 | 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. |
Half Pint Brawlers
- Spike
- Genre: Reality TV
Common Sense Media says
Over-the-top series features crass, dangerous behavior.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this reality series -- which follows a team of professional little person wrestlers performing choreographed moves, stunts, and crude pranks -- is chock full of dangerous activities that kids should never try at home. There's also lots of strong langauge (words like “piss" and “ass” are audible, while those like “s--t” and “f--k” are bleeped), over-the-top sexual content (suggestive dancing, stripping, fondling of breasts and buttocks, etc.), and drinking -- sometimes to excess. Despite the fact that the wrestlers are a very close group who view what they do as empowering, any positive take-aways from the show are totally overshadowed by the extreme nature of the behavior on display.
What's the story?
HALF PINT BRAWLERS follows the antics of a controversial group of little person pro wrestlers as they travel across the country performing as the Midget Wrestling Tour. The troupe is headed up by Steve Richardson (a.k.a. Puppet the Psycho Dwarf), who -- along with veteran wrestler Chris “Kato” Dube, his brother Bob “Bobby” Tovey, and Mikeal “Mad Maxx” Santoyo -- entertain crowds with wrestling moves and crude stunts, both inside and out of the ring. Rookie Jacob “Turtle” Colyer and the group’s average-sized announcer, Spyder, also add to the fray. Together the men wrestle in lubricant, perform strip teases in cuddly bear suits, and slide down stripper poles naked in an effort to entertain their fans ... as well as themselves.
Is it any good?
Half Pint Brawlers is more about the cast's wild activities than it is about pro wrestling. As a result, the group often looks and acts more like a circus sideshow than wrestling professionals. But unlike shows such as Jackass and The Dudesons, the cast of this show sees the silly, violent, and dangerous stunts they perform as a way to empower themselves while having fun in a world that fails to really accept them for who they are.
Unfortunately, the endless crude, violent, and perilous stunts featured in the show overshadow any potentially positive messages about self-acceptance. The strong language and over-the-top sexual content don’t help either. Some folks may find Half Pint Brawlers voyeuristically entertaining, but it definitely isn’t for everyone.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the show's messages. Is it promoting empowerment? Or is it more about over-the-top entertainment?
The troupe prefers the term “midget” over “little people," despite the fact that "midget" is no longer considered politically correct. Why do you think that changed? What different meanings have people given these two terms?
Does the show reinforce or undermine stereotypes?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | Spike |
| Cast: | Bob Tovey, Chris Dube, Steve Richardson |
| Genre: | Reality TV |
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