NTSF:SD:SUV::

Review

Common Sense Media says

Manic crime show parody is heavy on comic violence.
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.

Find out more

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

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this short-form comedy series is full of outlandish, graphic violence involving a great deal of blood and flying body parts. The show is a parody of crime show procedurals like CSI and Law & Order -- every moment is played for laughs and plot points are exaggerated for comic effect. Expect frequent mild language ("hell," "damn"), plus stronger bleeped words ("s--t" and "f--k").

  • Positive messages0
    There is nothing serious about any of the action in the series; every opportunity is taken to play the mock-serious script for laughs. This means that there are almost no discernible messages to extract from the show, other than perhaps the power of effective parody.
  • Positive role models0
    All of the characters behave as the comedic circumstances of each scene dictates; this most often means they are acting as glorified buffoons.
  • Violence3
    Many of the show's jokes are built around cartoonishly exaggerated violence, punctuated by flying body parts and buckets upon buckets of fake blood.
  • Sex1
    Occasional sexual innuendo and suggestive dialogue.
  • Language3
    "Hell" and "damn" appear frequently; words like "s--t" and "f--k" are bleeped.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    Since the show is a parody of crime dramas, many of the plots revolve around drug-related plotlines, amplified for the sake of comedy. For example, one episode deals with a satirical version of the "Four Loko" beverage that combines alcohol and caffeine.
CloseExpand to see more details

What's the story?

NTSF:SD:SUV:: stands for National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle. If that doesn't give you an idea of what kind of show is being parodied, consider Trent Hauser (Paul Scheer), a maverick agent who spends each episode flipping off sunglasses and delivering clever one-liners. Every week, the NTSF:SD:SUV:: team has to solve some major crime and save the city of San Diego from certain corruption. It's a dead-on satire of the police procedural genre, pioneered by the Law & Order franchise, but today all over the dial, from CSI to NCIS and beyond.

Is it any good?

 

Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block continues to air some of the most edgy television on cable. NTSF:SD:SUV:: may not be the most provocative series they have to offer, but it definitely skirts the edge of good taste, especially when it comes to graphic violence. The show requires a firm dedication to a unique comic sensibility -- one that's manic, scattered, and more than a little tasteless at times.

Fans of cult comedies will find much to enjoy, from Paul Scheer's spot-on parody of such police show squares as David Caruso and Kiefer Sutherland to Kate Mulgrew's manic turn as an eyepatch-wearing division captain. The comedy is definitely best for older teens, and even then, parents should exercise discretion.

Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how violence and comedy mix. Is it easy or hard to laugh at jokes that involve violence?

  • Does this show make you view cop shows any differently? Why or why not? What is the purpose of parody?

This review was written by Matt Springer
Adult
August 11, 2011
AGE
12
 
):-3
KMON its not that violent
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (4) | Had useful details (3) | Read my mind (6)
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
March 2, 2012
AGE
12
 
Weird but funny
It's very weird like for instance a guy taking out another guy's heart.... but it's really not that bad. Like it.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
January 5, 2012
AGE
14
 
Really?
It is on Adult Swim. If your child does see it you should be more worried about why they are up so late.Honestly, they never will see it until like 10 years in the future when it is just re-runs.
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
Flag as inappropriate 
See all user reviews
This review was written by Matt Springer
TV rating:TV-14
Network:Cartoon Network
Cast:Kate Mulgrew, Paul Scheer, Rebecca Romijn
Genre:Comedy
This review was written by Matt Springer
 

Review It

Share your review with others

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

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

More cult TV comedies
For kids who love comedy
Browse more TV
 

vote now

Will you see NTSF:SD:SUV::?

Won't miss it
We'll try
Change it

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it