The Whitest Kids U' Know
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.
Suggest an Update
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 sketch comedy series finds humor in extreme violence and explicit sexual situations. Expect plenty of references to sex using both words and gestures; many skits also feature graphic and gory violence, including impalements, stabbings, shootings, exploding heads, and more. The amount of swearing varies by skit -- some have virtually none, while others are filled with bleeps. There are also some references to drugs and drinking. Older teens might find it all funny, but younger kids won’t get the jokes and are likely to be put off by the content.
Community Reviews
Controversial sketches + cursing = 17+
Report this review
Hillarious!!! But Parents Be Warned!!!
Report this review
What's the Story?
THE WHITEST KIDS U’ KNOW might also be some of the strangest guys you know. The five members of this New York troupe specialize in the weird, the wacky, and the outrageous, and their sketch comedy series straddles the line between funny and offensive. Many of the routines mine laughs from overtly sexual situations and graphic violence, though the results sometimes fall short (or perhaps go far wide) of the mark.
Is It Any Good?
The Whitest Kids U' Know pushes the edge of "acceptable" to the limits -- and when it works, it can be quite funny. For example, a group of revolutionaries who come to blows arguing over who has to make T-shirts and who must tend the nuclear reactor core is a sharp statement on the lunacy of anarchy.
But other skits aim far lower and can be plain old crude -- and/or needlessly violent, such as a sketch about a reality show that encourages participants to commit suicide. The Whitest Kids are clever, but they don’t always know when they're going too far.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about subversive comedy. Some of the best comedy comes from upsetting the status quo, but it’s easy to cross the line from funny to offensive. Do you think this show is funny, or do some sequences go too far? Who decides what "too far" is to begin with?
Some of these skits, with exploding heads, impalements, and explicit sequences, are as gory as any slasher movie. Does violence have a different impact when it’s played for laughs?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 20, 2007
- Cast: Sam Brown, Trevor Moore, Zach Cregger
- Network: IFC
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 24, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love comedy
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate