The Man Show

Review

Common Sense Media says

Male-centric comedy teeters between satire and chauvinism.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this half-hour comedy variety series proceeds from a central view of women and relationships between men and women that is almost entirely negative and demeaning. At times, the series is satirizing such a negative point of view; other times, it seems to willingly participate in it. Women are almost always objectified and sexualized, and are depicted as standing in the way of men, who are simply seeking the opportunity to drink beer and watch sports at their leisure. Scantily-clad women and drinking feature heavily in every episode.

  • Positive messages0
    Though the comedy exhibits intelligence and is often self-depreciating, the core messages are very negative toward women and relationships.
  • Positive role models0
    The two hosts are comedians who employ jokes that frequently demean women and relationships between men and women.
  • Violence1
    Occasional jokes deal with or reference violent acts. Any depiction or discussion of violence is in the context of comedy.
  • Sex3
    The show's primary comedic topics revolve around a demeaning, sexualized vision of women. Although this point of view is somewhat tempered by a satirical element, it can be hard to distinguish between when the series is mocking chauvinism or participating in it. One of the most well-known gags involves scantily-clad women jumping on trampolines. There is frequent near-nudity and references to sexual acts.
  • Language3
    Words such as "damn," "hell," and "ass" are frequent and unbleeped. Stronger language including "f--k," "s--k," and specific terms for both male and female genitalia are also used but bleeped.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking4
    Drinking is a central aspect of the show, with the entire studio audience drinking cold beer along with the hosts and toasting. Jokes frequently revolve around drinking, being drunk, and marijuana use. Smoking is depicted casually with no discussion or awareness of the repercussions.
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What's the story?

THE MAN SHOW is a comedy-variety series that attempts to provide a "safe place" where men can enjoy jokes centered around topics supposedly close to their hearts. These topics include sexy women, beer, sports, and television. Taped sketches and parody bits are interspersed with in-studio segments featuring cold beer for the studio audience, music, and visits from cheerleader-type models known as "Juggy Girls." Created and hosted by Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel in its most popular incarnation, the show attempted to satirize the traditionally male point of view, even as it also seemed to glorify it.

Is it any good?

 

It's impossible to deny that Adam Carolla and Jimmy Kimmel are tremendous comic minds. Their work on television and radio is frequently smart and incredibly observant of human experience and behavior. Part of their impact as comics comes from the fine line they walk between satire and reality -- as they mock, they frequently embody the types of people they are mocking.

That's frequently true on The Man Show, a co-creation of Carolla, Kimmel, and executive producer Daniel Kellison. Sharp bits, such as a taped clip of a tent set up at a street fair to promote ending woman's suffrage, expose the hypocrisy and foolishness of those they aim to mock. Other bits, including the notorious Juggy Girls, seem to do little more than promote the same small-minded and bigoted viewpoints they are supposedly mocking. With questionable content and mixed messages, it's a series best avoided by children and teens entirely; for adults, it may not be worth the mental effort to separate the chauvinism from the satire.

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This review was written by Matt Springer

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This review was written by Matt Springer
TV rating:NR
Network:Comedy Central
Cast:Adam Carolla, Jimmy Kimmel
Genre:Comedy
This review was written by Matt Springer
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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