Parents' Guide to

Newsreaders

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

TV newsmag spoof is often hilarious; OK for older teens.

TV Cartoon Network Comedy 2013
Newsreaders Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 2 parent reviews

not educated
not educated Parent of 8, 10, 12 and 15-year-old
June 17, 2015
age 18+

look what you did to my daughter!

I think neighbor carl, might be a pedophile, but the kids are worse then, warden or etc. They be turnin' my tween into a psychopath!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Salebxy
Salebxy Adult
January 25, 2013
age 3+

Re: Music! Why'd you quit? The viola is a lovely instrument. In fact, I like it better than the violin, partly because the violin has the E-string which I can't

In the legendary words of...someone: "Practice makes perfect." Especially when playing a musical instrument. Unless you're tone-deaf.

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

From the comedy minds that brought you medical-show spoof Children's Hospital comes NEWSREADERS, a mocking takeoff of the type of TV newsmagazines that report on water skiing squirrels and new diets with incredible self-seriousness. Mather Zickel is Louis LaFonda, host of Newsreaders, with a cast of field reporters that bring back the dirt on such (imaginary) American pop-culture phenomenon as "f--k vans" and teen golf training camps that double as Al Qaeda sleeper cells. Ray Wise is a disgruntled, Andy Rooney-esque commentator who rails against modern rubber-soled shoes and spouts such non-sequiturs as "Have you ever tried ecstasy? It's wonderful." Like most Adult Swim shows, each episode is 15 minutes long.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

There's much to mock in television newsmagazines that report with gravity on absolutely ridiculous people and things, and Newsreaders finds a lot of funny in both the deadpan reporting style and the topics reported on. The show is always funny enough to keep a smile on your face, and frequently laugh-out-loud amusing, though filthy enough that parents watching with teens may be occasionally discomfited, as when a "celebrity chef" affirms that "Mark my words, human sperm is the new bacon." Pause. "Human sperm."

One of the choicest pleasures of watching Newsreaders is watching a parade of wacky guest stars deliver -- Dan Rather talks about his new connection with the Dirty South hip hop scene, Kate Walsh sits in a chair and laughs her head off with LaFonda for no reason at all, Aaron Staton (Ken on Mad Men), almost unrecognizable in college-kid wear instead of slicked-back hair and a suit, as a horny dorm rat. Teens won't get who these people are and why mom and dad are laughing, but laugh mom and dad will.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Have you ever seen the type of show Newsreaders is mocking, such as Entertainment Tonight or 60 Minutes? How is Newsreaders like those shows? Do they have similar reporting styles? Choice of subjects? Graphics? How is Newsreaders unlike those shows?

  • Watch an episode of 60 Minutes together. After watching, discuss whether knowing the roots of Newsreader's satire makes the show funnier.

  • There are many shows on that mock the news, such as the Daily Show with Jon Stewart or the Colbert Report. Why is now a fertile time to make fun of the daily news and political views in our country? What does it say about the way we view television news, and reporting in general?

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.

See all recommended tv lists

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