Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quirky alien puppet talk show explores pop culture.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Earth to Ned
What's the Story?
EARTH TO NED is The Jim Henson Company's latest puppet show to enter the universe. Alien Ned's plan to destroy Earth was foiled when he fell in love with Earth's pop culture and decided he couldn't bear to blow it up. Instead, he decides to host a talk show so he can interview celebrities and learn more about human culture. In every episode of Earth to Ned, Ned (a muppet voiced by Paul Rugg) interviews two celebrities. Any late night show wouldn't be complete without a sidekick, and his sidekick Cornelius (voiced by Michael Oosterom) travels outside of the talk show set to interview humans out in the world. His show band The CLODS and the spaceship's animated AI humanoid B.E.T.I. round out the ensemble. Ned is clueless about basic things like how to have polite conversations with guests or how to host a late night show, but his human guests are trying to help him learn more about life on Earth.
Is It Any Good?
Like other Henson Company shows, the puppets are fantastic and technologically impressive, but unfortunately, the actual content of this show falls a bit flat for kids and adults alike. While the show is appropriate for whole-family viewing, much of this show's humor will go over kids' heads. The comedy is awkward, so it may not be for everyone. Also, many of the jokes poke fun of late night talk shows and the entertainment industry, and so the content involves a lot of industry navel-gazing. It's not true of every guest Ned interviews, but many segments feel like a thinly disguised promotional vehicle for Disney-related properties. Kids may enjoy watching the zany puppets in Earth to Ned, and some of the celebrity guests will be interesting to kids into pop culture. But overall, this isn't a show most kids will want at the top of their streaming queue.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about something that Ned gets wrong in Earth to Ned. Why do you think he doesn't understand life on Earth?
How does Ned treat Cornelius? What are some ways you think Ned could be nicer to Cornelius?
Ned is learning how to be a talk show host. What are some other talk shows you've seen? How is this one the same? How is it different?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 4, 2020
- Cast : Paul Rugg , Michael Oosterom
- Network : Disney+
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 8, 2025
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