The Awesomes
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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 The Awesomes is an adult-oriented cartoon that's fraught with strong language and sexual undertones. Men contemplate women's genitalia and check out their butts and breasts, though most of the dialogue is suggestive rather than explicit. There's also some racial stereotyping evident in the speech and mannerisms of African-American and Asian characters. That said, because the show is intended for an older audience, adults will put the content in context and enjoy the series' funny spin on classic superhero stories and the coming of age of the story's underdog protagonist.
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What's the Story?
THE AWESOMES opens with the retirement of Mr. Awesome (voiced by Steve Higgins), the longtime leader of a team of elite superheroes. His departure opens the door for his less-than-awesome son, Prock (Seth Meyers), to take over the job, but Prock's incompetent track record sends the top-notch heroes fleeing the scene. Determined to prove himself and to return the Awesomes to their former glory, Prock and his sidekick, Muscleman (Ike Barinholtz), set out to recruit the next best team, but what they get is a group of B-listers with quirky personalities and some serious shortcomings. Can this team of misfits get it together enough to take on the likes of Dr. Malocchio (Bill Hader) and the city's other scheming villains?
Is It Any Good?
Created by comic pros Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker, The Awesomes is a superhero cartoon you'll want to keep to yourself rather than sharing with your kids, thanks to the frequent strong language and suggestive sexiness between the guys and gals. But what this mature content does is ensure a viewer pool that will most fully appreciate the show's brand of comedy at the hands of funny man Meyers, whose animated alter ego stars as the unlikely heroes' hero, Prock.
But The Awesomes is more than just a laughable spoof of classics like Super Friends populated by offbeat characters with little in common. It's also to some degree a story about destiny and courage and a lesson in that oft-quoted relationship between the whole and the sum of its parts. Not that this is what grown-ups are looking for from their time spent with a cartoon, but it is a nice bonus in an all-around enjoyable series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of a cartoon intended for adults. Would this series have worked as well in live-action? What qualities does animation allow that suit this story?
Teens: Was this show's content excessive for your age group? Have you seen/heard worse? Does this kind of content make you more accepting of its likeness in the real world?
Parents can talk with teens about their rules regarding media use. Teens: In what capacity do you use devices like laptops, smart phones, and tablets? What about TV? Is your use restricted in any way? What dangers exist, and how do you protect yourself from them?
TV Details
- Premiere date: August 1, 2013
- Cast: Bill Hader, Ike Barinholtz, Seth Meyers
- Network: Hulu
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Superheroes
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
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Superhero spoof works for kids and adults.
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