Parents' Guide to

Bobb'e Says

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Silly videos lose their charm thanks to over-the-top host.

TV Cartoon Network Comedy 2009
Bobb'e Says Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 2 parent reviews

hgwqhge03
hgwqhge03 Adult
September 21, 2013
age 2+

*facepalm*

on the American cartoon network there are many live action shows generated in 2009 but they all ended, I saw this one and the othersiders, this is a charm-lacking rip-off of America's funniest home videos with this wannabe hipster kid hosting, Disney's teen sit-coms are funnier than this, Dude what would happen was OK, but the rest were terrible I can't choose which one sucked the most Destroy build Destroy, this, or level up, only autistic kids or 2 year olds would enjoy this also the name of this channel is "Cartoon" Network
pshore
pshore Parent
September 24, 2009
age 13+
The grammar is horrible! I certainly don't want my 9-year-old to pick up any of the phrases Bobb'e uses.

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BOBB'E SAYS, 13-year-old Bobb'e J. Thompson (best known for his potty-mouthed part in Role Models) visits malls, beaches, and city streets to share his personal brand of advice with the public. In each episode, Bobb'e offers cautionary tips against common mistakes that often lead to painful results ("Don't Do Karate" and "Know When to Celebrate," for example). He follows up his suggestions with collections of video clips meant to illustrate each point by showing people hurting themselves while engaged in the same risky behavior he advises against.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (8):

Between Thompson's grating self-satisfaction and the show's fairly monotonous content, this series -- while technically age-appropriate for teens -- certainly veers into obnoxious territory. After spending most of his life in front of the camera, Thompsons' natural ease with the spotlight is undeniable. But in this case his trademark wit and charm come across as egotism, thanks to repetitive comments like "If you want to roll like Bobb'e ... and be as cool as Bobb'e, you have to do what Bobb'e says."

And if you're tempted by the promise of funny home videos and think those segments will make up for the rest, you'll be disappointed to discover that the show spends more time replaying each video (four to six times apiece, on average) than it does introducing new ones. Though the show's format is unique and Thompsons' advice bytes (like "Pain Is Your Fault") are sometimes dead-on given the unfortunate video clips, ultimately you're left feeling that the lackluster content was stretched to its limit to fill each 30-minute episode.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what it feels like to be at the butt of a joke. Have you ever been laughed at by your peers? What happened? How did the attention make you feel?

  • What examples of bullying have you observed? Have you ever been a victim of bullying? What recourse do kids have against bullies? How has the Internet changed how bullies influence others?

  • How does celebrity status affect people? How might it change your values, your friendships, and your outlook on life?

TV Details

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