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Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this show glorifies the art of being crude, rude, and disgusting. The participants stop at nothing when it comes to taking on stunts; the more cringe-worthy, the better. They frequently put themselves at risk of physical danger and are always taunting each other and putting each other down. Adults who have the sense not to try the stunts for themselves (and don't mind watching people painfully make idiots of themselves) may get some laughs, but for kids, this is shock TV at its worst.

Families can talk about what drives people to do stunts like these, when they'll most likely get hurt and at the very least end up looking like complete fools. What's the attraction? Is the rush from performing these silly, wacky and outrageous derring-dos worth the trouble? Families can also discuss the difference between daring and bad taste. Where do you draw the line? And what about when other people are involved? What's the difference between playing a funny practical joke and being cruel?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: S. Jhoanna Robledo

If this show were to have another title, it probably ought to be Men Behaving Badly. Or insanely. Or both. In short, JACKASS makes no bones about appealing to the adolescent boy in everyone.

And in many ways, it's brilliant at what it does: hooking viewers. Witness a man getting attacked by police dogs that he purposefully taunts; see someone drink to oblivion and throw up all over the place; view a melee played for all it's worth, with everyone's arms swinging and hitting. These are just some of the pratfalls and antics deemed worthy of this MTV series.

Johnny Knoxville heads up a motley crew of fearless, shameless thrill-seekers. It's hard not to ask what the point of it all is, but the truth is it has no point besides making the participants -- and viewers -- laugh. Humor comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the gross factor trumps all.

The series prides itself on being degenerate and edgy; it's as punk-rock as comedy can get on TV. And, truth is, it works: Jackass, which was inspired by a Finnish show called The Dudesons (and earned a big-screen movie of its own), is one of MTV's most popular -- if not highest quality -- offerings.

Jackass certainly isn't everyone's cup of tea. In fact, it's probably not advisable viewing for anyone under 15, considering the strong language, nudity, and general craziness. Most kids are much too young and much too impressionable to filter through it all and appreciate the laughs without mimicking the guys' sometimes-dangerous audacity. And no one wants to have their teenager chased down by guard dogs simply because they're trying to replicate what they see on TV.

Fans may also enjoy the less-dangerous (but equally stupid-funny) Beavis & Butt-head.

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Content
		CS	adults	kids
Sexual Content Anything crude is played up. Bare butts are glimpsed, and the guys often make fake thrusting movements and grab themselves. Sophomoric behavior and comments are the norm.
Violence Plenty of personal injuries (mostly mild, but not always) from the stunts the guys put themselves through. What often starts out as play-fighting can turn pretty intense/painful. Their goal seems to be to bash each other as often and as forecefully as possible (with the assistance of heavy machinery, if possible).
Language Plenty of fairly mild swearing (harsher words, like "f--k," are bleeped) and coarse, rough language among the show's posse.
Message
	Social Behavior Instead of looking for social behavior, try "anti-social" or psychopathic. The guys constantly fight with each other and put each other down (it's usually meant in fun, but it often degenerates quickly). They taunt each other ("don't be such a wuss!") and make fun of others.
	Commercialism Products and signage show up mostly in the background.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Some stunts are so far out there seems no other explanation for why the participants do them except for booze. Some to-dos are predicated on bring drunk.

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