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Chappelle's Show

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Edgy, brilliant comedy that's best for adults.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Racism, sexism, alcoholism, affluenza, ignorance -- no stone is left unturned in the name of comedy. The intent is to mock society's foibles, but some of the messages may be too subtle for younger viewers to catch.
  • Violence:

    Chappelle's biting commentary cuts like a serrated knife, and some sketches feature faux murders and gun shots.
  • Sex:

    Some sketches feature scantily clad women (often as strippers and prostitutes). Plenty of sex talk to go around. Skits have mocked sexual fetishes, and one character talks a lot about swapping sexual favors for drugs.
  • Language:

    No holds barred. "Damn," "d--k," "bitch," etc., plus rampant bleeping that barely masks words like "motherf___er." Plenty of derogatory racial terms as well (the n-word makes frequent appearances), though they're often used to draw laughs.
  • Consumerism:

    Some, but nothing too blatant, unless, of course, the situation/sketch warrants it.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Considering one bit features a funny how-to on scoring drugs, vices aren't off-limits. One of Chappelle's recurring characters is a crackhead.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Chappelle's Show was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo

Parents need to know that, above all else, this wildly popular sketch comedy series is uproariously funny. Adults will laugh themselves silly at Chappelle's edgy satire and knowing social commentary, but it's the kind of humor that pushes the proverbial envelope to the absolute. It's only for the fearless, and despite the fact that many teens love the show, it's really not appropriate for most kids.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about the issues that Chappelle chooses to satirize. What is the state of race relations in this country? What are the stereotypes the show chooses to skewer based on? Does the show reinforce or dispel those stereotypes? How? Could another comedian do the same skits and get the same response? Why do issues that are, on the face of it, not very funny, play for such great laughs?
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More on Chappelle's Show

What’s the Story?

In sketch comedy show CHAPPELLE'S SHOW, anyone is fair game: white supremacists, anti-drug programs, even PBS. The result is that you never know quite what to expect, with bits whizzing from a parody of the popular MTV show Cribs to a fiercely funny stab at Chappelle's own identity crisis (at one point, he was MIA from his own show, fleeing production for a retreat in South Africa). Recurring characters include cheerful crackhead Tyrone Biggums, clueless rapper Lil Jon, feisty Rick James, and more. Stand-out moments have included Chappelle's turn as a blind Ku Klux Klan member who doesn't realize he's black and a guest appearance by Wayne Brady (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) in which the normally squeaky-clean entertainer goes on a pimping, shooting rampage.

Is It Any Good?

Chappelle's genius is that he's able to mine the current, the political, the seamy, the gross and -- best of all -- the taboo for humor. In doing so, he makes viewers think, even when they're busy holding their sides from laughing too much. It all makes for exhilarating, thought-provoking TV -- except, of course, when kids are in the room. As appealing as Chappelle is to teenagers, his comedy is of the edgiest, adults-only sort.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Chappelle's Show

    Hilarious! Dave's impersonation of Rick James almost made me drop dead laughing. This show would make even the most emotionless people chuckle.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title off for age 15 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    16+

    I haven't seen a full episode of this show, but my friends showed me a clip about him talking about sesame street and it was hilarious. He used the f-word and it's derivitives a couple of times, and it was completely uncensored. People under the age of 16 shouldn't watch shows with language like that if it's uncensored.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

    Brilliant

    A wonderful show, but probably not for most kids. We have the shows on DVD and only allow our son to watch select skits. We also discuss why certain things are said and done on the show to make a point, but that these aren't things that you should say in real life.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in South Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

    it's not TV-MA

    It's not TV-MA, it's TV-14, i't almost TV-MA, but it barely gets by witha TV-14. i think it can be viewed by 13+.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 0.0

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