Squidbillies - TV-14

Irreverent cartoon mocks the rural South. Skip it.

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Common Sense rates it
1
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-14
  • Network: Cartoon Network
  • Cast: Dana Snyder, Unknown Hinson, Todd Hanson
  • Genre: Comedy

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this mature cartoon (part of the Adult Swim line-up on Cartoon Network) is so riddled with violence, sexual references, and disturbing dialogue that it's easy to miss what little inane plot actually exists. Human characters often meet untimely demises, from being constricted by a snake man to the point of decapitation to being burned by an intentionally combustible baby's soothing toy. The main characters are inbred squid who are appallingly stereotyped as hillbilly inhabitants of the southern United States. This show is completely inappropriate for kids.

Families can talk about the dangers of prejudice and stereotyping. Why are stereotypes so often played for laughs on TV and in other media? What groups of people are most commonly picked on? How are they portrayed? In what ways are the portrayals exaggerated? How might it feel to be part of a group that's often the butt of jokes?

Message

Social Behavior:

The show takes stereotyping to the extreme, greatly exaggerating what's often associated with rural southern life. The main characters are violent toward friends and family members. Attitudes toward and portrayals of women are extremely derogatory.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Smoking and drinking is commonplace throughout the show. Drug use is alluded to from time to time.

Violence

Characters shoot, stab, and maim others. One body is mutilated with a chainsaw, another character is mauled repeatedly by wolves, and some relationships (including the main one between a father and a son) are physically and emotionally abusive. The local businessman markets various products for infanticide.

Sex

Cartoon figures simulate sex, and innuendoes are common. Clothing often bears suggestive language and/or graphics.

Language

Curse words like "damn," "hell," and "bitch" and body-part words like "ass" and "boobs" are common. Characters often refer to others in racially prejudiced terms like "cracker."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Emily Ashby

The animated comedy SQUIDBILLIES is part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup and tells the tale of a squid named Early Cuyler (voiced by Danny "Unknown Hinson" Baker) and his family, who all live in rural northern Georgia. Early is the product of inbreeding, extreme poverty, and illiteracy; he's unemployed and engaged to a morbidly obese human woman who is forever demanding various tokens of his love, so he holds up a store at gunpoint to satisfy her needs. He's quickly convicted of armed robbery (since the sheriff was behind him in line at the store he robbed) and sent to the slammer for a 15-year stay. Meanwhile, Early's girlfriend bears his illegitimate half-human, half-squid child and dumps him on the doorstep of Early's sister, Lil (Patricia French). After serving his time, Early is reunited with teenage Rusty (Daniel McDevitt), the son he didn't know he had. To satisfy his parole requirements, Early lands a job with local corrupt businessman Dan Halen (Todd Hanson), who markets life-threatening infant products and dabbles in espionage.

Is it any good?

1

Squidbillies is little more than 15 minutes of heaped-up negative messages. Beatings, shootings, and stabbings are routine solutions to problems, and Early and Rusty's relationship is marred by physical and emotional abuse -- which, incredibly, Rusty almost welcomes, since he's so desperate for a role model in his life.

Simulated sex is common, and sexual references are both spoken and spelled out on Early's myriad of message-touting hats, one of which features the words "Booty Hunter" surrounding a silhouette of a shapely woman on her hands and knees.

Racial and otherwise derogatory slurs are harsh and unfettered. Early is especially vicious toward women and white people, for whom he harbors great hatred. Rampant prejudice coupled with issues like illiteracy, incest, and poverty are tied to the show's stereotyped "white trash" characters. While adults may be able to put the show's humor into context, its crassness makes it completely inappropriate for kids.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/25/08 by ashadoodle Adult contributor

Not for Kids

This is an adult show, as the ratings state. There are a lot of negative messages, so only teens who are mature enough to distinguise immature comedy from reality should watch.
3


Posted on 07/15/08 by brak show345 Kid contributor, age 10

This show go's along the line of Robot chicken, not that good, more for the ages of 14+.
5


Posted on 08/08/07 by niktinewilnotcry Kid contributor, age 17

a must watch show for toddlers

this television program depicts real life situations and methods of solving problems. all people should watch this show in order to learn how to become a respected member of society.
2


Posted on 07/26/07 by laurenhooba Adult contributor

This is not a kid's show

Squidbilles, the show on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, is designed to be viewed by 16 and up crowd due the adult content of the show.
0

Posted on 06/20/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

This is Just Stupid

Young Children should be in bed by this time anyways. Not appropriate or funny for children and developing teen. Also, I could draw that. It's bad animation and not appealing to look at.
0


Posted on 06/16/07 by Cartoonguy11 Kid contributor, age 11

NOT appropriate.

That's all i want to say.
5


Posted on 12/17/06 by jjj@aim.com Kid contributor, age 17

See all 7 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/25/08 by ashadoodle Adult contributor

Not for Kids

This is an adult show, as the ratings state. There are a lot of negative messages, so only teens who are mature enough to distinguise immature comedy from reality should watch.
2


Posted on 07/26/07 by laurenhooba Adult contributor

This is not a kid's show

Squidbilles, the show on the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, is designed to be viewed by 16 and up crowd due the adult content of the show.
0

Posted on 06/20/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

This is Just Stupid

Young Children should be in bed by this time anyways. Not appropriate or funny for children and developing teen. Also, I could draw that. It's bad animation and not appealing to look at.

Kids Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/15/08 by brak show345 Kid contributor, age 10

This show go's along the line of Robot chicken, not that good, more for the ages of 14+.
5


Posted on 08/08/07 by niktinewilnotcry Kid contributor, age 17

a must watch show for toddlers

this television program depicts real life situations and methods of solving problems. all people should watch this show in order to learn how to become a respected member of society.
0


Posted on 06/16/07 by Cartoonguy11 Kid contributor, age 11

NOT appropriate.

That's all i want to say.
5


Posted on 12/17/06 by jjj@aim.com Kid contributor, age 17
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