TV Details
Genre
More details

MANswers (Spike)

common sense media says

Crude Q&A show demeans women, glorifies drinking.


parents & educators say
  • 31% say there are positive role models
  • 31% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that, without question, this show is not for kids. It's essentially an informational program of the "you've got questions, we've got answers" variety, but the questions are strictly of the type pondered by drunken college guys ("Can taking a dump kill a guy?" "How long can a guy live on beer alone?" "How can you get your girlfriend to be less bitchy?"). High schoolers may find it hysterical, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to let them watch a show that objectifies women, talks about bestiality and masturbation (and more!), and glorifies drinking.

Positive messages: The series' attempts to provide "educational" material revolve around offering "scientific" evidence of points the show's hosts want to prove (i.e. a study about what it's like to have sex with different animals) and bringing in talking heads to speak authoritatively. The show's consistent, almost subconscious belittling of women is stereotypical and misogynistic; their bodies are appreciated (and how), but they're written off as being hopelessly "bitchy."
Positive role models: No one would want their teens behaving like the immature people featured on this show. Their sophomoric antics and misogynistic behavior is a model of what not to do.
Violence: Some of the questions the show addresses can involve dangerous situations -- bear attacks, falls, etc.
Sex: Topics of discussion include bestiality (one episode seriously addresses the question of which animal someone would have sex with if they wanted it to feel most like sleeping with a woman), masturbation, sadomasochism, and much more. None of these things are shown graphically, though there are plenty of images of very scantily clad women cavorting, crawling on top of guys, having their butts slapped, mimicking oral sex, etc. Talk of having an erection, "bagging chicks," and "getting it on with a hot babe."
Language: Constant references to women as "bitchy." Other words include "damn" and "ass"; stronger expletives, like "f--k," are bleeped.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Segments cover subjects like excessive drinking ("how long can a guy live on beer alone?") and how to spot a narc while buying drugs.

More on MANswers

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what it means to treat other people with respect. Does this show treat its subjects respectfully? Does it matter whether those subjects are willingly participating in the issues and events the show covers (dwarf tossing, for example)?
  • What messages does the show send about sex, alcohol, and other hot-button issues? Do you think producers hope teens will watch? Why or why not?

What's the story?

What's the story?

MANSWERS has a theoretically interesting premise -- giving honest answers to the kind of outlandish questions conjured up by drunk college guys -- and you might even laugh a few times (in a completely horrified way). But if you're a parent looking for shows to watch with your kids -- or to let them watch on their own -- you can go ahead and stop right here.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Manswers is like the bastard stepchild of MythBusters and The Man Show, only with more porn stars and midgets. It's not the worst show on television these days (hello, MTV!), but it's definitely not the thing most parents would want their kids watching. Need specific reasons? Here's a list of what you might see in just one episode: rapid-fire jump-cut editing, loud squealing rock guitars, wiggly shots of pneumatic girls in bikinis and lingerie, and a guy posing the age-old question "Which animal is most like having sex with a woman?"

Leaving aside the grammatical shortcomings of such a question, in that particular segment, the producers of MANswers thoughtfully suggested options like pandas, unicorns, ostrich, and sheep before posting a disclaimer reminding viewers not to actually have sex with animals. All of this was followed by interview with an actual doctor who states that 82 men in her study admitted to performing bestiality and that many of these men declared that it "feels better than actually having sex with a human." Other burning questions tackled by the show include "How drunk can a dude get in one night before he dies?" (Answer: 18 beers = .40 blood alcohol level); "How can you make your girlfriend less bitchy?" (Answer: semen contains hormones that function as anti-depressants); and "What's the furthest a dwarf's ever been tossed?" (Answer: 12 feet, 9 inches). But the most important question for discerning parents is likely to be: "What else is on?"

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-MA
Network: Spike
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Spike

This review was written by Scout Davidson
 
 

Review It

 

Review MANswers





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

What parents & educators say

14
Based on 16 parent & educator reviews:
  • 31% say there are positive role models
  • 31% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

 
GREAT SHOW!
This is an amazing show for children. This show gives off an educational message and I show it to my 4 and 2 year old sons every night. We enjoy the bestiality the most because we own a wide variety of animals(including horses) and has helped us decide which ones to "choose".

IrishCowBoy1982
parent of 3 year old
 
IT IS CALLED MANSWERS, BUT IT SHOULD BE TITLED PERVERTERS
DISGUSTING, THIS LITERALLY NEEDS TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE AMERICAN MEDIA. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED WHEN IT OBJECTIFIES, HUMILIATES, AND DEGRADES A HUMAN GENDER. IT IS SO SEXIST, IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED LAWSUIT MATERIAL FOR 2010.

 
i got upset
I just watched the episode for the fisrt time actually and was totally okay with eveything ( as I am an open minded individual when it comes to sex, drugs rock & roll you could say) However, there was segment of the show that pertained to the art or even the atual association with doing this for a living to begging/ soliciting for money as a homeless person or a person challenged in some sort of way!! What a bunch of crap for our nation to watch, is there no morals what so ever? There are so many good people out there even if they do live a little on the edge And taking advantage and or promoting that is something that is totally unforgiven....so get it off your show and draw a line!! Even if you want ot have a tv program that is on the edge this is no way of doing it

Faith_
adult
 
Degrading to women
This isn't FUNNY at ALL :( guys wont care what a woman thinks, THIS show....just.....it :( it makes me very sad that they would have a show like this, it makes me depressed, it is like Pornography, just ruining relationships or getting a guy wanting to rape some girl because of the encouragement of this show. I just can't believe they would have something like this, especially in these times of life, I am a teenager, and Teenage boys get all horny, yes I will say that they get blue balls it is bad. This isn't funny. Guys will never see girls the same way again, they will always have inappropriate minds, I mean well we all do but there are some more than others and it will ruin us. I hope they stop this show soon They just show females as a joke, and....there will not be a guy that will respect a womans feelings if this goes on

Victorfilth818
teen, 15 years old
 
Love this Show
This Show is So sick But its a Guy show women wouldnt like it for example my GirlFriend Hates this Show but My Best friends (dudes) love this show

trish0522
parent of 17 year old
 
not a good show

 
This show is great
I absolutely love this show! I am a 17 year old dude, so you could probably see why. Absolutely gorgeous women, violence, and over the top, just the way it should be. Plus they cater to excellent questions, such as: "how can drinking beer make your girlfriends boobs bigger? How can a lap dance recharge your car battery? Whens you're best chance to have sex with a cougar?" And before you call me a sexist a-hole, I have a girlfriend with A-cup breasts, but I still love her and respect her for the wonderful woman that she is. Basically what I'm trying to say is that its a real fun time, especially when your watching with your bros.

 
Best show ever seen.
This show is one of the best and it clearly describes what type of audience is able to watch it. This show has everything from beautiful ladies to awesome questions, that have an answer followed up by scientific studies with real professors to back up the answers. It is educational and every man out there has to watch it before they die.

 
it's just a show.
It's just a funny show about random stuff that you've never thought to ask. Also, a show isn't going to inflluence your kids, you are. So if they screw up, it's your parenting skills.


kid, 12 years old
 
f--k


teen, 14 years old
 
f--k


kid, 11 years old
 
f--k

 
DON'T Let you kids watch this warped garbage.
Here are some of the lowlights I saw on MANswers: 1) How much alcohol you can safely binge drink before you die (Miller Beer actually sponsored this episode) 2) How to pass a drugs test even if you are on drugs or intoxicated (which is of course illegal). 3) How to remove a bullet from you body yourself so the hospital won't report you to the police (also illegal and incredibly stupid) 4) How to spot an undercover narcotics officer (they went into great detail about tips drug dealers can use to thwart DEA and law enforcement.) 5) Which animals are best to have sex with (I'm not kidding - this show went into great detail about bestiality.) I think it's meant to be funny but it isn't. It's really just sad that garbage like this makes it onto the airwaves. All I can advise is don't watch MANswers, Spike TV, or their parent company MTV.

 
16+
WOW. I have read many opinions/views on the show Manswers displayed on the Internet. I watched the show for the first time August '08. I will be writing a college paper about a source of media that displays a race/gender issue. I thought Manswers was a perfect topic of discussion considering all the diverse views. This will be very difficult to write from an analytical, versus bias, point of view. It seems like everyone out there either loves the show or hates it! But.... I did read one review from "Chris"about Manswers .... that basically said: 1. People are over-reacting. 2. The show actually made him, himself, feel slightly uncomfortable. 3. It degrades men, portraying them as horny slober-ers. 4. Spike TV channel is equivalent to men, as Oxygen channel is to ________. 5. It is all about varying perspectives, and overall context. In conclusion, that was the only review I liked. On a new topic, in college I am learning about modern stereotypes and I thought you might want to know a little bit about me before i give you my opinion. When reading other people's Manser internet reviews, I couldn't help but wonder if they were old, or young, male or female, where they lived, how much money they made, if they had kids, if they were feminist, if they were married, and how they dressed. FYI: I am 18. F. I just moved near Sacramento from Lake Tahoe. I don't have a job. No kids. 1 brother. 1 boyfriend. Divorced mother & father. Blonde. 5'8". 155. Lbs. College major: Art. Non-racist. I dress plain/girly/chick/surferish/skaterish. ... Now that you 'get the gist' and have naturally created a stereotype in your mind about 'who I am" as a person... I will give you my opinion about the show manswers: I couldn't believe it. I thought it was like the comedy-version of Myth-busters. Some of the questions asked have actually crossed my adolescent girl mind. I wouldn't watch the show with my mom. Maybe my dad. Possibly my brother. Definatly my..


kid, 12 years old
 
TRASH.


teen, 14 years old
 
TRASH.


kid, 11 years old
 
TRASH.

 
Give Me a Break
Ok. Here's the thing about this. This show has a LOT of bad in it. But is it any worse than letting your kid go out into the real world? No. Because if you're worried about having a sexist, sexually active, drug using, stupid kid, than you need to take a good look at the child. Depending on how mature your child is should alter the views of the show. For all the people who say it's "Sexist." "Stupid." and maybe just downright "Trash." you need to turn around and realize something. If it's so sexist, I wonder how they get people to be on the show. There are lots of women. I'm sick of people saying women are being demeaned when THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE JOB. Women talk about equality, but yet they insist on getting away with things men can't. I see girls all the time, using their body to get horny college guys to do something stupid. This show is perfectly fine. It's better than having a kid going and finding out on their own. I would rather have my kid watch this, rather than read the Bible. At least MANswers has a warning on it. To all the people who said violence is the problem, then I say we boycott the Bible, for all the killing in it, used for the purpose of getting people to conform. This show is a very well thought out show. IT IS TARGETED FOR A MALE AUDIENCE. That doesn't mean little Susie can't watch it. But if you are that worried about you child's innocence, then maybe you should stop watching spikeTV and go to PBS?

 
Answers for the lustful and stupified.
If anyone has watched MythBusters before other television stations began to exploit what this show taught, MANswers is on the list of these copy-cat shows. I am a male, and I find that this show is one of SpikeTV's lamest and most completely sexist shows to have ever been broadcast on modern television. The show signifies that it is intended for a male audience; that is, if your one of those frat boys that enjoy crushing beer cans on your head and fantasize the feeling of having your head squeezed between a womans' breasts. It doesn't explain to you their questions that they bring up thoroughly enough, because they frenetically shift into other segments and irrelevant questions so fast, it leaves the viewer confused and perplexed, and can result in lost information, though it isn't all that necessary to remember everything the show tells you, as it is completely useless. And I wouldn't mind actresses showing off their bodily features, but only if they were more than just models. The woman here are seen as sex objects, and the show supports and glorifies them as that, even in they're answers they talk about techniques on how do "get in her pants" or what sort of saying they use. There are more crucial points here that I could go on about, but the points above are my most concern overall. The website uses a five-star system, but I'll use four-star system. I give this show a rating of one-in-a-half stars out of four, it is a complete waste of time that is only for people who have sex and anything that involves the term "manly" in their minds.

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you see MANswers?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


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