Some TV shows are time capsules of cringe. While classics like Three's Company and Bosom Buddies now feel loaded with homophobic and transphobic undertones, and Everybody Loves Raymond leaned hard on the nagging-wife trope, there's another sitcom that's aged so poorly it deserves a second look—this time with a critical eye. TBS's My Boys (2006–2010) centered on a female protagonist whose biggest problem, apparently, was that she liked sports, beer, and poker a little too much.
What Was 'My Boys' About?
My Boys followed PJ Franklin (Jordana Spiro), a sportswriter for the Chicago Sun-Times. She was smart, successful, and surrounded by a tight-knit group of guy friends. But the show's entire premise hinged on the idea that PJ couldn't find love because she was too "one of the boys." Her bluntness, love of sports, and beer-drinking habits were framed as obstacles to romance. Her one female friend, Stephanie (Kellee Stewart), constantly coached her on how to act more feminine. The series ran for 49 episodes before TBS pulled the plug, leaving My Boys as a forgotten relic of the mid-2000s.
Why 'My Boys' Could Never Be Made Today
Rewatching My Boys now is a jarring experience. The show doesn't just have a few cringey moments—its entire foundation is problematic. Instead of celebrating PJ's unique personality and career success, the series treats her "masculine" interests as a flaw that needs fixing. The humor comes from her being too boyish to land a man, rather than from her being a fully realized person. Even her best friend is constantly trying to change her, offering tips on how to be more ladylike. The male characters fare no better, falling into tired stereotypes of commitment-phobic playboys and henpecked husbands.
It's not that My Boys has no redeeming qualities. The cast was stellar, featuring Jim Gaffigan, Reid Scott, and Jamie Kaler, with guest spots from Nia Vardalos, Kyle Howard, Johnny Galecki, and Rachael Harris. There are genuine laughs and a sweet found-family dynamic that echoes Friends. But the core message—that a woman must soften herself to be worthy of love—would never fly in today's TV landscape. Modern shows celebrate women who thrive in their careers without needing to change who they are. PJ would make a fantastic protagonist in a 2026 series, but she wouldn't be portrayed as less-than for her interests.
If you're nostalgic for early-2000s sitcoms, you might also enjoy binge-watching these seven canceled sitcoms for free. And for more on how far TV has come, check out Jonathan Tropper's take on modern storytelling.
The Legacy of 'My Boys'
Spiro went on to roles in The Mob Doctor, Blindspot, and Ozark, while Gaffigan became a comedy superstar. So My Boys wasn't without impact. Watching it today is like a time capsule—a reminder of how much our cultural standards have shifted. It's still fun in a nostalgic way, but it's also a clear example of a show that would never get greenlit now. For more on how TV has evolved, see Supernatural stars pitch a female-led spin-off.
