Parents' Guide to

The Kids in the Hall

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Cross-dressing + Canadians = classic sketch comedy laughs.

TV Syndicated Comedy 1988
The Kids in the Hall 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 15+

Based on 1 parent review

hamstergurl09
hamstergurl09 Adult
July 9, 2012
age 15+

Comedic Genius

I am absolutely in love with The Kids in the Hall! They are HILARIOUS. Their comedic timing and delivery is perfect. I honestly think they're close to Monty Python in quality, and Monty Python is the best of the best. Much of the material on the show was uncommon and even revolutionary at the time it came out. It is literally tragic that this show is largely forgotten at this point, and yet the rampantly unfunny SNL continues to air. As for stuff to look out for: pretty much whatever you'd expect from a sketch show- some sexual references, occasional violence and drinking. There are uncensored swears in the show, though, and not just "minor" swears. This would be best for teens and adults, and aspiring comedians everywhere.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

THE KIDS IN THE HALL is both the name of a Canadian sketch comedy group and their eponymous, Emmy-nominated TV show, which aired on CBC Television (and later in the United States on CBS and HBO) from 1988 to 1994. The group includes actor-writers Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson, who created a number of recurring skits and memorable characters and often dressed up in drag to portray women.

Is It Any Good?

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

It's curious that Foley is the only member of the Kids who ever found real crossover success in the United States, starring as a fish-out-of-water news director on the workplace sitcom NewsRadio and, later, voicing heroic ant Flik in A Bug's Life. Because going back to watch these old episodes, you realize just how funny the rest of the crew is. McKinney's hilarious head-crushing sketch remains a classic, and his portrayal of a strutting, squawking Chicken Lady is still funny years later.

Older teens, especially, might enjoy "discovering" this oft-forgotten gem, which feels decidedly subversive -- but, for the most part, surprisingly tame -- compared to mainstream sketch comedy fare like Saturday Night Live and MADtv. (Fun fact: SNL creator Lorne Michaels also served as the Kids' executive producer.) If your kids like what they see here, consider introducing them to Monty Python's Flying Circus, which aired some 20 years earlier. The similarities are delighfully obvious.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the group's brand of satire compares with other sketch comedy shows. Does the fact that the show was created by Canadians affect its content (such as the noticable absence of celebrity impersonations and pop-culture references)?

  • Do any of the skits feel outdated, or does the humor still feel fresh? Would you make any suggestions to update it for modern audiences?

  • Would the Kids be as funny if the group included female comedians? Why do we laugh when men dress in drag and impersonate women?

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.

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