Parents' Guide to

Warren the Ape

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Cheeky puppet's bad behavior is a parent's nightmare.

TV MTV Comedy 2010
Warren the Ape 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 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Dad of the Year
Dad of the Year Adult
June 29, 2010
age 15+

Not for youngsters but great stuff for anyone else with a sense of humor

Great comedy and great lessons in life. Watch it weekly

This title has:

Too much swearing
Great messages
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In his own words, WARREN THE APE (voiced by series creator Dan Milano) used to be a "big star," a famous puppet who had it all. But he squandered it with sex, drugs, and alcohol, and now he's desperate for a comeback -- and a paycheck. Setting out on a reluctant journey to cleaner living, Warren recruits the services of real-life celebrity rehab specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky, who steers him toward the appropriate self-help groups. Meanwhile, Warren's assistant (Josh Sussman) carts him around the city to auditions and appointments with his talent agent (Susan Berger).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (4):

Fans of the short-lived adult puppet comedy Greg the Bunny -- which aired on Fox in 2002 -- will know exactly who Warren is. (In fact, they'd be able to tell you that his full name is Warren "The Ape" Demontague and that he's a veteran stage actor who's often forced to play second banana to much cuter characters.) But others might not see the humor in his penchant for potty talk, porn, and odd headgear (is it a swimming cap or part of a wrestling uniform?) -- particularly because he's a puppet. And puppets aren't supposed to say "f--k."

For adults who get the show's sharp satire of fame and celebrity, however, Warren the Ape dishes up some devilish laughs, along with celebrity cameos from the likes of Seth Green and Sarah Silverman. As for his puppet co-stars, Warren's ongoing rivalry with Snuggle Bear lookalike Chauncey the Bear is also ripe with comedic possibilities -- but it would be even better if Greg's Sesame Street-inspired Count Blah swooped in for a visit.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about satire and how it works as a comic tool. What types of shows is this series making fun of? Do the writers and performers ever take the joke too far?

  • What messages is the show sending about drug and alcohol abuse? What about sex addiction? Is it meant to be a show with a "message"? How can you tell?

  • What is the show saying about fame and celebrity? Did Warren cause his own problems, or were they brought about by overexposure in the media? Is it possible to leverage fame for positive purposes?

TV Details

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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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