Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe
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Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe
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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 Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe is a music-filled spin-off of the Emmy Award-winning Hank Zipzer show, which is based on books written by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver. The main character, Hank, is a kid who's constantly struggling to untangle himself from self-imposed disasters. He does things his way, while losing track of time, being unusually clumsy, and getting crazily distracted. He's a kid who has dyslexia, a learning disability that can affect the ability for a person to read, keep track of time, and do things in an orderly fashion. Hank struggles with all of these things and causes perilous situations without meaning to. Adults in authority positions can be verbally abusive to kids, saying they are losers, that they do stupid things, that they let everyone down. A music manager forbids a kid from contacting her parents when she's far away from home. There's hand holding and chaste kissing among teens. Pregnancy and medical peril are themes.
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What's the Story?
In HANK ZIPZER'S CHRISTMAS CATASTROPHE, there's a lot going on in the Zipzer household. The winter holidays are fast approaching, Hank (Nick James) is trying out for the lead of a school musical, and his mom is very pregnant. Hank's principal (Javone Prince) and his English teacher (Felicity Montagu) aren't impressed with Hank's academic performance, but Hank's music teacher Mr. Rock (Henry Winkler, Monsters at Work) believes in him. Hank has dyslexia and has learned to improvise rather than follow rules. But it seems that disaster follows Hank everywhere he goes. When he meets a pop star named Hayden Chase (Kylee Russell, Zombies) he finds he can actually be a help to her. Will Hank's flair for disaster cause him to self-destruct, or can his ability to think outside of the box actually work in his favor?
Is It Any Good?
Zany and raucous, this addition to the Hank Zipzer franchise illustrates how adults' negative attitudes can be internalized by kids with learning disabilities. In Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe, there's lots of silliness that surrounds a kid who suffers from a disability -- but who might not be getting the support that he needs. In fact, when Hank "ruins" everything, his self-talk gets very dark, turning the comedy into something sadder.
Parents might sit down to watch in anticipation of a good turn-out by the funny Henry Winkler, whose life the Zipzer franchise has been based on. But the script fails him, and there aren't a lot of consequent opportunities for cast members to shine. Tweens will want to see what happens with Hank and his friend the pop star, but this show can't escape of the chaos it has created.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about learning disabilities in Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe. How do kids with LDs view themselves in this show? Are their friends, family, and teachers empathetic to their needs?
Kids use cell phones in school in this show --interrupting performances or classes when they answer calls. What is the electronics policy at your school?
Not only are kids bullies in this show, but adults can be bullies too. When is an authority figure out of line? What can be done about it?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 2, 2022
- Cast: Nick James, Henry Winkler, Kylee Russell
- Network: HBO Max
- Genre: Kids Musical TV
- Topics: Adventures, Arts and Dance, Book Characters
- Character Strengths: Communication, Empathy, Perseverance, Self-control
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: December 6, 2022
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