Parents' Guide to

Kids Say the Darndest Things

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Host upstages cute kids in mediocre reboot; some innuendo.

TV ABC Reality TV 2019
Kids Say the Darndest Things Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Kids Say the Darndest Things TV Series: Scene #1
  • Kids Say the Darndest Things TV Series: Scene #2
  • Kids Say the Darndest Things TV Series: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 15 parent reviews

Nananana08
Nananana08 Adult
October 13, 2019
age 5+

So funny

I love the show and how she relates to the children.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
Roady
Roady Adult
October 13, 2019
age 6+

Terrible show

The host is terrible. Not funny at all. Who gives a crap that she knows tayler swift. She makes the show about herself and not the kids. Stupid skits instead of asking kids questions as when Art Linkletter did the show. Either get a new host and focus show on the kids or cancel the piece of crap. Wont want again till changes are made.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS, host Tiffany Haddish interviews kids onstage to hear their perspective on various topics. From their hobbies and career goals to their favorite entertainment stars, Haddish poses questions that encourage the kids to be themselves and answer honestly, usually with hilarious results for the studio audience and especially for their family members on set. Some segments show Haddish in behind-the-scenes conversations with potential participants, where they show off their talents, and others involve staged acts and fake TV shoots designed to gauge the kids' honest reactions to funny -- and sometimes uncomfortable -- scenarios.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15 ):
Kids say (3 ):

This reboot sets out to put kids and their unfiltered humor in the spotlight, but it's the obtrusive host who winds up stealing the show from the intended young stars and starlets. Haddish seems unable to take a backseat to her small co-stars, instead turning many of the conversations into avenues to promote herself -- by plugging her voice work in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, emphasizing her own celebrity status, and even calling some of her famous friends during filming. If you're coming to the show hoping to hear what kids have to say, know that you'll hear a lot more of what Haddish herself wants you to know.

And on the subject of what kids have to say, the show's assertion that the young interviewees have not been coached on what to say is arguable, but they certainly have been groomed for performing on camera. That they do with unnatural ease, both in speaking their mind and in putting on awkwardly placed talent shows over the course of an episode. Kids Say the Darndest Things has a lot going on; unfortunately very little of it involves kids saying adorable and reliably unscripted things.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the effectiveness of Kids Say the Darndest Things' humor. What makes it stand out from scripted comedies? Do you think kids know as much as adults? Why or why not?

  • Do the interviewees seem like "average" kids, or do you think that they have been coached to some degree? How might your kids answer the host's questions differently? How "real" can we reliably assume reality TV is?

  • Would you ever want to go on TV and answer questions? Why or why not? Would it be easier if you knew what the questions were ahead of time?

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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