimes it's even shown. But how can it while keeping the show family-friendly ([[WeAllLiveInAmerica or at least]] [[UsefulNotes/MediaClassifications TV-14]], [[UsefulNotes/ParentsStronglyCautionedRating PG-13]] or [[UsefulNotes/EntertainmentSoftwareRatingsBoard T]])?