Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the uncomfortable truth: You Can't Do That on Television is a piece of TV history that's more interesting to read about than actually watch in 2025.

Yes, it invented the slime. Yes, it launched careers. Yes, it has an 8.1 on IMDb from people rating it through rose-colored nostalgia glasses. But this show is 45+ years old, shot on video that looks like your parents' wedding tape, with sketch comedy pacing that feels glacial by modern standards.

The content itself is fine—silly, harmless slapstick with kids getting slimed and making jokes about adults being dumb. Nothing offensive or inappropriate. But 'fine' doesn't mean 'watchable.' Modern kids are used to the rapid-fire editing of YouTube, the production values of Disney+, and humor that's evolved significantly since 1979.

If you're a Gen X parent feeling nostalgic, go ahead and queue up an episode for old times' sake. Your kids might humor you for a few minutes. But don't expect them to ask for more. This one's for the history books, not the watch list.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media says 7+, which tracks for content safety, but realistically this is for nostalgic parents who want to show their kids 'what we watched back in the day'—and those kids will politely tolerate about 10 minutes of it before asking for Bluey.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

68

Sketch comedy format with pre-teen and teen actors modeling age-appropriate humor. Known for slapstick elements like the iconic slime, which is silly rather than mean-spirited. However, some sketches featured mild anti-authority humor and occasional gross-out comedy that, while not harmful, isn't particularly modeling cooperation or kindness. The show's tone was generally playful rather than cynical.

Imaginative

72

Pioneering sketch comedy format that introduced the iconic Nickelodeon slime concept and launched careers of notable creatives. Each episode had a theme, encouraging varied comedic scenarios. The show's originality in the late 70s/early 80s was significant, though by modern standards the format feels derivative since it's been copied so many times. Limited evidence of encouraging viewer creativity or building, more focused on entertainment.

Safe

78

Common Sense Media rates it for age 7+, suggesting age-appropriate content. No evidence of graphic violence, sexual content, or serious trigger warnings. The show's main 'edgy' elements were getting slimed and water dumped on cast members—classic slapstick. Some mild gross-out humor and anti-adult jokes typical of kids' comedy. IMDb rating of 8.1 suggests positive reception without major content concerns. Kids mode available on Paramount+.

Enriching

52

Primarily entertainment-focused sketch comedy with limited educational or developmental value. While it showcased young performers and might inspire kids interested in comedy or performance, there's little evidence of meaningful skill-building, ethical growth, or deeper takeaways. The show was successful entertainment but not designed to teach or enrich beyond laughs.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Historical curiosity: This literally created the green slime that became Nickelodeon's signature, so there's genuine TV history here
Launched Alanis Morissette's career before 'Jagged Little Pill' was even a thought
Sketch comedy format with actual kids performing might appeal to young performers or comedy nerds
Innocent slapstick humor without modern cynicism—genuinely trying to be silly rather than edgy

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What to Watch For

Let's be real: this is borderline unwatchable for modern kids. The pacing is slow, the video quality is VHS-era, and the humor is deeply, deeply 1979
Some mild gross-out humor and anti-authority jokes (kids outsmarting dumb adults) but nothing actually problematic
Your kid will probably ask to turn it off within 5 minutes unless they're really into retro media or you're watching together for nostalgia reasons

Conversation Starters

"What do you think is funnier—the jokes in this show or the stuff you see on YouTube today?"
"Can you believe this is what kids thought was hilarious when Grandma was young?"
"If you were making a sketch comedy show for kids today, what would you do differently?"

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