Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kid-friendly contest puts exciting twist on game shows.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a fun and educational experience that combines learning with the excitement of roller coasters, appealing to a wide range of ages. However, some viewers find the plot and acting lacking, suggesting it may not be for everyone.
- educational
- fun experience
- family-friendly
- mixed reviews
- age-appropriate
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
BRAINRUSH takes the typical trivia game show to new heights (literally!) by asking young contestants to answer general-knowledge questions, remember facts, and solve puzzles -- all while enduring the rush of riding a roller coaster. In each episode, hosts Lamorne Morris and Sarah Karges select three unsuspecting thrill seekers to accumulate cash in a series of mind-tickling challenges. As the competition heats up, the questions -- and the coasters -- get more intense, making it tough for the kids to keep a cool head under the pressure. The eventual winner gets the chance to double his or her money (or lose half) in a final, single-question bonus round.
Is It Any Good?
This new twist on game shows is filled with kid-friendly content, from the thrills of the coaster rides to the age-appropriate trivia and memory challenges that kids at home can play along with. While there's no way to replicate the physical intensity that the contestants endure, viewers get a good sense of the participants' feelings from their facial expressions (captured by head-on cameras), making it fun to imagine how they'd react to being in the hot seat themselves.
While the show certainly isn't aiming to push specific positive messages, the fact that all of the contestants leave the game with whatever money they accumulate makes for a highly sportsmanlike atmosphere. A small amount of greed comes into play when winners are offered the chance to gamble their winnings for double the amount, but overall, worry-free content makes BrainRush a fun choice for grade-schoolers and young tweens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about game shows. Kids: How did this show compare to other game shows you've seen? Did you like that it challenged the competitors both physically and mentally? How do the contestants deal with the pressure they're under? How do you think you'd do in a similar situation? If you could be on a game show, which one would you choose? How would you prepare?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 20, 2009
- Cast : Lamorne Morris , Sarah Karges
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Game Shows
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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