Nickelodeon's Unfiltered

TV review by Ashley Moulton, Common Sense Media
Nickelodeon's Unfiltered Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 6+

Guess mystery celebs' identities on funny game show.

Nickelodeon, YouTube Game Shows 2020
Rate TV

Parents say

No reviews yet.

Add your rating

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 15 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate tv

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.

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 Unfiltered is a kid-focused game show that's full of pop culture references. It's hosted by Saturday Night Live's Jay Pharoah, but all the jokes are mild enough for kids. Celebrity guests briefly mention the TV shows and movies they star on, and many of Pharoah's jokes reference media properties. While not mentioning social media platforms by name, several of the show's segments mimic social media content and memes.

Community Reviews

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In NICKELODEON'S UNFILTERED, host Jay Pharoah (Saturday Night Live) helps kid actor contestants guess the identity of a mystery celebrity. Each episode features two celebrities that are concealed by a Snapchat-style filter and voice altering software. Contestants Darci Lynne Farmer (America's Got Talent), Lex Lumpkin (All That), and Gabrielle Nevaeh Green (All That) ask the celebrity questions so they can guess who is behind the filter. Additional social media-style segments give extra clues, like "Clickbait," which features a Buzzfeed-style headline about the celebrity, or "Status Check," which shows a TikTok-esque social media post from the celebrity. At the end of the questioning, the video filter is removed and the celebrity's identity is revealed.

Is It Any Good?

Kids into pop culture will love this silly game show. Host Jay Pharoah is hilarious with his rapid-fire pop culture references, the kid contestants are likable, and the celebrity guests are great sports. Nickelodeon's Unfiltered was conceived and originally produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, so all actors are shot in front of a green screen and recorded remotely. The show has fun with this limitation: A ton of '90s internet-inspired graphics pop up throughout. It feels very current for Gen Z in the time of the pandemic (one graphic reads "2020 is canceled"). There is copious use of Snapchat-style video filters, and segments are presented in meme-worthy ways. It's fun and funny, and a clever way to make fresh content while Hollywood's production has ground to a halt.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why it's fun to play guessing games, even when you're grown up. What other shows besides Unfiltered involve guessing?

  • Do you think you could re-create this game with your friends? Could one friend pretend to be a mystery celebrity and answer questions like the celebrities do?

TV Details

Our Editors Recommend

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