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Review on 'The Amanda Show' -Nickelodeon
While watching over four children, I do child care for one evening, across the Nickelodeon channel came, "The Amanda Show." Amanda Bynes, a regular on "All That", stars on Nickelodeon as herself. I had found "All That" very obnoxious, loud and rude. "The Amanda Show" is no less true and normally, after viewing it in mere seconds and finding it distasteful, I switch the channel to a more appropriate program, amidst the cries of "Why?" , but I decided, since it was nearly their bedtime, I would let them watch it in its entirety. I came away feeling disappointed and angry at the network for airing this program. Let me make it clear that I have nothing against Nickelodeon in general. They offer many great programs for children, I just question their judgment in releasing this show, that's all.
In this particular episode, it opened with Amanda, who is actually a really pretty girl, in her elegant attire. She introduced her show, but then the scenes switched to the "hickish" acting- where she's wearing fake horrible teeth, in farm clothes, with her high pitched voice screaming across the audience.
That was just annoying. What angered me was the disrespect this show displays to parents and adults in general. I was shocked at the violence displayed-she thinks nothing of smacking someone over the head and getting a good laugh, or dropping from a plane in a parachute, through the roof of a building and landing on the stage "Just fine".
As another scene opened, she and her "family" the "Klutzes" proceed to wreck their home, stumbling over a couch, causing a lamp to break into a million pieces, dropping fine china as if there was no value at all, sing-songing, with a shrug and a smile, "Not a Problem."
In another segment, called the Girls' Room, Amanda plays the role of Amber, the leader of a small clique of girls, who mistakenly believe themselves both important and popular. She and her "followers" were primping in the "washroom" when the first guest, the principal entered. "Amber" asked if she'd won the position as prom queen yet, to which he replied that the students hadn't voted yet and asked them to leave the room.
This greatly displeased Amber and she demanded that "Sheila", the more aggressive of the group, grab his arms and push his head into the toilet and "flush". We see the principal emerging with a wet head. Several "swirly" incidents happened in just this one segment.
What are we teaching our children with this program? That they can degrade, disrespect, talk back to, and poke fun at adult authorities? In most of Amanda's sketches, adults are depicted as bumbling idiots who get in the way of the kids' fun, which is most cases are just the parents giving out every day parental rules.
Do we want to teach our children that their homes and belongings are not to be held precious but can be trashed on a whim?
And what are we teaching our children, when a girl is hurt and demeaned because of a decision made for Prom Queen that doesn't go in their favor?
Bullying is bad enough and very real in America. Why must we add to and make it all the more appealing through our children's shows?
One concerned mother in Canada wrote the network, saying,
"This is very disturbing. My son and daughter are both 9 years old and have to deal with bullying at school. The thought that flushing a fellow student's head down a toilet is funny is NOT the right message to be sending to our children. Furthermore showing Amanda hurting another student because she didn't get the Prom Queen does not teach our children the proper morals.
Bullying is a serious issue, many children are hurt emotionally and physically, some have even been killed".
Listen to what parents, just like you, in America are saying.
One mother says of the Nickelodeon show- "I also do not care for this program. It is so difficult when the channels for "kids" have to be screened before you can let them watch."
Here's yet another parent who expresses her displeasure- "Another aspect of the show that really bothers me is the way Amanda speaks. Almost every character, even when she's being herself at the beginning and end of her show, is a put-on, shrilly, high-pitched sound -- a fingernails-on-a-chalkboard sound. I honestly can't be in the room when this show is on, which isn't often in our home, since my kids seem to be bothered by it, too."
"The Bottom Line- Incredibly bad acting and humor, no morals or respect."
From one parent to another, please be aware of what your children are watching. Granted, we can't help how society acts and puts out there for our kids, but we can be the role models they need and look up to for guidance. We can do our part by keeping degrading material like this out of our homes.
-- JH
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