Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! - TV-14

Quirky skits blend animation and live action.

TV Rating: TV-14 Network: Cartoon Network Cast: Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, Bob Odenkirk Genre: Comedy
Available on: DVD

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this quirky skit series features cross-dressers, pot smokers, slurring TV personalities, and prank callers. While the content is aimed toward adults and mature teens, the humor is lighthearted and clever and doesn't tend to go overboard with potentially offensive material. That said, there's some mild sexual innuendo and graphics featuring wiggling tongues. The show's surreal elements -- such as a miniature person who makes strange noises and pops up in people's mouths -- could be potentially upsetting to younger kids.

Families can talk about the skits. Which ones were funniest? What makes them funny? Have you ever laughed when you weren't supposed to? Where and why? Why do different styles of humor appeal to different people? How does this show fit in with the rest of the Adult Swim line-up? Does it blend in well or stand out on its own? Why?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Sierra Filucci

Twisted comedy duo Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim's variety show on Adult Swim (Cartoon Network's late-night line up for adults) is chock full of weird stuff. Staged as a public-access-style TV series, the program features the comedians (who are best known for their animated comedy Tom Goes to the Mayor) as exaggerated live-action and animated characters in bizarre skits featuring karaoke, prank calls, and newscasters.

Heidecker and Wareheim's comedic personas are those of awkward nerds. They introduce their show wearing khakis, brown belts, and tucked-in button-down shirts -- which, with their clean-cut appearances, makes them seem like a mix between dot-com millionaires and Blockbuster employees.

Highly regarded comedians like John C. Reilly and Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show) make guest appearances. In one episode, Reilly plays a pasty, slurring TV news doctor doing a bit about fruits and vegetables. After misidentifying a banana and a grapefruit, he bites into an apple and then spits it out, shouting, "Ugh, this is a mealy one!" (It's a lot funnier than it sounds.)

Another skit pits Tim and Eric against each other in a hacky sack contest on the beach, with one dressed as a cowboy and the other wearing marijuana leaf-patterned clothing. Helped along by digital animation, each performs wild feats with the little ball, gaining points for each stunt as if they were characters in a video game. (One of the more suggestive feats involves thrusting the pelvis up and down vigorously while bouncing the ball on the belly.)

Obviously this style of comedy isn't for everyone, but it's clever, original stuff that teens and adult fans of quirky humor will enjoy. That said, this particular brand of humor seems to emerge from a very narrow set of comedians, because women and non-Caucasians are rarely seen.

Fans might also enjoy Mr. Show, Tom Goes to the Mayor, and Arrested Development.

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Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Surreal tongues whirl around and sometimes touch, as if kissing. Recurring characters hug and smooch. Some pelvis thrusting and cross-dressing.
Violence Nothing major. Some physical humor, like falling or bonking heads.
Language "Godammit"
Message
	Social Behavior One recurring feature is a prank-calling skit, which may encourage teens to follow suit. Various types of people are made fun of, including effeminate men. Women and people of color are absent from the cast.
	Commercialism Makes fun of commercials.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco In one episode, a character wears marijuana-leaf-patterned clothing and takes a drag from a fake joint.