Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that the stars of this Jackass-esque show are two adult Englishmen who challenge each other to physically and mentally grueling (but mostly just inane) tasks like making themselves sick, gaining the most weight, and attracting the most women. Content often includes partial nudity (a penis is visible in one scene of a man using the toilet), strong language, and alcohol and tobacco use. There aren't too many redeeming qualities to be found, so parents would be wise to skip it, even for teens (who might get some bad ideas from the on-screen duo).
Families can talk about competition and victory. What can you gain by setting a goal and working hard to achieve it? How does it feel to win? To lose? Why do some people say that it's not the winning that matters, but how you play the game? Do your kids agree with that? Why? Families can also discuss the limits of friendship. If a friend asked your kids to do something that might be harmful to themselves, what would they do? How might their response affect their relationship with that person? Are Ed and Spencer really each other's friends if they put each other through such stupid tasks?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Emily Ashby
In ED VS. SPENCER, self-proclaimed best friends (though their actions often imply otherwise) Ed Leigh and Spencer Claridge face off in challenges worthy of a Jackass salute. Some of their contests have included using any means necessary to beat the other at making the most money in three days, surviving longest in the woods, and becoming the most famous.
Each episode follows the duo's battles in a new task, during which each competitor employs his own arsenal of talents (and irritants) to throw the other off his game. Though their strategies are different -- Spencer relies on mental toughness and perseverance to outlast Ed's aggravating, annoying behavior -- the guys are similarly merciless in battle.
For example, in one episode they were handcuffed together with no relief from each other's company until one gave up and unlocked the cuffs, thereby losing the game. They proceeded to engage in outright war, using noisemakers, flatulence, bathroom trips, a steam in the sauna, and even an electric shock machine to drive each other to concession.
While it's likely that Ed and Spencer's ridiculous behavior will garner some laughs from adults (who hopefully can put the pair's childishness in perspective), this definitely isn't a family show. Strong language, relatively rough fighting, partial nudity, and overall juvenile behavior make it little more than a wasted 30 minutes that might give impressionable teens some iffy ideas -- hence the "don't try this at home" disclaimer that pre-empts each episode.
A somewhat better show in the same vein is Rob & Big. Or, families might instead try Endurance or The Amazing Race.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentDepending on the scenario, content includes lots of flirting, some making out, partial nudity (mostly male), and mention of sexual topics like erections. One scene showed a visible penis when a man stood up from using the toilet. |
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ViolenceRoughhousing includes punches, kicks, and wrestling. In one episode, a guy uses electric shocks on his friend. |
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Language"S--t" (unbleeped), "damn," and "dick" are pretty common, as is the bleeped version of "f--k." |
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Social BehaviorTwo grown men engage in horribly immature behavior in an attempt to win silly challenges. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoSmoking and drinking, mostly during social gatherings. One episode showed the guys downing so many beers and mixed drinks that they couldn't even walk down the street. |
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