Parents' Guide to

Figure It Out

By Andrea Graham, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Zany, star-studded game show spotlights kids' wacky talents.

TV Nickelodeon Game Shows 1997
Figure It Out 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 4+

Based on 2 parent reviews

caribbeandream
caribbeandream Parent of 7-year-old
July 7, 2012
age 6+

Great wholesome game show the entire family will enjoy

My son discovered this show purely by chance and now my family watches on a regular basis. Even if your kids/family have no idea who the judges are they will still enjoy this wholesome game show. I also love the fact that the contestants are kids who have actually done something, no matter how wacky. In this age in which self-esteem seems to trump the confidence that comes from hard work and achievement I think this sends a really great message to kids.

This title has:

Great messages
Responsible teenager
Responsible teenager Adult
June 12, 2012
age 2+

Decent

Good show it's very entertaining
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

FIGURE IT OUT is a kids' game show that challenges a panel of four celebrities (typically Nickelodeon stars like Victoria Justice) to guess a young contestant's special talent or unique trait by asking yes-or-no questions in rapid-fire succession through three minute-long rounds. Gleaning clues from the kids' responses and from visual hints from the studio audience and the "Charade Brigade," the panelists race to solve the puzzle before time runs out. With each round that passes without a correct answer, the contestant racks up prizes. This show originally aired in the '90s, hosted by Summer Sanders, and was revived in 2012 with Jeff Sutphen at the helm.

Is It Any Good?

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

Like most game shows in the Nickelodeon family, Figure It Out is off-the-wall zany and iced by the channel's trademark green slime, which douses the celebs at various times during the show. For kids, the only thing better than watching their favorite TV stars in an unrehearsed setting like a game show is seeing them caught unawares by buckets of green goo, so this is sure to be a hit feature. Plus, the fact that the contestants are selected for the strangeness of their talents or traits (a boy with a Big Dipper of freckles on his back, or one who can milk a goat with his feet, for instance) helps with the silly factor, too.

As for the game itself, it's hardly a cerebral workout, but it does encourage players and viewers at home to think outside of the box and imagine scenarios beyond what they're used to. What's more, it's good, clean fun (well, except for the slime), and its basic premise can be replicated at home with family and friends when you host your own screen-free game night. Of course, the show's best quality just might be the fact that it celebrates kids' uniqueness in a very fun way.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about sportsmanship. What does it mean to be a good sport? Are there any displays of sportsmanship among the players in this game? Does wanting to win automatically mean you're not a good sport?

  • What games does your family enjoy together? What qualities does competing with others teach us? Families can use this game show as inspiration to stage your own game night with your family.

TV Details

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.

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