 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Family BrainSurge
- Nickelodeon
- Genre: Game Shows
Common Sense Media says
High-energy game show puts kids' memories to the test.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this game show makes it easy for kids to play along with the contestants, testing their listening comprehension and visual recollection skills in a series of puzzles and quizzes. Players are eliminated at the end of each of three rounds, but they’re always good sports about their fate -- and about their slippery, messy exit down an oversized slide model of the ear canal. Aside from some recurrent potty humor (kids sit in chairs that make farting noises when their answer’s wrong, etc.), there’s little to worry about in this fast-paced game show.
What's the story?
In the game show BRAINSURGE, kids compete in a series of brain-teasing challenges that test their ability to recall visual and auditory information. Each game starts with six contestants (dubbed the “Brainiacs”) who answer a series of questions from host Jeff Sutphen about pictures they’re shown. At the end of the round, the two lowest-scoring players are eliminated and sent home via the "Brain Drain," an oversized slide in the shape of an ear canal that's greased up with a gooey ear wax substitute. Play continues through two more elimination rounds, after which the game’s winner faces one more memory challenge to win a series of prizes -- and a dousing of green slime.
Is it any good?
BrainSurge sticks to tradition when it comes to content -- its oversized set and use of slippery substances bring to mind the station’s slime-covered classic Double Dare. Kids are sure to appreciate the messy nature of the entertainment, but parents will be most excited about the fact that the show’s challenges actually do put kids’ brain power to the test, and that it’s easy for viewers at home to match wits with the contestants.
Despite some mild but recurring potty humor (in one level eliminated contestants are escorted away on a chair that makes farting noises), this fast-paced show is a fun, safe choice for grade-schoolers.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about competition. What does competing teach you about yourself? What contests have you been a part of? How did you feel when you won? When you lost?
Kids: Do you have any role models who are athletes? Why do you respect and admire them? What do you think of athletes who demonstrate negative behavior?
What other game shows have you seen? How was the format different? Do you like that this show’s contestants are all kids? Do you think there’s some educational quality to its content?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 11 years old
June 3, 2010
AGE
My daughter loves the show and really wants to be on the show
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Kid, 11 years old
May 10, 2011
AGE
Pretty Good!
It's a fun game show that every kid should watch. It isn't exactly educational, but it test your concentration and abilities and mainly on your focus.
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Kid, 10 years old
May 29, 2010
AGE
Fun show for 6+
Great Game show, don't worry about the sounds the chairs make! I like to play along.
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Kid, 9 years old
July 10, 2010
AGE
for ages 7+
love it
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Kid, 12 years old
July 10, 2011
AGE
nice
I think it is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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AGE
A fun family-friendly show will make your brain spin!
This is a good show about 6 contestants (kids) who face off to and answer various brain buzzling questions. So it is very educational and has good role models and positive messages too. Although there is a fair amount of consumerism in every episode. Every kid gets a prize, even if they lose. So you see the prizes. Examples of prizes are: Wii, Nintendo DS, Razor scooter and Lego Rock Band just to name a few.
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AGE
awesome show
i love this show!i watch it all the time,and i wish i could be on the show.it's a little gross but it's still a good show,and i like the host.he's really funny and weird.
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Kid, 10 years old
June 14, 2010
AGE
AWESOME!!!FOR 5+.
It's A great show.Sometimes I like to play along and this show's fun.
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AGE
Fun new game show for the whole family
I must say that I'm very surprised with Nickelodeon's new game show "Brainsurge". Judging by the promos, I thought this was going to be another stupid show that Nickelodeon is putting out. Boy was I wrong! This is a very unique game show that is perfect for the whole family. I agree with the reviewer that said this show is "perfect for any age!" because it's just that. It's like "Figure it Out" meets "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" meets "The Weakest Link", by way of "Wipeout". So if you love family-friendly game shows, you will love "Brainsurge".
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| TV rating: | TV-G |
| Network: | Nickelodeon |
| Cast: | Jeff Sutphen |
| Genre: | Game Shows |
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