Squidbillies (Cartoon Network)

common sense media says

Irreverent cartoon mocks the rural South. Skip it.


parents & educators say
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
  • 33% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this mature cartoon (part of the Adult Swim line-up on Cartoon Network) is so riddled with violence, sexual references, and disturbing dialogue that it's easy to miss what little inane plot actually exists. Human characters often meet untimely demises, from being constricted by a snake man to the point of decapitation to being burned by an intentionally combustible baby's soothing toy. The main characters are inbred squid who are appallingly stereotyped as hillbilly inhabitants of the southern United States. This show is completely inappropriate for kids.

Positive messages: The show takes stereotyping to the extreme, greatly exaggerating what's often associated with rural southern life. The main characters are violent toward friends and family members. Attitudes toward and portrayals of women are extremely derogatory.
Violence: Characters shoot, stab, and maim others. One body is mutilated with a chainsaw, another character is mauled repeatedly by wolves, and some relationships (including the main one between a father and a son) are physically and emotionally abusive. The local businessman markets various products for infanticide.
Sex: Cartoon figures simulate sex, and innuendoes are common. Clothing often bears suggestive language and/or graphics.
Language: Curse words like "damn," "hell," and "bitch" and body-part words like "ass" and "boobs" are common. Characters often refer to others in racially prejudiced terms like "cracker."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Smoking and drinking is commonplace throughout the show. Drug use is alluded to from time to time.

More on Squidbillies

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about the dangers of prejudice and stereotyping. Why are stereotypes so often played for laughs on TV and in other media? What groups of people are most commonly picked on? How are they portrayed? In what ways are the portrayals exaggerated? How might it feel to be part of a group that's often the butt of jokes?

What's the story?

What's the story?

The animated comedy SQUIDBILLIES is part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup and tells the tale of a squid named Early Cuyler (voiced by Danny "Unknown Hinson" Baker) and his family, who all live in rural northern Georgia. Early is the product of inbreeding, extreme poverty, and illiteracy; he's unemployed and engaged to a morbidly obese human woman who is forever demanding various tokens of his love, so he holds up a store at gunpoint to satisfy her needs. He's quickly convicted of armed robbery (since the sheriff was behind him in line at the store he robbed) and sent to the slammer for a 15-year stay. Meanwhile, Early's girlfriend bears his illegitimate half-human, half-squid child and dumps him on the doorstep of Early's sister, Lil (Patricia French). After serving his time, Early is reunited with teenage Rusty (Daniel McDevitt), the son he didn't know he had. To satisfy his parole requirements, Early lands a job with local corrupt businessman Dan Halen (Todd Hanson), who markets life-threatening infant products and dabbles in espionage.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Squidbillies is little more than 15 minutes of heaped-up negative messages. Beatings, shootings, and stabbings are routine solutions to problems, and Early and Rusty's relationship is marred by physical and emotional abuse -- which, incredibly, Rusty almost welcomes, since he's so desperate for a role model in his life.

Simulated sex is common, and sexual references are both spoken and spelled out on Early's myriad of message-touting hats, one of which features the words "Booty Hunter" surrounding a silhouette of a shapely woman on her hands and knees.

Racial and otherwise derogatory slurs are harsh and unfettered. Early is especially vicious toward women and white people, for whom he harbors great hatred. Rampant prejudice coupled with issues like illiteracy, incest, and poverty are tied to the show's stereotyped "white trash" characters. While adults may be able to put the show's humor into context, its crassness makes it completely inappropriate for kids.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-MA
Network: Cartoon Network
Cast: Dana Snyder, Todd Hanson, Unknown Hinson
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: Cartoon Network

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 
 

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What parents & educators say

16
Based on 12 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
  • 33% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

 
Just by seeing a minute of it
I was watching Nick Gas and then this s**t comes on because it switched to ToonWest. Seriously, just in those 10 seconds he got a bunch of crack and ate it and drove away with a suggestive hat. Seriously, right after Legends of the Hidden Temple, Dish Network? Are you f***ing kidding me? Pardon my language.

ladyblue
parent of 15 and 17 year old
 
this show is simply hilarious
this cartoon is a crack-up. just watch it. whether its for children or not is just ridiculous! it probably mirrors whatever is already in their homes! it is clever, hilarious, and original. dont listen to these out of touch critics. if they dont find this show laughable, they have no sense.

Kubrick fan
kid, 12 years old
 
It's the funniest thing ever!But lots of language,F***is beeped out and so is s***,the aunt has a meth and smokes,dad drinks,and lots of brief or refrences of perverted sex.

movies...kool
kid, 13 years old
 
Rednecks!!
I love squidbillies. I'm a Teaxan, and I know I'm not like that, but some people are. It is racist sometimes, with hilarious redneck mockery. I try to watch it as much as possible.

Seto007
teen, 15 years old
 
As a lover of Random and Dark humor, there is very little I won't watch on Adult Swim: THis is probably the only one I won't watch. No, not because it's extremely violent or offensive, It's because it's not funny. AT ALL!!! Stick to the rest of Adult Swim, and change it to something else when this come about.

 
i looks stupid and THERE'S LOT'S OF VILENESS

Sanjay407
kid, 13 years old
 

Average Teen
parent of and 13 , 16 , 18 year old
 
AGE!!!!
Now this is an adult show, Only my two oldest are allowed to even watch Adultswim. This is ,however a funny show.

Gabeisepic
kid, 11 years old
 
FUNNY
its so funny! Its kind of violent some times but who cares.

 
hawt dang rusty we got us a show!
i love it

tvfreak101
kid, 12 years old
 
for 16 and up
i didnt watch rest of it it was scary(lots of swearing as well

heckyeah
parent of and 6 , 9 , 11 year old
 
i like blood but my kids are matured they like adult oriented cartoons

Dr. Weird
parent of 14 year old
 
Word.
Really adult, but funny.

Frylock
teen, 14 years old
 
It's adult, but funny.
It's very funny. but it's so adult. Bloody violence, sexual humor, and drugs are used heavily.


kid, 12 years old
 
No good.
12 year olds didn't seen this show before.


teen, 14 years old
 
No good.
12 year olds didn't seen this show before.


kid, 11 years old
 
No good.
12 year olds didn't seen this show before.

princesssugarplum
teen, 15 years old
 
BORING!
i saw an episode. never again.

CN_Fan
kid, 10 years old
 
Too much uses of BAD LANGUAGE, it is NOT appropriate for kids.

sweetpea1127
teen, 14 years old
 
i like it it's funny!

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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