Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Toon finds humor in girl's over-the-top behavior.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Mighty B!
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 36 kid reviews
Kids say the show features an energetic young girl aiming to become a superhero, which some find inspirational, but many criticize it for poor animation, unappealing humor, and annoying characters. While a few viewers enjoy its silliness and humor, the overall consensus leans heavily towards it being forgettable and lacking quality.
- funny moments
- poor animation
- annoying characters
- mixed reviews
- inspirational themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
For Bessie Higgenbottom (voiced by Amy Poehler), being a Honeybee scout is the greatest privilege in the world. She proudly dons her uniform every day, she hangs out in the hive-shaped fort she constructed from Popsicle sticks and macaroni, and she's always on the lookout for opportunities to add to her record-breaking badge collection in pursuit of her ultimate goal -- to become a superhero called the Mighty Bee. With help from her dog, Happy (Dee Bradley Baker); her pesky little brother, Ben (Andy Richter); and her imaginary friend, Finger, Bessie takes on the world's daily challenges with unparalleled exuberance and optimism.
Is It Any Good?
It's pretty unlikely that any show with Saturday Night Live funny lady Poehler on board not just as a star but also a co-creator wouldn't garner chuckles from its audience, and young tweens will likely enjoy Bessie's outlandish, fantasy-fueled adventures -- which are fast-paced and, on the surface, entertaining.
But Bessie is fairly one-dimensional; her single-minded devotion to badge acquisition (which she often pursues by pestering both adults and her peers to get her way) means that her social skills suffer. Plus, the show maintains a chaotic pace, and there are no real attempts to teach strong positive lessons. While Bessie's dedication to her goal could theoretically be considered admirable, the show makes light of her disregard for her adoring younger brother's feelings and her lack of real friends (in favor of an imaginary pal she draws on her finger and her reluctant dog sidekick). You have to wonder -- are those the makings of a truly mighty hero?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about setting and achieving goals. What do you think of Bessie's goal to be the Mighty Bee? Does it seem like something she can realistically achieve? Why or why not? What are some of your lifelong goals? How do you plan to achieve them? Do you have any role models who inspire you? Who are they? Families can also discuss Bessie's behavior. Is asking for something over and over really the best way to get it? How do you think people would react to Bessie in real life? Does exaggerating behavior make it funny? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 26, 2008
- Cast : Amy Poehler , Andy Richter , Dee Bradley Baker
- Network : Nickelodeon
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 10, 2025
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