Parents' Guide to Dude, What Would Happen

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Common Sense Media Review

Emily Ashby By Emily Ashby , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Teens' wacky experiments are fun for curious tweens.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 9+

Based on 11 parent reviews

age 9+

Based on 34 kid reviews

Kids say that this TV show elicits mixed emotions; while some enjoy the wacky science experiments and fun concepts presented by the hosts, the majority find it cringeworthy, boring, and unsuitable for a children's network due to its live-action format. Many critics view the content as dumb and lacking educational value, often likening it unfavorably to better shows like Mythbusters, and express relief that it has been removed from the lineup.

  • cringeworthy content
  • lack of value
  • live-action format
  • mixed reactions
  • better alternatives
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

What do you get when you give three teens carte blanche to discover the answers to their wildest questions? Answer: The high-energy adventure of DUDE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, which stars friends CJ Manigo, Ali Sepasyar, and Jackson Rogow as the curious minds behind some of the zaniest experiments around. Whether it's testing the lift capacity of hundreds of helium balloons or designing the world's first mobile hot tub, there's no distance these guys won't go to satisfy their own curiosity.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 11 ):
Kids say ( 34 ):

Although there's little intrinsic educational quality to this mostly fluffy series, it is a fun option for tweens who are curious about how things work. The guys' off-the-wall ideas are sure to get viewers' own minds turning over questions they might have, and with a little parental assistance, some of those ideas could present some fun learning opportunities.

As far as content goes, there's nothing inappropriate for tweens, but younger kids might be misled by the guys' apparent lack of supervision and unlimited access to supplies and tools. Do be sure to remind viewers of all ages that although they may not see it, the teens are under adult supervision and that their experiments do carry some risk of danger (so kids shouldn't try their own tests at home!).

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about science. How do we use science in our everyday lives? What scientific questions do you have that you'd like to test? How would you go about it?

  • What steps do you take to make sure you're safe at school, at home, and when you're in public? What rules does your family have about TV and Internet use to ensure that you're safe?

  • How does the media keep us informed about events around us? How do you get your news? Do you think the media has a responsibility to provide quality content to families and kids?

TV Details

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