Brett Goldstein is the human equivalent of a weighted blanket that occasionally yells profanities at you. If your kid has heard of him, they’re likely hovering around the middle school mark and have caught wind of Roy Kent, the gruff, foul-mouthed, but ultimately golden-hearted footballer from Ted Lasso. For younger kids, he’s just the guy who hung out with Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. The verdict? He’s generally "safe" in terms of being a high-quality human, but his projects are a minefield of "f-bombs" and adult themes that require a little bit of intentional filtering.
TL;DR
Brett Goldstein is great for teens but requires a heavy filter for younger kids. Stick to his legendary Sesame Street appearance for the little ones, but for the 13+ crowd, Ted Lasso is a masterclass in emotional maturity despite the constant swearing. Keep an eye out for his upcoming rom-com Office Romance with Jennifer Lopez, which is expected to bring his signature "grumpy-sweet" energy to a PG-13 or R-rated setting later this year.
If you’re vetting Goldstein because your kid wants to watch Ted Lasso, here is the reality: the show is famously "wholesome," but Roy Kent is the exception to the rule. He uses the F-word like most people use commas. If your family has a hard "no swearing" policy, Roy is your final boss.
However, if you can look past the vocabulary, Roy Kent is actually one of the best male role models on TV right now. He’s a guy who learns how to express his feelings, how to be a mentor to younger players, and how to be a present, supportive uncle to his niece, Phoebe. If your middle schooler is already hearing these words on the bus (and they are), watching Roy Kent use them while also learning how to be a decent, emotionally intelligent man is a trade-off many Screenwise parents are willing to make. Plus, with a Ted Lasso return expected to drop in the coming year, the Roy Kent discourse isn't going anywhere.
Goldstein isn't just a guy who grunts on camera; he’s a massive creative force. He’s a co-creator and writer for Shrinking, a show that deals with grief, therapy, and messy adult relationships.
Shrinking is fantastic, but it’s firmly for the high school crowd and up. It’s funny and heart-wrenching, but it handles heavy topics like the loss of a parent and cognitive decline. If your teen is interested in writing or comedy, Goldstein’s work here is a great example of how to balance humor with real-world stakes. Just know that the "Goldstein touch" usually involves adult situations and very frank conversations about mental health.
We’re currently looking forward to Goldstein’s big pivot into leading-man territory. He is set to star alongside Jennifer Lopez in a movie titled Office Romance. Based on early reports and the chemistry seen in press interviews, this will likely be a classic rom-com with a modern, perhaps slightly edgier, twist.
From what we know so far, the movie will release later this year and will likely land in that PG-13 sweet spot. It’s a project Goldstein actually helped pitch, so expect the dialogue to be sharper than your average Hallmark flick. It’ll be an interesting test to see if he can keep the "Roy Kent" fans happy while playing a more traditional romantic lead.
If you have younger kids who have seen his face on a meme and are curious, you have exactly one move: the Sesame Street "Word of the Day" clip. Goldstein appearing alongside Oscar the Grouch is a piece of internet history. It’s pure, it’s funny, and it’s the only time he’ll be on screen for five minutes without saying something that would get a kid sent to the principal's office.
For the cinephile teens, he also hosts a podcast called Films to Be Buried With. It’s a brilliant concept: he "interviews" guests about their lives through the movies that shaped them. It’s a masterclass in film literacy, but because the guests are often comedians and actors, the language is unfiltered. It’s a great "carpool with a 16-year-old" listen, but maybe not one for the elementary school run.
The biggest friction point with Brett Goldstein is contextual maturity. He often plays characters who are "hard on the outside, soft on the inside." For a 10-year-old, the "hard" part (the yelling and swearing) is what they’ll mimic. For a 14-year-old, the "soft" part (the loyalty and growth) is what they’ll actually learn from. If you’re letting a younger kid watch his work, you have to talk about the difference between "character choices" and "how we talk at the dinner table."
- On Roy Kent: "Roy swears a lot, but how does he treat his niece? Why do you think he uses those words when he’s frustrated?"
- On Shrinking: "The characters in this show are making a lot of mistakes while they're sad. Do you think being funny makes it easier or harder to talk about serious stuff like grief?"
- On the MCU: "He’s set to play Hercules in the next Thor or Avengers project. How do you think his 'grumpy' style will fit in with the rest of the superheroes?"
Q: Is Ted Lasso appropriate for a 12-year-old? It’s a "yes, but" situation. The themes of teamwork, forgiveness, and kindness are 10/10. The language, led mostly by Brett Goldstein’s character, is a hard R. If your 12-year-old is mature enough to handle the vocabulary without repeating it, the show is a great family watch.
Q: What age is Brett Goldstein's podcast okay for? Films to Be Buried With is best for ages 15 and up. It’s not "inappropriate" in a dark way, but it’s adult conversations about life and death, often with plenty of swearing. It’s perfect for a teen who is starting to get really into movies.
Q: Does Brett Goldstein have any kid-friendly movies? Not really. Most of his work is in the TV space (Ted Lasso, Shrinking) or adult-leaning films. His upcoming movie Office Romance is expected to be for teens and adults. His cameo as Hercules in Thor: Love and Thunder is his most kid-accessible big-screen moment.
Brett Goldstein is a creator who respects his audience's intelligence. He doesn't make "kids' stuff," but he makes "human stuff" that older kids and teens can get a lot out of. If you’re okay with the F-bombs, you’ll find some of the most heart-centered storytelling in modern media.
- Check out our best shows for kids list for more character-driven comedies.
- If you have a middle schooler, dive into our digital guide for middle school to navigate the transition into more mature content.
- Find more shows like Ted Lasso
