Popzilla

Review

Common Sense Media says

Animated celeb spoofs mix violence, sex, stereotypes.
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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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fairly edgy animated series -- which pokes fun at celebrities and other pop culture phenomena -- has endless references to actors, other TV shows, movies, and websites. There's some strong sexual innuendo (including references to breasts, male genitalia, and sexual acts), fantasy violence (blood and guns are visible, animated characters are burned alive), and drinking. Occasional curses like "f--k" are bleeped, and some segments rely on very strong stereotypes for laughs. Bottom line? It's kind of funny, but it's also rather iffy.

  • Positive messages0
    The series pokes fun at contemporary pop culture celebs. Some of the gags (like ones that make fun of Miley Cyrus' Southern heritage and those that take place in third world countries) border on being stereotypical and/or offensive. There's some social commentary to be found here, but it's a bit buried under the drive for quick, constant laughs.
  • Positive role models0
    Neither the stars themselves or the people who make this show dedicated to mocking them can be considered particularly strong role models. It may be snarky and/or mean-spirited to make fun of the famous, but sometimes their behavior is hard not to raise an eyebrow (or two) at.
  • Violence3
    Animated violence includes celebs crashing boats into docks, biting heads off of chickens, burning people alive, etc. Guns and other weapons are visible. Most of the violence comes off as more silly than scary.
  • Sex3
    Lots of sexual innuendo and references to breasts and male genitals. Also some comments about sex tapes, including jokes about “slam cams” and having sex with animals.
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What's the story?

POPZILLA is a flash-animated series that pokes fun at today’s celebrities and other pop culture phenomena. From Ashton Kutcher to shows like The Hills, the show riffs on what makes these "brand names" famous, their latest exploits, and the tabloid media that helps increase their popularity.

Is it any good?

 

The gags featured here range from pure silliness to actual social commentary about the impact that popular culture icons have on the way we view our lives. It also offers interesting insight into how easily the media enhances someone’s celebrity status.

While the show isn't as over-the-top as other teen-oriented animated series, it definitely has its share of iffy stuff -- including some pretty strong sexual innuendo. Some segments also rely on stereotypes (including some with racist overtones) to get a laugh and make their point. But for those who like this sort of humor, the show will probably tickle a few funny bones.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about whether it's ever OK to use stereotypes to create humor. Why or why not?

  • What exactly is popular culture? Are all famous people part of popular
    culture? Why or why not? Who decides? How much impact do you think the
    media has on popular culture?

  • What's the point of spoofing someone/something? Is it just to be funny,
    or is it also meant as some kind of social commentary? When does a
    spoof or gag go too far?

This review was written by Melissa Camacho
Teen, 15 years old
October 3, 2009
AGE
12
 
funny show but iffy
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Parent of 9, 9, and 15 year old
September 29, 2009
AGE
16
 
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (3) | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind (1)
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This review was written by Melissa Camacho
TV rating:TV-PG
Network:MTV
Cast:Edi Patterson, Kevin Pederson, Peter Oldring
Genre:Comedy
This review was written by Melissa Camacho
 

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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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