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Celebrity Deathmatch (MTV2)

common sense media says

Funny but violent satire for teens and up.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that as funny as this animated show may be for teens and adults, it's not appropriate for grade-schoolers and tweens. The series' extreme violence is continuous, and provides no discussion of the consequences of fighting and conflict. Parents should also know that sideline commentaries and interviews include many subtle references to drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, and transgendered behavior (one of the male commentators sports breasts under his suit).

Positive messages: Promotes extreme fighting as way of solving problems between people who don't get along. But it also makes interesting social and political statements about how we view celebrities in our culture.
Violence: The show's title says it all. Claymation celebrities fight to the death, using whatever means possible to kill their opponent. Everyday objects become weapons, and the results are bloody and often gruesome (if any of it was live-action instead of animated, it would be like watching a grotesque snuff film). That said, all of the violence is clearly meant to be unrealistic and funny.
Sex: Many references to sexual activity, but they're discussed in a way that will go over the heads of young viewers. Occasional references to female body parts.
Language: Mild language, including words like "ass."
Consumerism: Occasional references to films and television programs celebrities star in, books they've written, and other commercial items they're promoting.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Occasional subtle comments about drug or alcohol use.

More on Celebrity Deathmatch

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the consequences of violence and violent acts. Why is violence OK on television but wrong in real-life? What's the difference between fighting and self-defense? How do you think the celebrities depicted in the show feel about seeing themselves in this context? Where do you think the show's creators get their ideas for match-ups? Families can also discuss why some animated television shows aren't meant for kids.

What's the story?

What's the story?

Created by Eric Fogel (who also created Beavis & Butt-Head and Daria), CELERBRITY DEATHMATCH is a claymation satire of professional wrestling that features famous people fighting to the death. Returning to the airwaves after being cancelled in 2002, the resurrected Deathmatch boasts of being bloodier and gorier than the original series while still maintaining the tradition of poking fun at anyone who's anyone in the worlds of entertainment and politics.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Good writing and inventive animation create funny moments that parody some of the public scandals, strained relationships, and annoying habits of today's celebrities. Viewers will likely be entertained by matches that pit clay caricatures of public figures against each other; sample pairings include The Simple Life's Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, American Idol's Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest, and former *NSYNC singer Justin Timberlake and Kevin "Mr. Britney Spears" Federline.

The show's suggestive and sometimes politically incorrect humor -- sideline commentators Johnny Gomez (voiced by Jim Thorton) and Nick Diamond (Chris Edgerly) host the updated series, offering tongue-in-cheek play-by-play observations that are filled with sexual innuendo and bathroom humor -- will very likely go over the heads of younger teens. And each deathmatch includes a graphic display of clay characters being beaten, sliced open (sometimes playing with their internal organs), blown up, or burnt alive. While these gruesome events are unrealistic and played for laughs, they're still extremely violent and aren't appropriate for young children.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: MTV2
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: MTV2

This review was written by Melissa Camacho
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

HTF RULES
teen, 15 years old
 
LOVE IT

bubbo
adult
 
Ew
Wow. For an animated show this is extremely disgusting. The violence is extreme, bloody, and gruesome, but it is funny on occasion.

Frylock234
kid, 12 years old
 
all of the fighting results in bloody mess

 
hilarious
this show i hilarious, but is extremely violent and not for anyone under 13.

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age