Beakman's World

Name: Beakman's World
Item: Beakman's World
Rating: 5
Author: Leanne Mos

TV review by

Leanne Mos, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 7+

(i)

Madcap science show makes learning a thrill.

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Kids say

age 5+

Based on 1 review

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We think this TV show stands out for:

Character Strengths

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

Educational Value

Kids learn about inertia, friction, simple machines, famous scientists, the natural world, and a wide range of other scientific concepts in a fun, exciting way and through a variety of presentation methods. The validity of the information is complemented by the cast's use of slapstick, puns, and comical costumes, all of which entices young viewers and ensures secures their attention.

Positive Messages

Plenty of playful put-downs, but otherwise the characters work together to answer questions. Some gross-out humor (nose-picking, farting, and burping). The series sparks curiosity about all aspects of scientific exploration and discovery in a fun, kid-friendly way. Each episode explores two new concepts relating to astronomy, physics, chemistry, and biology, all in a manner that's relevant to and easily comprehended by kids.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Beakman's philosophy teaches kids to read and explore their way to answers for their questions about how things work. He uses a variety of methods to illustrate complicated scientific concepts like the water cycle, gravity, and how volcanoes form, and he makes learning fun. The cast also promotes basic lab safety by wearing protective gear in their experiments and reminding kids to get parents' permission before conducting any tests on their own. Lester is chronically grumpy and disgruntled, often using sarcasm and wisecracks to express his displeasure with his job. The three female assistants are a bit ditzy.

Violence & Scariness

Characters get charred by explosions and bop each other on the head, but it's all in good fun.

Sexy Stuff

Language

Some snide remarks ("stupid") and potty humor.

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Beakman's World is a fantastic educational series that teaches kids about scientific concepts from dinosaurs to sound frequency and everything in between. Each episode focuses on two or three concepts, which are explored through video footage, experiments, and models that illustrate the topics on a grade-schooler's comprehension level. The cast often reminds viewers of safety protocols like wearing protective gear and cautions them against replicating experiments without a parent's help. Gross-out humor and topics like pimples, snot, and, yes, farts are fair game in this show, likely to the delight of its young audience.

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Kid, 8 years old November 27, 2008

age 5+

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too many ads

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What's the story?

The Emmy Award-winning BEAKMAN'S WORLD is a science show featuring a wacky professor (Paul Zaloom) who's devoted to answering his viewers' questions about the physical world. With the help of the disgruntled Lester the Rat (Mark Ritts) and one of three dizzy female assistants played by Alana Ubach, Eliza Schneider, and Senta Moses, Beakman takes viewers on a trivia-packed thrill ride, unraveling everyday mysteries such as what makes fire and what causes creaky noises in the night. For Beakman, no question is too stupid or too gross to answer, as evidenced by topics like snot, flatulence, and sewage.

Is it any good?

This series does a masterful job of blending entertainment and quality content for kids. It won't be hard to tempt kids' interest, thanks to the wacky star's natural charisma and the show's unique approach to teaching kids about science. The pace is lightning-fast and might lose the youngest viewers, but older kids are sure to love the action (explosions! smashing tomatoes!). Zaloom uses every trick in the book -- from costumes and accents to slapstick comedy -- to keep kids' attention, all with the goal of imparting on them a wealth of fascinating scientific knowledge that will change how they look at the world around them.

Grown-ups will like Beakman's World nearly as much as their kids will, with the possible exception of those squeamish segments that delve into body topics like the origins of flatulence and the make-up of earwax. Of course these gross-out bits are bound to thrill grade-schoolers, and you can't deny that even they offer worthwhile information about some pretty intriguing topics. The bottom line? This is one of those rare shows that entertains, teaches, and inspires kids, all within the confines of worry-free, age-appropriate content and a ton of fun.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about how science plays a part in our everyday lives. What questions do you have about how the world works after watching Beakman's World? What is it about science that makes Beakman so excited?
Kids: How can you apply your new knowledge to experiments of your own? What safety measures should you take in running these experiments?
Expand on the discoveries made in the show. Choose a topic to explore as a family. What resources do you have access to for information? Can you observe the process or subject in action?
How does Beakman's World inspire curiosity? Why is this an important character strength?