See more TV reviews

Freak Show (Comedy Central)

common sense media says

Pushes the limits of intentional offensiveness.

parents & educators say
See 1 review | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the characters in this program are circus sideshow performers with special powers, many of whom sensitive audiences might find offensive. One is a premature baby with the ability to pinpoint projectile-vomit; another is a clam who uses blinding "bitch juice" to incapacitate her enemies; and so on. It's all intentionally over the top, but that doesn't mean it's always easy to watch.

Positive messages: Frequent bathroom humor (the team travels to and from their headquarters via a disgusting portapotty); the freaks are looked down upon by the people in power; the characters themselves are all purposely stereotyped and exaggerated in the name of humor.
Violence: Animated fistfights and wrestling scenes, but since the freaks use their powers, they have no need for guns. In one scene, a pig is brutally and bloodily butchered.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: "F--k" and "s--t" are bleeped out; words like "nutsack," "pricks," "bitch," and "bastards" are said loud and clear.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Freak Show

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about making jokes at others' expense. When is it OK to laugh at someone (if ever), and when is it wrong? Does laughing at characters like the ones in this show reinforce the stereotypes they're based on? Why do some people make fun of people for having physical deformities or interests that fall outside the mainstream? When does a joke go too far?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In FREAK SHOW, a band of sideshow performers with special powers leads a double life as "superheroes" who take on (extremely) low-priority missions for the Pentagon. There's Primi (voiced by show creator David Cross), a premature baby who can projectile-vomit at will; the Bearded Clam (Janeane Garofalo), who can spray "bitch juice" on her enemies; conjoined twins Tuck and Benny (H. Jon Benjamin and Cross), who can separate at will; the Log Cabin Republican (Jon Glaser), who can transform into a Burly Bear; and the World's Tallest Nebraskan (Brian Stack), who can shrink down to 6 inches tall. The motley crew's missions include covertly rolling back the mileage on the President's Trans Am (so that it can be sold at the highest possible price), reading the meter at an embassy in a dangerous, war-torn country, traveling to a remote island to secure a supply of a rare nut that the President particularly likes, and more. Once their missions are over, the team heads back to the circus, where they have to try to save the family-run business from the clutches of Freak-Mart, a corporate machine intent on getting rid of their mom-and-pop operation.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

While some kids might get a kick out of the show's circus scenes, the political references will be over their head. Viewers of all ages may find certain parts of the show hard to stomach (in one scene, a cartoon pig is brutally butchered, with intestines and blood everywhere), and the freaks' gross powers might make even those with the strongest tolerance for intentional offensiveness pale.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-MA
Network: Comedy Central
Cast: David Cross, Janeane Garofalo, Will Arnett
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: Comedy Central
This review was written by Lucy Maher
 
 

Review It

 

Review Freak Show

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

Most useful reviews by all members

jonghyunchung
adult
 
Be warned
This is another adult-animated cartoon that you might want to avoid.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (1) | had useful details (1) | read my mind (1)

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you see Freak Show?

Won't miss it
We'll try
Change it

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more TV
About our rating system
ON: Content is 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
Our child development rating guidelines