Parents' Guide to

Uncle Grandpa

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Bizarre 'toon gets laughs with absurdity, gross-out humor.

TV Cartoon Network Kids' Animation 2013
Uncle Grandpa 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 11+

Based on 76 parent reviews

Birdynumnum
Birdynumnum Adult
January 3, 2022
age 8+

Wacky, off-the-wall fun!

I enjoyed watching this along with my 9 year old. We both loved it. It is something that would appeal to a person who likes wacky, bizarre humor and bendable reality!
1 person found this helpful.
Lysergic Cartoonamide
Lysergic Cartoonamide Adult
December 31, 2021
age 12+

Imagine complaining that a show meant for older kids in the first place isn’t great for your 5-7 year old.

The people complaining about their little kids watching this show are…I don’t know. Like someone else pointed out, not everything on Cartoon Network is for little children. I would agree that little kids shouldn’t watch this show but I’m not sure why they’re so angry about it. Yeah, it doesn’t teach anything, but that’s fine? Why can’t something just be fun to watch? Cartoons like this are what got me into drawing and making artwork when I was a kid and teenager. As far as the actual show, I wouldn’t put it up there with Regular Show or Adventure Time (also not meant for your five year olds and that is the bracket this program falls into) but it’s still good. The visual gags are pretty funny sometimes. And sometimes it does have some pretty dark humor. I actually think shows like this are a good bridge for siblings that aren’t super close in age because of this. A 17 year old and a 12 year old could hang out and watch this together, easy. I’m pretty sure this show is meant to be “stupid”. Believe it or not, some people love absurdist humor. I actually do think Uncle Grandpa and co aren’t the worst role models. They’re optimistic, they’re energetic, they’re fun, and being “weird” is pointed out but not necessarily a bad thing. As a former “weird kid”, I would have appreciated this show. But I’m a weird 28 year old now and I love it anyway. This show sends the message of acceptance of others. They aren’t making fun of mental disorders. Every character that could be seen as “mentally disordered” is accepted, loved, and supported. “Different, not lesser” would be the message. Characters may become frustrated with the quirks of each other but they never stop being loving. That’s a big deal if you’re a kid with low self-esteem, who may fear that because someone is upset with them that they are no longer cared about or liked. If your kids NEED to learn “lessons” from shows, I don’t know. Maybe turn on Dora the Explorer or something. Paw Patrol could be interpreted as authoritarian propaganda, therefore I would never allow kids in my care to watch it, yet it’s massively, insanely frigging popular. I’m not huge on the whole “old dude in a white van” thing but again, a kid who is OLD ENOUGH to actually watch this show would understand that Uncle Grandpa isn’t real. It’s supposed to be an RV anyway, not a “serial killer van” (see the video by Jon Lajoie if you haven’t, it’s funny). Times have changed - in 2021 the pedos aren’t in white vans, they’re online. I wonder how many of these people who probably grew up watching SpongeBob would feel about the Panty Raid episode, which is now taken down. Did that turn you into a predator who breaks into women’s houses to sniff their underwear? Teach your kids discernment. Teach them how to analyze things and think critically. Maybe stop relying on literal television to teach your kids lessons you should be teaching them? Just a thought.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 76 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (76 ):
Kids say (113 ):

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

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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