Parents' Guide to

Nick Swardson's Pretend Time

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Mature sketch show revolves around sex and twisted humor.

TV Comedy Central Comedy 2010
Nick Swardson's Pretend Time Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 1 parent review

Plague
Plague Parent
October 20, 2010
age 14+

Nick Swardson's Pretend Time

Fairly entertaining, and quite funny. Definitely not for young kids, but great for teens and adults who like this kind of humor.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Airing on Comedy Central, NICK SWARDSON'S PRETEND TIME is a collection of random comedy sketches written and performed by stand-up comedian and actor Nick Swardson (best known for his recurring role as a male prostitute on Reno 911!). Characters he cooks up include Garry Gaga, Lady Gaga's police officer brother who shares his sister's flair for extreme fashion; a wheelchair-bound cat with a trust fund (and a heroin addiction) named Mr. Stitches; and a gay robot named...well, Gay Robot.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Watching Swardson's sketch-comedy show series allows us to conclude two things: 1) Swardson can be really funny, as evidenced by his clever spoof on environmentalism with an ad for the Peeus, a urine-powered car you "fill up" yourself; and 2) once he runs out of good stuff, he turns first to scatalogical jokes before rolling out completely disgusting (and ultimately un-funny) sex gags.

After all, it's one thing to suggest that employees at a live donkey sex show -- where scantily clad women perform oral sex on a donkey in front of a cheering crowd of bystanders -- even need a seminar about sexual harrassment in the workplace. But it's quite another to watch the droning HR representative deliver his talking points while the donkey's shooting semen splatters and drips down the glass divider right behind him. Yup, Swardson went there, and he might have just gone too far.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about envelope-pushing humor on TV and how far it can go before it's too much. Does this show take jokes farther than you would have expected for the small screen? Where's the fine line between gross and funny?

  • How does this series compare with other sketch-comedy shows on television? Does it do anything differently, and does it work?

  • Who do you think the target audience is? Do you think this show is appropriate for older teens? If you were a parent, would you want your kids to watch?

TV Details

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