Parents' Guide to Bam's Bad Ass Game Show

TV TBS Reality TV 2014
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Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Over-the-top prank show features dangerous stunts, language.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

BAM'S BAD ASS GAME SHOW pits contestants against each other in a series of crazy and potentially dangerous challenges for a chance to win $10,000. Hosted by Jackass franchise host Bam Margera, four contestants compete in challenges like ski jumping into cardboard boxes wearing apple crates on their feet to being quizzed while being hogtied over a dirty pool of water. The contestant who does the worst job in each challenge is eliminated. Throughout the competition Margera's friends and co-hosts Seth Meisterman, Tim O'Connor, and Brandon Novak, conduct and monitor the challenges, and in-between contests prank each other.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

The unscripted series, which is produced by Margera, features lots of over-the-top stunts that are variations of things like human bowling and turning people into crash-test dummies. All are designed to be funny, gross, and even painful, to the amusement of the show's co-hosts.

It's meant to be taken lightheartedly, but the stunts the friends play against each other often appear deliberately painful and mean-spirited. The contestants are also a little too happy to put themselves through these uncomfortable or painful ordeals. In the end, rather than a game show, the series simply seems like a desperate plea for attention.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about pranks. When is playing a prank on someone funny, and when does it go too far? Should pranks ever be damaging or painful?

  • Is featuring potentially dangerous prank-like stunts on a reality show a responsible thing to do, even if protective gear is used and people are warned not to do them at home?

TV Details

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