Ugly Americans (Comedy Central)

common sense media says

Adult-oriented toon leans on sexual humor, grotesque gags.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this adult-oriented cartoon relies on shock value and sexual humor for laughs, making it an iffy choice for older teens who might glean some questionable messages from its admittedly ridiculous premise. Expect lots of crude language and visuals, including characters who say "suck my balls" and defecate on police officers, and others who rip their faces off and eat brains -- although the strongest language (including words like "c--k") is bleeped. Alcohol and sex are also a regular part of the storyline.

Positive messages: There's an overarching message that everyone deserves equal treatment -- including zombies and demons -- despite outward appearances. But the show's focus on other takeaways, like the fact that you should "never make life decisions with a hard-on and a fifth of tequila" make that a pretty moot point.
Positive role models: As a social worker, Mark is constantly trying to help zombies, monsters, and other aliens assimilate to everyday life in New York City. But most characters have some sort of problem, whether they're sleeping with their boss (Mark), drinking on the job (Leonard), or trying to fill a quota by arresting innocent immigrants (Lt. Grimes).
Violence: Some pretty gross stuff (even though it's animated), including zombies ripping their faces off, or losing limbs, etc. Cartoonish violence includes kicking, punching, etc.
Sex: Mark is having an affair with his boss, and the pair often kiss and make out in bathroom stalls, with implied sex (although no sensitive body parts are shown). Other characters tongue-kiss and talk about "bangin'" or getting "laid," etc.
Language: Some bleeped swearing (mainly, the word "c--k") plus sexually charged audibles like "douche nozzle," "ball bag," "cooch," "vagina," and "foreskin."
Consumerism: The show spoofs popular brands with signs for Blood, Bath & Beyond (Bed, Bath & Beyond), Barnes & Evil (Barnes and Noble), Sin-a-Bon (Cin-a-Bon) and Brim-Stone Blasphemery (Coldstone Creamery). Other brands are occasionally mentioned by name, like Wendy's.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Most characters drink alcohol (and some do it secretly at work), and the main character and his roommate hang out regularly at a nightclub.

More on Ugly Americans

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how this show skewers some Americans' views of immigrants and other "foreigners," and how that critique could be applied to current events. Do you think making a point about prejudice and hypocrisy is the point of the show?

  • How does the show play up violence for comedic effect? Does it work? Why or why not?

  • Why go with an animated format? Could the same premise ever work as a movie or television show? Why or why not?

What's the story?

What's the story?

UGLY AMERICANS charts the efforts of everyman social worker Mark Lilly (voiced by Matt Oberg) to help humans and other "foreigners" -- including zombies, demons, vampires, and werewolves -- to make the transition from freakish outcasts to ordinary Americans who earn a living and contribute to society like everyone else. But it's hard to keep a positive attitude when your clients have a tendency to give into their baser instincts. In the meantime, he's working things out with his zombie roommate, Randall (Kurt Metzger), and his demon boss, Callie (Natasha Leggero), and settling scores with a local law enforcement officer (Larry Murphy) who targets anyone who isn't a "real" American.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

For most people, Ugly Americans will be an acquired taste -- and might even trigger a gag reflex. After all, jokes involving a restaurant in Hell that serves unbaptized baby arm soup with a raspberry coulis or a rehabilitated zombie who takes a job washing windows at a brain storage facility (and ultimately can't control his cravings) aren't for everyone.

But those with a soft spot for the bizarre and an appreciation for hand-drawn details will probably feel differently about this uncommon horror-comedy. And it does have its moments, like when Mark advises a cereal-crunching Randall that he has a little something on his face, and Randall realizes, after wiping it off, that it was an actual piece of his face -- and a rather large one at that. But is it funny? Well...yes. But it's not for everyone.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: Comedy Central
Cast: Kurt Metzger, Matt Oberg, Natasha Leggero
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: Comedy Central

This review was written by Kari Croop
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

I_TellTheTruth
teen, 17 years old
 
Funny Show For Mature Viewers (Doug The Koala Is Amazing)
Really good show. It's TV-14 most of the time, but towards the end of the first season (the show only has 1 season so far) it transitioned to TV-MA. The season finale, "The Manbirds" had a lot of sex/language/violence. Lots of swearing like "g*ddamnit" "J*sus Chr*st" "suck my b*lls" and "t*ts" and sex references like "Gimme a squirt!" Also lots of references to p*nises in this episode. The Manbirds participate in "c*ck fights" (uncensored because it's a double entendre) in which they wear boxing gloves over their genitals and fight. It's pretty hilarious, but onviously adult-oriented. And Doug the Koala is adorable.

Plague
parent
 
Ugly Americans
Suprisingly funny. Not a Grade A show, but definitely watchable.

F-Zero studios
teen, 14 years old
 
nobody under 61 is allowed to watch this
off- 0-60 iffy- 61-122 on- 123+

zackaback
teen, 17 years old
 
Awsome Show! one Of The Best New Shows On Television (TV) This Year. So F****** Funny.

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