Hi-Jinks
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Did this review miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive, diverse representations in books, TV shows, and movies. Want to help us help them? Suggest a diversity update
Suggest an update Hi-Jinks
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 the kids and teens will sometimes say things like "That sucks!" and "Oh my God!" when they discover they've been duped. But the show's practical jokes are innocent and fun, and the victims' enjoyment of the situation is contagious, allowing viewers to laugh with them.
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
It's OK.
Funny stuff!
What's the story?
HI-JINKS provides a youthful spin on the old favorite TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, putting kids and teens in the hot seat as jokes masterminded by parents are played on them. A typical episode finds the show's hostess posing as a scientist to introduce a 9-year-old boy to a telekinesis helmet. With the help of a props guy and a strong magnet hidden under a table, the unsuspecting victim becomes convinced that he has super powers and can make items move on the table. Another scenario tests the problem-solving skills of a group of girls who are made to believe that a box they moved into a room suddenly has grown too large to fit back through the doorway. It's impossible to resist chuckling as they scratch their heads at the mystery.
Is it any good?
As opposed to MTV's popular show Punk'd, whose pranksters take their jokes to a new level of cruelty, Hi-Jinks uses a selection of simple, everyday tricks to earn its laughs. Simple, innocent tricks provide the show's humor, and it's fun and easy to laugh along with everyone involved. In addition, no prank pushes the limits of the kids' patience, so when the truth comes out, everyone enjoys an honest laugh.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about what it feels like to be the one in the spotlight while everyone else is laughing. What does it take to be a good sport? How should a person handle being the subject of a joke? Families also can talk about being sensitive to the feelings of others. When is it not OK to get a laugh at someone's expense? How can we know when a joke has been taken too far?
TV details
- Premiere date: August 2, 2005
- Cast: Annie Kirby, David Storrs, Priscilla Star
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-G
- Available on: Streaming
- Last updated: October 14, 2020
Our editors recommend
Top advice and articles
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.
Streaming options powered by JustWatch