MythBusters - TV-PG

Team puts urban legends to the scientific test.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-PG
  • Network: Discovery Channel
  • Cast: Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman
  • Genre: Educational
  • >Available On: DVD,Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this intriguing series showcases problem analysis and the scientific approach to proving or disproving a thesis. It comes with repeated disclaimers for good reason, though, as episodes often include explosions, gunfire, and mixtures of volatile substances. Kids may need a reminder to not engage in such activities themselves. The hosts use human skeletons and animal parts in some experiments, which could make squeamish viewers uncomfortable.

Families can talk about how Adam and Jamie devise their test plans. Once they've identified their challenge, what steps do they take to gather supplies and prepare their testing area? What types of experts help them and in what ways? This show offers parents a unique opportunity to show kids the importance of a well-rounded education. What disciplines (math, science, etc.) do the hosts use to set up their experiments? How do you use what you've learned in everyday life?

Message

Social Behavior:

Promotes curiosity and an interest in science, but kids will need reminding not to try similar experiments at home.

Consumerism:

Brand names are blurred on all soda and other food and drinks used in experiments.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Explosions and firepower are used in some experiments, but no one is hurt (beyond a few scrapes and small burns here and there), and they all wear protective gear.

Sex

Very occasional use of the word "sex."

Language

Infrequent and mostly mild: "hell," "Oh my God," etc. The occasional stronger words are bleeped out.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Emily Ashby

How many balloons would it take to airlift a man? Can a playing card be hurled fast enough to inflict more harm than just a paper cut? And if you eat Pop Rocks and drink soda, will your stomach explode from all that fizz? If you've lost sleep over these questions, MYTHBUSTERS is the show for you. It's hosted by Jamie Hyneman, a model maker and special-effects expert for the movie and TV industries, and Adam Savage, whose handy expertise includes carpentry, welding, and animation. The two devise experiments to prove or disprove urban legends and other esoteric theories. They combine physics, chemistry, biology, and geometry to lay out their experiments, and the steps preceding the test are as fascinating as the test itself. For example, to answer the age-old Pop Rocks question, Jamie and Adam hang a pig's stomach (similar to a human's) in a human skeleton to test its durability against six candy packets and a six-pack of soda consumed simultaneously.

Is it any good?

4
The team makes a good comedic duo; Jamie's dry humor is the perfect complement to Adam's quips and wisecracks. The fun, fact-filled show will answer some of those long-standing "what ifs" that may have been nagging at you, demonstrating how much fun science can be to boot. And when Jamie and Adam call in experts in rocket science, explosives, physiology, and other disciplines for background and guidance, there's even more educational value. Science-minded tweens and teens will find it exceptionally entertaining.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 28 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/26/08 by baileyboo Kid contributor, age 13

awesome

the only show that could be iffy is son of a gun
5


Posted on 02/17/08 by leoleann55 Kid contributor, age 10

a very addicting show

all i can really say is THE BEST SHOW I HAVE EVER SEEN
5


Posted on 02/03/08 by wickbok Kid contributor, age 13

Awesome show

Mythbusters is a great show. There is only a little bit of swearing but is a great educational show A+++. For ages 8+
4


Posted on 01/18/08 by spiderman fan Kid contributor, age 9

A great show

Mythbusters is a great show where kids can learn a little. There is some violence but no one is hurt. There is mild language but the really bad ones are blepped out. There was some vodka myths and beer myths but this is a great show.
5

Posted on 01/04/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 8
5

Posted on 11/01/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

You will gain a ton of information by watching this show

Totally educational. I like the show so much, that I have bought as much gear from the online site as possible. When my parents banished me from watching TV, they let me watch Mythbusters. This show not only tells you the scientific method and other great terms scientists use, but they always make it fun and exciting. They sometimes use an occasional bad word, but the major ones are always bleeped out. The only possibly offensive material on it was when they tested if implants could explode at high altitudes and also if coke could be used as a spermicide, but those were back in the first season and they rarely show those on TV anymore.
4


Posted on 10/27/07 by Stalker Kid contributor, age 11

Educational, and Interesting.

Its educational and interesting [Gotta love the explosions ;)] Some kids might not get some things, and might think its a bit boring.. But hey, I love it!
4


Posted on 10/24/07 by Dudethe6288th Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 09/27/07 by bookkeeper Kid contributor, age 13

science is fun on Mythbusters, even when things go wrong

The title theme sequence of the show consists of a warning, worded differently according to season, telling people to never do anything like this at home. Then it goes on, and you learn these are not two guys out to blow things up, they are very intelligent scientists out to solve unanswered questions and myths. The scientific method is not explained, but is used in every myth. Safety is always first, and some myths have to be discomtinued because they would endanger the crew. There is no "personal problems" or "conflicts", like in reality tv, but Jamie and Adam argue mildly almost every episode- usually about the same thing- Adam does things too fast and not very efficiently, and Jamie does things too slow and complicated. Other than the occasional swear word when something goes wrong, nothing is objectionable, unless you don't like Adam's fun-spirited impression of Jamie. If you are squeamish, you're not alone; Build Team Mythbuster Kari usually runs off camera to throw up when they work with pig body parts(no, they never kill the pigs, they get them from slaughter houses and farm where they died from natural causes). A very fun way to learn science facts you never thought you'd know.
5

Posted on 09/22/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

A must see show for anyone with a curious mind and an eye for science

A great show! This show has answered many questions I've been asking. My older sister loves it and I (her younger sister) loves it to! Mythbuster is a great show people over 7 should watch!

See all 28 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 5 reviews.

5


Posted on 09/04/07 by catcheeto Adult contributor

Great show!

It is a great show. It does its best to be scientific in an entertaining way. While they do love to have explosions in each episode, they are sure to be safe about it and try to point out how bad the explosions are. I feel fine letting my kids (3 and 5) watch as they try to teach about how bad the things are. They also try to watch their language, though admittedly they only bleep out bad language should they slip with what they say. One episode they even made it a point to not say "fart" or any related word other then flatulence.
5


Posted on 08/19/07 by Nikki5996 Adult contributor
5

Posted on 11/21/06 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Making Science fun & Safe

Mythbusters is the new Bill Nye! They make science fun and entertaining while strongly enphasizing that people should not try this at home! Still, parents of kids who might be tempted to attempt some of their stunts may want to keep an extra eye on them before giving them that bottle of soda and mentos or there might be some stains to clean up.
3


Posted on 07/25/06 by Fantum Adult contributor

Entertaining, but hardly scientific

People of all audiences shouldn't worry about MythBusters, it's a very entertaining show, but don't take their "busted" myths for truth. These guys are Hollywood special effects artists, not scientists.
5


Posted on 07/25/06 by happy77801 Adult contributor

.

I LOVE this show! I watch it with my kids, it got them interested in science!

Kids Reviews

There are 23 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/26/08 by baileyboo Kid contributor, age 13

awesome

the only show that could be iffy is son of a gun
5


Posted on 02/17/08 by leoleann55 Kid contributor, age 10

a very addicting show

all i can really say is THE BEST SHOW I HAVE EVER SEEN
5


Posted on 02/03/08 by wickbok Kid contributor, age 13

Awesome show

Mythbusters is a great show. There is only a little bit of swearing but is a great educational show A+++. For ages 8+
4


Posted on 01/18/08 by spiderman fan Kid contributor, age 9

A great show

Mythbusters is a great show where kids can learn a little. There is some violence but no one is hurt. There is mild language but the really bad ones are blepped out. There was some vodka myths and beer myths but this is a great show.
5

Posted on 01/04/08 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 8
5

Posted on 11/01/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13

You will gain a ton of information by watching this show

Totally educational. I like the show so much, that I have bought as much gear from the online site as possible. When my parents banished me from watching TV, they let me watch Mythbusters. This show not only tells you the scientific method and other great terms scientists use, but they always make it fun and exciting. They sometimes use an occasional bad word, but the major ones are always bleeped out. The only possibly offensive material on it was when they tested if implants could explode at high altitudes and also if coke could be used as a spermicide, but those were back in the first season and they rarely show those on TV anymore.
4


Posted on 10/27/07 by Stalker Kid contributor, age 11

Educational, and Interesting.

Its educational and interesting [Gotta love the explosions ;)] Some kids might not get some things, and might think its a bit boring.. But hey, I love it!
4


Posted on 10/24/07 by Dudethe6288th Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 09/27/07 by bookkeeper Kid contributor, age 13

science is fun on Mythbusters, even when things go wrong

The title theme sequence of the show consists of a warning, worded differently according to season, telling people to never do anything like this at home. Then it goes on, and you learn these are not two guys out to blow things up, they are very intelligent scientists out to solve unanswered questions and myths. The scientific method is not explained, but is used in every myth. Safety is always first, and some myths have to be discomtinued because they would endanger the crew. There is no "personal problems" or "conflicts", like in reality tv, but Jamie and Adam argue mildly almost every episode- usually about the same thing- Adam does things too fast and not very efficiently, and Jamie does things too slow and complicated. Other than the occasional swear word when something goes wrong, nothing is objectionable, unless you don't like Adam's fun-spirited impression of Jamie. If you are squeamish, you're not alone; Build Team Mythbuster Kari usually runs off camera to throw up when they work with pig body parts(no, they never kill the pigs, they get them from slaughter houses and farm where they died from natural causes). A very fun way to learn science facts you never thought you'd know.
5

Posted on 09/22/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 11

A must see show for anyone with a curious mind and an eye for science

A great show! This show has answered many questions I've been asking. My older sister loves it and I (her younger sister) loves it to! Mythbuster is a great show people over 7 should watch!
See all 23 kids reviews >
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