The Haunted Hathaways – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Haunted Hathaways

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2013

48%

WISE Score

A single mom moves her family into a house with friendly ghosts—sounds fun, but this 2013 Nickelodeon sitcom is as forgettable as its 5.3 IMDb rating suggests.

The Haunted Hathaways

show

TV-G, 2013

48%

WISE Score

A single mom moves her family into a house with friendly ghosts—sounds fun, but this 2013 Nickelodeon sitcom is as forgettable as its 5.3 IMDb rating suggests.

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is one of those shows that technically checks the 'safe for kids' box but fails the 'would anyone actually want to watch this' test. The Haunted Hathaways ran for two seasons on Nickelodeon in 2013-2015, which tells you something—it wasn't good enough to last longer.

The 5.3 IMDb rating is pretty brutal for a kids' show. For context, even mediocre Nick shows usually hover around 6-7. This suggests the laugh-track-heavy, predictable sitcom format was tired even a decade ago.

If your 6-8 year old stumbles across it and wants to watch, it won't hurt them. But there are so many better family sitcoms out there—The Ghost and Molly McGee has a similar premise but is actually good, or just go with classics like The Middle or modern hits like Bluey. Life's too short for 5.3-rated sitcoms, even if they're technically wholesome.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-9 who are still entertained by basic Nickelodeon sitcom humor. Older kids will likely find it babyish, and even younger viewers might get bored given the show's poor ratings and dated format.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Nickelodeon sitcom about a single mom and her two daughters who move into a house inhabited by friendly ghosts. The premise suggests family-friendly comedy with themes of blended families (living and undead). Common Sense Media rated it for age 6+, indicating appropriate tone. However, the 5.3 IMDb rating suggests the execution may have been mediocre with typical sitcom tropes rather than genuinely heartwarming content.

Imaginative

The ghost-family-meets-living-family premise has some creative potential, but this appears to be a standard multi-camera Nickelodeon sitcom from the early 2010s era. These shows typically relied on formulaic plots and laugh tracks rather than truly inventive storytelling. Without more specific information about unique creative elements, this likely falls into the 'mildly imaginative premise, conventional execution' category.

Safe

Common Sense Media age 6+ rating and kids mode availability suggest this is appropriately safe for young viewers. As a Nickelodeon sitcom, it would have been carefully vetted for child-appropriate content. The ghost theme is clearly comedic rather than scary (it's not a horror show). No indicators of inappropriate content, though the low IMDb score suggests quality issues rather than safety concerns.

Enriching

Early 2010s Nickelodeon sitcoms were primarily designed for entertainment rather than enrichment. The blended family concept could offer some light lessons about acceptance and cooperation, but the low IMDb rating (5.3) suggests this show likely relied on slapstick humor and predictable plots rather than meaningful character development or valuable takeaways. Entertainment value appears questionable based on audience reception.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Safe, non-scary ghost comedy appropriate for young elementary kids
Features themes of blended families and acceptance (living and undead coexistence)
Short episodes work for quick viewing sessions when you need 22 minutes of distraction
Available on multiple streaming platforms if you're desperate for new content

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What to Watch For

Extremely dated 2010s Nickelodeon sitcom style with laugh tracks and predictable jokes
Low audience ratings suggest even kids may find this boring or annoying
Typical multi-camera sitcom chaos and over-the-top acting that can grate on parents
Minimal educational or enrichment value—pure (mediocre) entertainment

Conversation Starters

"If you could have a ghost friend, what would you want them to be able to do?"
"Do you think it would be weird or cool to share your house with another family?"
"What's the silliest superpower a ghost could have?"

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