Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Video show has dangerous stunts, ignorant quips.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
WHACKED OUT VIDEOS is a "reality" series that features both amateur and professional video footage of unique, silly, and frequently dangerous stunts performed by people around the world. Like its sister series Whacked Out Sports, each episode combines reality and comedy by pairing "funny" commentary with footage of the feats being performed.
Is It Any Good?
While most of the show is dedicated to showcasing dumb and dangerous tricks, some of the footage is actually of religious and social practices performed by cultures from other parts of the world. Unfortunately, the narrator's comments about these activities include some uninformed observations about the rituals. Worse, in the name of humor, they sometimes offer inherently racist comments about those who practice them. For example, in one segment, Columbian men are referred to as "Juan Valdez wannabes" and Columbian women were said to be competing for "the town's stretch pants."
Regardless of why the stunts are being performed, the fact is that the majority of these exploits pose a real danger to those who try them. Because they're being presented as a form of entertainment, it may be difficult for younger (or less-mature) viewers to appreciate the real risks associated with them. In other words, this one's not for kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why people do these dangerous stunts. What's the appeal (if any) of trying things that could hurt or kill you? Does the media perpetuate this behavior by treating videos of these activities as entertainment? When is risk-taking a good idea, and when should you play it safe? Families can also discuss why some cultures perform rituals that cause pain or injury. What is the significance of these activities?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 2, 2008
- Cast : Leroy Patterson , Tom Gottlieb , Trizz
- Network : MyNetworkTV
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 19, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate