Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fairly clean-cut geek-fest competition, with a few curses.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Robert Carradine and Curtis Armstrong, the instantly recognizable stars of '80s cult hit Revenge of the Nerds, are the hosts of KING OF THE NERDS, a reality competition to crown the biggest geek. Eleven contestants skilled in gaming, physics, geology, and the like come together in "Nerdvana," a house equipped with everything a nerd could need, and engage in "nerd-off" competitions to send home competitors until only one is left. That nerd will win $100,000, sit on the Throne of Games, and be crowned the biggest nerd of all.
Is It Any Good?
It's hard not to like a group of people who get excited over white boards: "You could use a piece of paper, but it's not optimal!" enthuses the thrilled-to-be-here Brandon, just one of 11 mostly charming contestants who get that the show's a goof and are just here to meet some interesting new friends and maybe win that $100K. Hosts Carradine and Armstrong look great and have retained their old charm; they keep things moving along nicely.
A large part of the thrill of King of the Nerds is watching smarty pants trying to impress each other. Most people don't consider your computer gaming ability or in-depth knowledge of Batman villains to be a threat, but here, it is. A meaner-spirited show would invite the viewer to laugh at these oddballs; instead, King of the Nerds shows how confident the contestants are in their abilities and that same oddness. This turns what could be one-note obnoxious and grating into something rather endearing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what the word "nerd" means. Is it a nice thing to call someone? Why or why not? Are there other words that mean roughly the same thing? How are these words different from the word "nerd"?
Why do you suppose all the competitors on King of the Nerds are so young? Why would a show choose to focus only on young people?
Do you think the audience is supposed to like all the contestants? What about the way they're presented brings you to this conclusion?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 17, 2013
- Cast : Curtis Armstrong , Robert Carradine
- Network : TBS
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : STEM
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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