Parents' Guide to

Childrens Hospital

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Despite title, TV medical drama spoof isn't for children.

TV Comedy Central Comedy 2008
Childrens Hospital 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 18+

Based on 2 parent reviews

not educated
not educated Parent of 8, 10, 12 and 15-year-old
June 17, 2015
age 18+

My tween killed.

Blake downs is far worse then the warden. I wanna kill both! Blake thought my daughter to tell her friends phrases like, "let's go dig up some graves" god! Help my daughter!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Raptor69
Raptor69 Adult
January 5, 2012
age 18+

Funny show

This is one of thoes shows that are making fun of them selfs and it's supposed to be silly but funny as hell

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

The staff at CHILDRENS HOSPITAL may not be especially attentive to patients or the particularly talented medical professionals, but, boy, do they take their love lives seriously. This send-up of so many prime-time doctor dramas dispenses with those messy medical subplots and gets right to the heart of the inter-hospital romance and gossip. That's all that viewers care about anyway, right? The show originated online as the brainchild of comedian Rob Corddry, who also stars as Blake Downs, a doctor who roams the halls in full clownface makeup and surgical scrubs covered in blood -- looking more like a serial killer than a healer. The rest of the excessively earnest team is equally deranged. (Need an example? Watching a young cancer patient give a heartwarming speech, one doctor comments on the inspiring example: "God, I wish I had cancer.")

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (3):

Ever think the treacly, life-saving antics on ER or Grey's Anatomy are just too predictable? Tired of watching inter-hospital romance as cast members move from one co-worker to another, ignoring the entire dating pool outside the examining room? Then this is the show for you. Childrens Hospital tweaks one TV drama convention after another, starting with an over-the-top voice-over that sounds like it should be meaningful, but is really just schmaltz.

The characters all fit into standard roles (the hotshot doctor, the lovelorn nurse, the tyrannical administrator), but the delightfully ludicrous situations and the crazy dialogue delivered with a straight face (how do they refrain from laughing?) makes it all work. This quick show -- episodes are just 15 minutes -- delivers highly concentrated laughs in bite-size packages.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about parody. Do you think this show is funny? What makes it different from a real medical drama? Do you have to be familiar with the genre to appreciate the humor here?

  • Can you think of other spoofs/parodies that do the same kind of thing this show sets out to? What makes some successful while others aren't?

  • What do you think about Rob Corddry's clown face? Do you find it funny or creepy? What is its intent?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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