Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bizarre 'toon gets laughs with absurdity, gross-out humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Uncle Grandpa
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 69 parent reviews
Parents say the show is polarizing, with many reviews expressing concerns about its appropriateness for children due to its bizarre humor, strange character dynamics, and perceived lack of positive messages. While some viewers appreciate its wacky, absurdist style and argue it promotes acceptance and creativity, a significant number believe the content is too disturbing or inappropriate for younger audiences, associating it with problematic themes and poor role models.
- bizarre humor
- inappropriate for children
- promotes creativity
- mixed opinions
- lack of positive messages
- absurdist style
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 108 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a bizarre mix of humor, appealing mainly to older children and some adults, yet it's criticized for its odd, often grotesque content that many find inappropriate and annoying. While some appreciate its imaginative elements and silly comedy, a significant number consider it disturbing, lacking educational value, and unfit for younger audiences due to excessive potty humor and surreal storylines.
- bizarre humor
- appropriate for older kids
- imaginative elements
- excessive potty humor
- disturbing content
- not educational
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
UNCLE GRANDPA follows the exploits of Uncle Grandpa (voiced by Pete Browngardt) –- said to be the uncle and grandpa of everyone in the world -– as he travels around the world in an RV keeping tabs on kids and helping him solve their problems. He's joined by his trusty fanny pack, Belly Bag (Eric Bauza), holder of all things necessary in their adventures; Mr. Gus (Kevin Michael Richardson), the tough-talking dinosaur who's the muscle of the operation; Pizza Steve (Adam Devine), a smooth-talking slice of pepperoni pizza; and Uncle Grandpa's pet, Giant Realistic Flying Tiger, who often doubles as a mode of transportation for the crew.
Is It Any Good?
Uncle Grandpa falls in step behind the likes of Adventure Time with Finn and Jake and Chowder as another example of Cartoon Network's proclivity for bizarre, grotesque, but ultimately enticing cartoons. His moniker is a joke within itself, since he's the comical extension of the stereotypical crazy uncle, but his gags take the old "Pull my finger" crack to new heights. This guy is like the Garbage Pail Kids version of Inspector Gadget –- he can remove body parts, eat them himself or feed them to his pet tiger, propel objects from his navel, and play basketball with his pliable belly. It's not exactly appetizing, and he's a little nuts, but it's the kind of wacky humor that, for better or worse, is sure to draw crowds.
Certain visual aspects of the series show an imaginative departure from the common cartoon. The animation style incorporates pictures in clever ways, not only in whole forms (as with Giant Realistic Flying Tiger), but also in parts of the cartoon characters in an intriguing way. Even so, it can't compensate for a severe lack of substance deserving of kids' time in this quirky show.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why this show –- and others like it –- employ bathroom humor. Do you like gross-out laughs? Did any of these go too far?
Kids: Does any of this show's content reflect the reality of your life? Would Uncle Grandpa's tactics for solving problems work for you? Do you think the show is meant to be realistic in any way? Why or why not?
Who are some of the more "colorful" people in your life? What makes you different from them? How do you find common ground with different types of people? How can our differences be a strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 2, 2013
- Cast : Adam Devine , Kevin Michael Richardson , Pete Browngardt
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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