Click and Clack's As the Wrench Turns (PBS)

common sense media says

Tame enough for kids, but clearly aimed at adults.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that although this animated comedy doesn't have any swearing, nudity, drinking, or other iffy stuff that would make it inappropriate for kids, the jokes and political themes are all aimed at older viewers. Which makes sense, as they're the ones who are most likely familiar with stars Tom and Ray Magliozzi's popular NPR radio show "Car Talk." Despite surface similarities (left-wing politics, good-natured teasing, etc.), this series is actually quite different from that one, focusing on the brothers' (fictional) antics rather than on actual auto maintenance.

Positive messages: Though Click, Clack, and the unusual characters who work in their garage all seem to have their hearts in the right place, they're also quite subversive and are often willing to bend or break the rules to achieve their goals. The show's laughs result from the unusual means they use to that end. Their harebrained schemes are also written to highlight social issues, as Click and Clack take advantage of various loopholes and flaws in modern society.
Violence & scariness: The characters are sometimes pretty rough with the cars they're fixing, but there's little violence.
Sexy stuff: No sex or nudity, though Click and Clack do sometimes have daydreams featuring bikini-clad cartoon beauties. Some innuendo; one episode structures a joke around a man wanting to see something that a woman has hidden -- the implication is that it's her breasts, but it's really a necklace.
Language: Occasional use of words like "hell."
Consumerism: The series showcases the talents of Tom and Ray Magliozzi, the well-known hosts of the popular radio series "Car Talk," and there are frequent references to National Public Radio.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Click and Clack's As the Wrench Turns

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about politics. What role does the media play in shaping people's political views? Do you have to agree with a show's politics in order to enjoy it? Click and Clack have plenty to say about the failings of big government, the economy, and the struggles of the little guy. Do you think their perspective is shaped by their role as small businessmen? Do other cartoons raise political issues? Do you think adult political humor can work well in animation, a medium that's more often aimed at young people?

What's the story?

What's the story?
It's easy, at first glance, to confuse CLICK AND CLACK'S AS THE WRENCH TURNS with "Car Talk," the popular NPR call-in radio show about auto maintenance, politics, life, and any other topics that seem interesting to its beloved hosts, Tom and Ray Magliozzi. Both shows feature the brothers' distinctive voices, and both clearly have a left-wing political bent. But while the radio show is a nonfiction, free-form conversation with the Magliozzis' on-air alter-egos, Click and Clack, the animated series is a scripted comedy series that follows Click and Clack's comic misadventures running an auto shop.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
In addition to Click and Clack (voiced by the Magliozzis, naturally), the shop is populated by a quirky bunch of mechanics who view fixing cars as a calling, as well as the perfect metaphor for just about any problem. Indeed, these mechanics would clearly rather pontificate rather than actually work -- which is fine, since the antics they get up to while avoiding labor are more fun to watch. The show is an easy, entertaining diversion with an anti-big-government spin.

That said, it's not quite clear who this show is really for. It's true that animated series aren't just for kids anymore, and the show's political jibes are clearly written for viewers with a sophisticated grasp of current issues. But the plots are fairly simplistic and may not offer enough depth to sustain the interest of the older fans who make up the radio show's fan base -- in other words, the folks most likely to be intrigued by an animated series based on the Magliozzi brothers.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-G
Network: PBS
Cast: Cornell Womack, Ray Magliozzi, Tom Magliozzi
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: PBS

This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

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