Crash & Bernstein
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Crash & Bernstein is a sitcom centering on the relationship between a 12-year-old boy and his new puppet surrogate brother with plenty of potty humor (boogers, body odor) and playground-style talk like "I'll get my butt kicked." The duo gets into a lot of scrapes, thanks to Crash's impulsivity, and the consequences they suffer are far less than what the real world would dole out. Wyatt's willingness to go along with his buddy's misguided plans encourages discussions about standing up to peer pressure and listening to your own conscience. On the plus side, the series centers on a strong family unit with a harried but devoted single mom, and both Crash and Wyatt have occasion to be positive influences on each other over the course of their relationship.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Teaches bad lessons
Violent, brash, and awful—run screaming
Crash and Bernstein? 8+ Kinda Show.
Violent for the age group
What's the story?
Wyatt Bernstein (Cole Jensen) is the lone boy among three sisters and their single mom, Mel (Mary Birdsong), and he longs for a brother to lean on when his household seems too girly. When his family takes him to Build-a-Bestie for his birthday, he creates the most masculine stuffed friend possible, and his greatest dream comes true when Crash (Tim Lagasse) comes to life and joins the family. Wyatt soon discovers that having a brother who's an impulsive, wise-guy puppet with big ideas and little sense of fear means that things can get even wilder than he ever imagined.
Is it any good?
CRASH & BERNSTEIN revives puppet comedy the likes of which we haven't seen since ALF crash landed in the Tanners' garage in the mid-'80s. Crash shakes up the Bernstein family in similar fashion, wreaking havoc on their sense of order and rattling Wyatt's routine in unexpected ways. The result isn't always happy, as the dynamic duo gets into a lot of sticky situations with Crash at the helm, but it's the kind of off-the-wall comedy that will appeal to kids, and boys especially.
This is one of those case-by-case shows that needs you to be mindful of your child's response to what he or she sees on TV. Since much of the show's laughs result from the characters' misbehavior, it's important that viewers understand the difference between fantasy and reality. If your son and his brother decide to remedy a lack of space in their bedroom by knocking down a wall, that will have more serious consequences than what they see Wyatt and Crash suffer from the same action. If your kids do watch, be sure you talk about how the characters' actions would be received in the real world instead of the TV universe.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about making good decisions. Why is it difficult to stand up to peers when they're doing something you know isn't right? Have you ever been in a situation like this? How did you handle it?
Kids: In what ways is Wyatt a good influence on Crash? Is the reverse true? What do they learn from each other?
Does the fact that Crash is a puppet make this show funnier than it would be if he was a person? Is it easier to overlook his mistakes because of his nature? Why or why not?
TV details
- Premiere date: October 8, 2012
- Cast: Cole Jensen, Mary Birdsong, Tim Lagasse
- Network: Disney XD
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Puppets
- TV rating: TV-Y7
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.