Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Adolescent boy behavior at its worst.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Like Jackass, VIVA LA BAM, starring pro-skater Bam Margera, centers around naughty boy pranks. In one episode, he organizes a Civil War reenactment on his property, and on another, a demolition derby.
Is It Any Good?
Bam's obviously got a pretty large MTV-sponsored allowance, but his pranks are not that funny or creative. Along the way, there's lots of swearing, rowdy laughter, and mistreatment of Bam's ineffectual parents and uncle (In the derby episode, Bam and his friends take apart his uncle's car piece by piece, then, while planning out the derby, leave piles of dirt in the house for his mother to clean).
His adolescent behavior is all-the-more pathetic because he's close to 30 years old. But: the show's been on the air since fall of 2003, so it's obviously found a following. Perhaps that's what's truly pathetic: An immature, unimaginative jerk like Bam is currently what's cool amongst many young men in our culture. Sigh.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why kids might find this show appealing. What do you think of Bam? Is he someone to be looked up to? He's nearly 30 -- why is he still acting this way? Why are pranks shows so popular right now? How do shows like this influence young boys?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 26, 2003
- Cast : Bam Margera
- Network : MTV
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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