All That

What’s the Story?

ALL THAT is for the bubblegum set what Saturday Night Live is for adults: raucous, sometimes edgy comedy. Its robust ensemble of comics have earned the title of "#1 Kid's Sketch Comedy Show" from Nickelodeon. Celebrity hosts and music groups also adorn the show's royal mantle. Certainly there is ground for the show's popularity among the Nickelodeon fan base.

Is It Any Good?

Seeing 10-year-old girls in full makeup and flashy outfits can be a bit odd -- especially when a tooth is missing here or there. It's as though these girls are being pushed to grow up before their time. A good illustration of this point is Jamie Spears, the younger sister of pop diva Britney Spears. She looks like Britney from the head up, but then wait, she's still losing her baby teeth, which says a lot about how these kids develop too quickly on one level while nature is taking its time.

All That presents a wild ride through the hormonal ups and downs of adolescence. It is clearly more up than down, but the group taunting and forced dares provide a glance into the darker side of this age group. The multi-cultural cast members range in age from 10 to 17, and they seem to have respect for each other, but some skits are more appropriate for the older cast members and viewers than the younger. Skits covering popularity contests, séances, dates and such portray coming-of-age rituals, but the discussions about who to make out with make it a bit too edgy for the youngest tweens. The gross-out factor is also something to be on guard for -- the show can push the limits of decency in this category.