Parents' Guide to

The Amanda Show

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Variety show cast claws for cheap laughs.

TV Nickelodeon Variety Show 1999
The Amanda Show 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 8+

Based on 7 parent reviews

hamstergurl09
hamstergurl09 Adult
September 19, 2012
age 8+

Classic

I LOVED this show as a kid. While the gags tend to be juvenile, you can't deny that this show easily made you laugh out loud. This is perfect for tweens. For teenagers and even some people in their early twenties there's a major nostalgia factor with this show as well (I'm fifteen, for the record, my profile says otherwise). I also think that for young women and aspiring comedians, Amanda Bynes at this age (not so much now, but AT THIS AGE) was a very positive roll model. A lot of people have the belief that women or kids can't be funny, but Amanda and the rest of the cast proved that wrong.
V O.
V O. Adult
May 20, 2012
age 6+

Slapstick, slapstick, and other silly humor

I've never been a huge fan of the Amanda Show as a teen. Just sort of watched it because it was on. There's a lot of violent humor. Some pokes at foreigners, and generally other jokes that can funny to downright annoying. This show highly depends on the viewer. I can't say for sure if it's good or bad for children because the jokes vary so much. Some of the parodies will fly over the heads of kids nowadays, but can still be enjoyed.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Amanda Bynes (who also stars in What I Like About You) headlines her own comedy variety show composed of skits like "Judge Trudy," a skewering caricature of the infamously sharp Judge Judy of daytime TV; "Moody's Point," a parody of teen dramas like Dawson's Creek; and various commercial spoofs.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7):
Kids say (26):

Violence has a deeply rooted history in slapstick comedy -- The Three Stooges made it into an art form back in the 1940s. But for young viewers, violence like that found in THE AMANDA SHOW is disturbing precisely because it is the point of the skit, rather than a side note. This is certainly not a show to relax with, as it is so chaotic and loud that the effect is unsettling.

Some questions that are raised here have to do with desperation and parody. There is a sense in the show that nothing is sacred and nobody is safe from being ridiculed or being subjected to play violence. For adults this may be appropriate, but for young audiences, it's hard to know what is acceptable and what is off-color. What will people do for a laugh? What do we gain or lose when people are made fun of or hurt for laughter's sake? Is extreme anger funny or scary? How does it feel to watch family members yell and scream, even when it is supposed to be funny? The Amanda Show treats these issues as non-issues, which is exactly why parents should take the time to view this show with their kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the difference between being funny and being crude. Can a joke be successful without disrespecting the participants? Does hitting someone in the head with a computer console make for good laughs? How does it feel when someone makes fun of another person's accent or cultural background?

TV Details

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