Family BrainSurge
Parents say
Based on 5 reviews
Kids say
Based on 41 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Did we miss something on diversity?
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.
Suggest an Update
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 this game show makes it easy for kids to play along with the contestants, testing their listening comprehension and visual recollection skills in a series of puzzles and quizzes. Players are eliminated at the end of each of three rounds, but they’re always good sports about their fate -- and about their slippery, messy exit down an oversized slide model of the ear canal. Aside from some recurrent potty humor (kids sit in chairs that make farting noises when their answer’s wrong, etc.), there’s little to worry about in this fast-paced game show.
Community Reviews
Family Brain Kill
Report this review
Report this review
What's the Story?
In the game show BRAINSURGE, kids compete in a series of brain-teasing challenges that test their ability to recall visual and auditory information. Each game starts with six contestants (dubbed the “Brainiacs”) who answer a series of questions from host Jeff Sutphen about pictures they’re shown. At the end of the round, the two lowest-scoring players are eliminated and sent home via the \"Brain Drain,\" an oversized slide in the shape of an ear canal that's greased up with a gooey ear wax substitute. Play continues through two more elimination rounds, after which the game’s winner faces one more memory challenge to win a series of prizes -- and a dousing of green slime.
Is It Any Good?
BrainSurge sticks to tradition when it comes to content -- its oversized set and use of slippery substances bring to mind the station’s slime-covered classic Double Dare. Kids are sure to appreciate the messy nature of the entertainment, but parents will be most excited about the fact that the show’s challenges actually do put kids’ brain power to the test, and that it’s easy for viewers at home to match wits with the contestants.
Despite some mild but recurring potty humor (in one level eliminated contestants are escorted away on a chair that makes farting noises), this fast-paced show is a fun, safe choice for grade-schoolers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about competition. What does competing teach you about yourself? What contests have you been a part of? How did you feel when you won? When you lost?
Kids: Do you have any role models who are athletes? Why do you respect and admire them? What do you think of athletes who demonstrate negative behavior?
What other game shows have you seen? How was the format different? Do you like that this show’s contestants are all kids? Do you think there’s some educational quality to its content?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 28, 2009
- Cast: Jeff Sutphen
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Game Shows
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: September 20, 2019
Our Editors Recommend
-
Double Dare 2000
Slippery, slimy fun for the whole family.
-
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Kids know more than grown-ups in clever game show.
-
My Family's Got GUTS
High-energy game show is fun for all ages.
For kids who love games
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.
See how we rate