Wonder Showzen (MTV2)

common sense media says

Pitch-black puppet satire; no kids allowed!

parents & educators say

33% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this darkly hilarious MTV2 series is absolutely not meant for children. A disclaimer before the show says, among other things, that "If you allow a child to watch this show, you are a bad parent or guardian." It's tongue-in-cheek, but accurate. The main characters look like Sesame Street-style puppets, but instead of education, they deal with sex changes, depression, drug use, politics, casual sex, and more. Other segments include graphic cartoons, a puppet who harasses strangers, and kid "reporters" who conduct confrontational interviews with adults (in one, a child's impersonation of the life of an elderly racetrack regular is "Gamble, gamble, gamble, die"). It's offensive, tasteless, and hysterical -- if you're a grown-up who likes your humor pitch-black.

Positive messages: Subversive, with no positive role models (which is the show's intent). Slavery, religion, segregation, and eating disorders are just a few of the topics that are regularly mocked. Children accost adults on the street to ask controversial questions; a puppet pesters passers-by and tries to make them angry; characters battle God; a child is accused of being a baby killer; farting and other bodily functions run rampant.

Violence: Letter- and number-shaped puppets meant to represent Arabs and Jewish people fight each other; other miscellaneous cartoon violence.

Sex: Puppet characters have enthusiastic sex; Mother Nature (also a puppet) undergoes a sex change operation that explicitly shows her puppet privates.

Language: Lots of "bitch," "ass," and the like. The worst cursing is bleeped. An expletive-prone character called "Potty Mouth" is featured in occasional short cartoon segments.

Consumerism: Episodes are "brought to you by" characters and fake products that tie into each week's theme.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Puppet characters drink after falling into a shame spiral; others discover pure "liquid imagination" and get high on it.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about what makes this show funny. Can envelope-pushing satire ever accomplish more than typical TV laughs? Does anything in the show shock you, as well as make you laugh? Why? Does mixing edgy content with innocent-looking puppets make it even more subversive? Is it OK for the producers to involve kids in the show? Do you think the kids know what they're saying -- or why it's funny?

What's the story?

WONDER SHOWZEN is peopled by fuzzy puppets who look like Sesame Street characters, but these puppets are strictly for adults only. Storylines for Chauncey, Him, Wordsworth, Sthugar, and the gang (many characters are voiced by show creators Vernon Chatman and John Lee) have them engaging in casual hook-ups, hunting down God so they can do battle with him, and trying to stop Mother Nature's sex change. Meanwhile, puppet-on-the street Clarence pesters unsuspecting people mercilessly ("Will you accept Jesus?"), cartoon segments feature characters like the expletive-spewing Potty Mouth and a team of hobo "superheroes," educational films mock old black-and-white tutorials, and innocent-looking children answer questions like "What is heaven?" with responses like "I'll never know" and "That's where drunk daddies drive to." And then there are the "Beat Kids" -- a rotating group of kid reporters who try to get a rise out of dazed grown-ups by peppering them with provocative questions.

Is it any good?

Wonder Showzen is the kind of series that makes viewers gasp as often as it makes them laugh. Whenever you think the show has gone as far as it can go, Chatman and Lee will dream up something even more audacious -- as they did in the first season's "Patience" episode. After viewers were subjected to an excruciatingly slow first 15 minutes, the entire thing ran backward, only to be followed by another version of the show in super-fast-forward mode.

For adults who appreciate cynical, pitch-black satire, Wonder Showzen is a dream come true. But younger children will be confused and upset by the things coming out of the furry, brightly colored puppets' mouths, and even some older teens may not be able to place the show's humor in the right context. It's absolutely a good idea to preview each episode before sharing it with children of any age -- and if you decide to keep it to yourself, enjoy ... and be sure to delete it from the TiVo when you're done.

TV themes & details

TV Details

TV Rating: TV-MA
Network: MTV2
Genre: Comedy
Where to watch: MTV2

This review was written by Betsy Bozdech

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 9 parent & educator reviews:

33% say sexual content is an issue

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Cartoonaholic_ ...
adult

Pure Adult Fun

I watched this show a number of times, overall, it's not bad. I gave it 5 stars for the adults who love it. Wonder Showzen is NOT really for children under 17 (I'm 14 1/2 or 15 and I don't mind, I ignore the random oddball stuff that the characters do). The animations are PRICELESS!!! It's a must watch for all!!! Better yet, take away the sexual content, god references, bad language (dub that), and other fiendish things to make it look better.

TV Details

Genre

Wonder Showzen (MTV2)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Wonder Showzen

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

TV themes & details

TV Details

Review It

Review Wonder Showzen

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Pure Adult Fun

Racist show

whoever enjoys this is brain dead.

This show owns Sesame Street!

12 and under=NO 13-18=YES 18+=May Find Boring

12 and under=NO 13-18=YES 18+=May Find Boring

12 and under=NO 13-18=YES 18+=May Find Boring

not funny mean

Is your biggest problem that your teen is watching this.

Hilarious, but totally over the edge

Offensive show

this is a funny show but not for young kids

i don't see what's so funny

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