Fanboy and Chum Chum (Nickelodeon)

common sense media says

Zany adventures are low on depth but high on imagination.


parents & educators say
  • 34% say violence is an issue
  • 29% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that there’s little depth to this over-the-top show about two friends who fancy themselves superheroes, but their thrill-seeking adventures will appeal to young tweens with vivid imaginations of their own. Exaggerated, comic-style violence (mostly explosions, dramatic falls, and collisions) is a common result of the ridiculous scenarios the guys get themselves into, but none of it leads to lasting injury. Fanboy and Chum Chum are hardly strong role models for kids, as they spend most of their time -- even in school -- goofing off, and Chum Chum eagerly does Fanboy’s bidding without question. But for kids who can suspend their sense of reality, it’s a fun extension of the preteen set's wild imaginations.

Educational value: This show's intent is to entertain rather than to educate.
Positive messages: The kids’ sole goal is to enjoy life to the max. When problems arise, they devise outlandish plans (switching brains with a robot in order to pass a test, for example) rather than dealing with them in a realistic manner.
Positive role models: The main characters often goof off in school. Chum Chum always follows Fanboy’s lead without question, even when his crazy ideas get them into a troubling situation. Adults are usually hard to come by, and those who are around aren’t particularly impressive models for the kids. A teacher is incapable of keeping order in his classroom, and the janitor is evil and vindictive toward the kids. All of this is played for humor, of course.
Violence & scariness: The duo’s over-the-top adventures result in plenty of comic-style collisions and tumbles -- and occasionally laser guns or sabers are used -- but no one is ever hurt.
Sexy stuff: Nothing sexy, but a young girl is infatuated with a male friend, whom she thinks is “adorable.”
Language: Intermittent use of marginal language like “butt.”  
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Fanboy and Chum Chum

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about bullying. Why is bullying a problem? Do you think the way Fanboy treats Chum Chum could be seen as bullying? Why or why not?

  • Do you think violence on TV is a problem? How does the type of violence -- fantasy vs. realistic -- affect its impact on viewers?

  • Who are some of your own heroes? Why do you look up to them? Do you admire any celebrities (actors, sports figures, etc.)? If so, who, and why?

What's the story?

What's the story?

FANBOY AND CHUM CHUM follows the over-the-top adventures of best friends -- and self-described superheroes -- Fanboy (voiced by David Hornsby) and his trusty sidekick, Chum Chum (Nika Futterman). Although their green-and-purple supersuits belie any real powers, this comic book-loving, thrill-seeking duo sees each day as an opportunity to experience life to the maximum, whether that means swapping noses for school picture day or trying to teach the class pig the finer points of martial arts. When they’re not hanging out at the local comics shop or cooking up their latest off-the-wall scheme, the guys can often be found at the Frosty Mart, chugging Frosty Freezies to induce the world’s worst brain freeze. 

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

If you're looking for deep content and lasting lessons, then this show isn’t for you -- or for your kids. Precious little of it can be applied to reality, especially when it comes to Fanboy and Chum Chum’s experiences at school, where they enjoy nearly free rein to goof off and hardly put effort into their work. Even the nature of their friendship may be troubling to some parents, since Fanboy’s control over his pal’s actions sometimes verges on bullying.

But there's no doubt that it's entertaining. So if your young tweens can check their sense of reality at the door, this silly show offers a fun depiction of the wild imagination that they probably share with the main characters. For younger kids, though, the blurry line between fiction and realistic lifestyles may be a little confusing.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-Y7
Network: Nickelodeon
Cast: David Hornsby, Jamie Kennedy, Nika Futterman
Genre: Kids' Animation
Where to watch: Nickelodeon

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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What parents & educators say

7
Based on 38 parent & educator reviews:
  • 34% say violence is an issue
  • 29% say there are positive messages
  • 26% say there are positive role models

Most useful reviews by all members

Blue-Bunny
teen, 18 years old
 
What happens when you give Jar Jar Binks his own TV show?
This is stupidity at its best. I know you've all heard this from other users, but just to recap, the characters are annoying, ugly, absurd, and really, really bad role models. CommonSense is really off on their review. This has no imagination at all. Tired, stale, fart jokes and a ridiculous plot in each episode. The first three seconds of the theme song, I think I'm going to have a seizure! Disappointing. Don't watch this piece of junk. If you want real, Nickelodeon entertainment at its best, watch the older shows (1990-2005). They're definitely more worth it.

Narwhal Warrior
teen, 13 years old
 
"fanboy and chumchum marathon! wanna watch?!" "OVER MY DEAD BODY!!!!!"
With all honesty, nickelodeon just messed up they're channel. slapstick violence. adults are considered evil or dumb. also the main characters are stupid and mess around in class. i wish we could give this zero stars

ilovecookiez
teen, 14 years old
 
Incredibly stupid.
WHAT IS THIS?!?!?!?!?!? 3 stars?!?! WTF is wrong with you common sense?! 1. The characters are dumb, idiotic, and annoying. 2. The animation is annoying as well, it looks gross and like they didn't even try. 3. ITS NOT FUNNY! ITS GROSS AND STUPID! I'M BEGGING YOU PLEASE TAKE THIS CRAP OFF THE AIR!

Danny_Phangirl
teen, 16 years old
 
Worst Nickelodeon Show Since Mr. Meaty!!!
Fanboy and Chum Chum? Yuck. I'm sorry but this show is total garbage. No one of any age should watch. It is obviously geared towards the fat American ADHD kid, and is even encouraging that stereotype! I would rather gouge out my eyeballs than watch Nickelodeon’s latest blunder! That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but this show is the epitome of brainlessness. I felt as if my IQ had dropped significantly after watching just one episode. The bright swirling colors and crappy CGI are almost hypnotic. The theme song is gag-worthy. All the characters are ugly and misshapen (you know, box shaped heads, bug eyes, huge teeth and all that cr@p.) And, the main characters are disgusting idiots. Fanboy and Chum Chum set a terrible example for younger kids. They are constantly causing mischief at school, and encouraging disgusting behaviors such as nose picking and sticking gum under desks. All the intelligent people or adults in the show are either evil or stupid. In the one episode that I watched, the janitor was made evil just because he wanted to clean gum off the bottoms of the desks. When he tries to clean up the gum, the “heroes” of the show basically torture him until he lets them have their gum. Does anyone else find this totally wrong? This show makes fun of intelligence, moral decency, and cleanliness while celebrating mischief and mindless stupidity! A lot of parents and parenting experts are complaining about violence in cartoons, but in my opinion, mindlessness in any form, including mindless violence and just general brainlessness, is worse than just violence. Do they honestly think that kids are so stupid that they find this cr@p entertaining?! Seriously Nick, give your viewers some credit! We’re not all dumb slobs! Nickelodeon is turning into cr@p, just like Cartoonetwork. They used to have good shows, like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Danny Phantom, but they’ve cancelled all of those in favor of this new sh!t. Avatar: The Last Airbender was a huge success, and it had morals, intelligence, action, and an actual plot. Nick should have learned from that, so why don’t they have more shoes like it? Why continue with this cr@p when it’s an obvious fail? I just don’t get it. I’m not saying that all cartoons need to be wholesome and educational, but they at least shouldn’t be celebrating idiocy! Stop insulting our intelligence Nickelodeon!

EdnaK
adult
 
Not Even Recommended For Senior Citizens
Fanboy and Chum Chum is, by far, the dumbest cartoon show on any cable or television network today. They do not convey positive role models for children; nor should people at the other end of the age spectrum be seen watching this trash at their retirement homes. Fanboy is a ripoff of Bart Simpson's Bartman character while Chum Chum is merely a clone of Milhouse, only fatter. If Nick keeps putting out junk like this, they'll soon be defunct.

Pit bull loverr
kid, 12 years old
 
STUPIDEST HOW IN THE WHOLE WORLD
I HATE IT OK. GOOD THAT WE GOT THAT CLEAR. THE PEOPLE LOOK UGLY, THERE STUPID, AND THEY DO DRUGS. THE DRUGS THERE USING IS 'MAKE ME STUPID AND UGLY' I JUST HATE THEM THEY SHOULD NOT BE VEIWED BY ANY ONE!EVEN 17 AND UP NOT ANY AGE

VForNoVendettas
kid, 10 years old
 
Miranda Cosgrove do you have a mental disorder? I think so, there is none of that language or anything you said, but I agree that I HATE this show and wish the old shows were back!

Christ-Lover
parent of and 7 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 14 year old
 
Innocent but incredibly stupid.
There is anything very inapropiate about this show, but it is very stupid and gross. Something about the animation makes me want to throw up. I sure hope noone watches this. Lucky for me my children hate this show.

icda
teen, 15 years old
 
I HATE THAT SHOW IT IS THE WORST SHOW ON TV ITS NOITHING BUT TO IDOIT KIDS I THINK IT is not funny and a wast of time and it dosent even send out a good message

Lifeisalive
teen, 14 years old
 
Not recommended if you want your children to act maturely.
Quite an annoying show. It's on too much and is a perfect way to ruin a perfectly good Saturday. The theme song is annoying and the role models are horrible. Both Fanboy and Chum Chum are complete morons and are NOT the kind of people your little 5 or 7 year olds should want to be like. I feel this also contains some racial profiling. Considering how they stereotype an Indian child by making his character wear glasses and giving him an accent like he isn't trying to adjust to his fellow American citizens, the African American boy is a Michael Jackson fanboy(no pun intended), and the red-headed wizard kid rips off of Harry Potter with his talking brown book whilst inducing stereotypes mocking red-heads(pale skin, braces, large mouth, a garden of freckles on his face.

 
Fart jokes and dull plots get old.
This show is basically a bunch of dull plots and fart jokes tied to a string called "Fanboy and Chum Chum". I don't recommend to anybody unless they really make me mad...then it might get a chuckle to see them scream in horror.

Sgt-Samson
teen, 16 years old
 
This has no good highlights whatsoever.

EPIC_LOLZ
teen, 14 years old
 
Too many fart jokes, butt references, and just STUPID!
I personally hate this show and think that Nickelodeon could have MANY better shows. In short: don't watch this unless you and/or your kids want severe brain damage.

SSfanforlife
kid, 11 years old
 
STUPID SHOW FOR 6+
IT'S DUMB! I HATE IT!

 
Fanboy and Chum Chum is a mockery of animation!
This has to be the worst cartoon I've ever watched. I've seen a variety of cartoons in my life time, and this show is very bland. There is nothing special or creative about this show. The characters are very unoriginal, the plots are stupid, and the jokes are unfunny and immature; not to mention that the characters are usually knock-offs of things that have been done before. I cannot stand the voices, and the theme song makes me cringe. If this show comes on your television, change the channel and don't even watch it unless you want your brain to bleed.

DeeJay2536
teen, 15 years old
 
My thoughts on Fanboy and ChumChum
Honestly, I've watched this six times and I've never fined funny. Fanboy and ChumChum are bad role models to kids. They make kids put underwear on their outside. Fanboy and ChumChum are very annoying, let alone that all the characters are annoying. It's not funny. I don't know how kids can watch this. To sum it all of, this is the worst Nickelodeon show of all-time.

96grlpowrCE
teen, 16 years old
 
...I'm speechless.
I'm speechless. Not in the good way. Nickelodeon used to be epitome of great cartoons, and now their cartoons are barely watchable. The characters are unlikable, it's not at all funny, and it's just... dumb. I've watched plenty of shows with no educational value-- that's not what bothers me. I was a huge fan of the show Stickin' Around (not a Nick show, I believe it was on Fox) as a kid, and the protagonists are somewhat dumb in the sense that they just do ridiculous things-- however, there's a huge difference. That show could pull off the element of stupidity because they used CREATIVITY and HUMOUR. I get the impression that the writers of Fanboy & Chum Chum are just plain stupid themselves, and think potty humour and silly stunts are comedy gold. I feel bad for kids who have to grow up with this show.

gokussj
kid, 11 years old
 
I almost agree with all of yall.its the worst show that has ever been created on nickoloden. Mr. meaty was decent though. im not saying it was the best. it was just something that was brain-destroying. i wish there would be stuff around when i was like 3 and classic spongebob. old farly god parents (poof ruined the show) and on nick-toons stuff like ren and stimpy on all the time. but Parents, do not let your kids watch this. it made my IQ -998523498624578545457835873 and my mums IQ -9999999999 when she watch the commercial.so i recommend to: N E V E R W A T C H T H I S S H O W!!!!

iloveferb34
teen, 13 years old
 
Horrible. Nick could've done better.way better.
I hate this show so much. It's worse than Spongebob, and thats saying something. Whenever im watching tv, and the show is over, and fanboy and chum chum is up next, i will not watch.

emmie 123
teen, 15 years old
 
fanboy and chum chum sucks and if u thank its funny ur freakin dumb!!! i hate the show.....................................and may michael jackson r.i.p dont and i repeate DO NOT WATCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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