Television Review: Hi-Jinks
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the kids and teens will sometimes
say things like "That sucks!" and "Oh my God!" when they
discover they've been duped. But the show's practical jokes are
innocent and fun, and the victims' enjoyment of the situation
is contagious, allowing viewers to laugh with them.
Families can talk about what it feels like to be the one in the
spotlight while everyone else is laughing. What does it take to
be a good sport? How should a person handle being the subject
of a joke? Families also can talk about being sensitive to the
feelings of others. When is it
not OK to get a laugh at someone's expense? How can we
know when a joke has been taken too far?
HI-JINKS provides a youthful spin on the old favorite TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes, putting kids and teens in the hot seat as jokes masterminded by parents are played on them. A typical episode finds the show's hostess posing as a scientist to introduce a 9-year-old boy to a telekinesis helmet. With the help of a props guy and a strong magnet hidden under a table, the unsuspecting victim becomes convinced that he has super powers and can make items move on the table. Another scenario tests the problem-solving skills of a group of girls who are made to believe that a box they moved into a room suddenly has grown too large to fit back through the doorway. It's impossible to resist chuckling as they scratch their heads at the mystery.
As opposed to MTV's popular show Punk'd, whose pranksters take their jokes to a new level of cruelty, Hi-Jinks uses a selection of simple, everyday tricks to earn its laughs. Simple, innocent tricks provide the show's humor, and it's fun and easy to laugh along with everyone involved. In addition, no prank pushes the limits of the kids' patience, so when the truth comes out, everyone enjoys an honest laugh.
Johnny TestCommon Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
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