The Weekenders

TV review by Andrea Graham, Common Sense Media
The Weekenders Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 9+

Toon tweens are funny, but awfully shallow.

Toon Disney Kids' Animation 2000
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 5 reviews

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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 this cartoon is squarely aimed at tweens who can't wait to be a little bit older. Featuring jokes that involve celebrity disses, subtle put downs, and even a few iffy words ("crap" is about as bad as it gets), it's not really for the younger set. The main characters' only goal seems to be to have as much fun -- and do as little homework -- as possible. Nevertheless, there are some decent take-aways about the importance of honesty, loyalty, and patience when it comes to friendship.

Community Reviews

MyNameIsBeaver
MyNameIsBeaver Adult
April 18, 2013
age 10+

Shallow? No way, it's anything except any synonym for bad

Shallow? Shallow? I say a show is shallow if it has only lasted for a year or less! This lasted 4 years, and it had no bad words, drinking, or sex innuendo. It has good life lessons you can learn and there is possible flirting or hitting, but it's light and there is no blood at the end. The jokes are really different then the ones today, they seem like they are funnier, but I still don't laugh. I absolutely love the imagination in changing the themes of the pizza place and showing the days of the week with the kids introducing it and giving you background knowledge, I don't really find the kids "having no homework" an issue, Common Sense Media, you should stop looking at little details. It's wholesome clean fun, the only bad thing I have to say is that this should have kept going, It motivated kids to go outside and play with their friends.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
nduns
nduns Adult
October 18, 2011
age 9+

Wow, to say you guys are ignoring messages would be an understatement

Okay, where do I begin, CS? First off, the characters putting each other down is usually meant to be in good fun. Like it or not, there are a lot of people in REAL LIFE who talk to each other like that. They don't usually get offended by it either. As for their desire to be cool, there's only one character who fits that description, and that's Carver. Everyone else is fully confident being him/herself. I'm getting the impression you watched that episode where Carver becomes accepted by the cool kids and based the ENTIRE series off of that. Furthermore, wow, how did you guys miss the messages in this show? Not only does every episode contain a life lesson, but to make sure kids know what to pick up on, they end every episode with a character summarizing the lesson. (Most of the time, it's Tino) I mean, wow, it couldn't be more clear. Also, when is the word "crap" ever used? I've watched every episode and they NEVER say that! I love how you guys sometimes make things up just to complain. As for the show itself, it's hilarious, watch it. I'm done.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE WEEKENDERS seems a lot like the hit '90s sitcom Saved by the Bell, considering that it's about a group of cool kids -- Tino Tonitini (voiced by Jason Marsden), Lor McQuarrie (Grey DeLisle), Carver Descartes (Phil LaMarr), and Petrotishkovna "Tish" Katsufrakis (Kath Soucie) -- who hang out in southern California trying to find the shortest possible route to the most awesome weekend fun. Each episode starts off on a Friday afternoon and ends on Sunday evening. In between, the gang heads to the beach, the movies, and the arcade where they find a good time and simultaneously learn about themselves and about friendship.

Is It Any Good?

While The Weekenders certainly offers some laughs, they're often at the expense of someone else -- mostly because Tino, Carver, Tish, and Lor are obsessed with looking cool. In one episode, for example, Tish has styled her hair in a way that the group disapproves of, so they try to hide her away from her classmates to "save" her from embarrassment and humiliation. That may be an accurate reflection of how some teens act, but it's not the best message about what really matters in friendships (true friends shouldn't care what you look like).

Yes, they're a bit shallow (and they could use some friendship tips). But tween viewers who are savvy enough to look past all that will hopefully get the jokes about the petty nature of popularity and coolness and may enjoy the misadventures of their cartoon peers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about friendships. What does it mean to be a good friend? Have kids ever felt caught in the middle between two friends? How did that make them feel? What's peer pressure, and how does it affect friendship? How do you think friendships might change during the teen years?

TV Details

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