MTV2s Wonder Showzen has hit televisions again for its second season and is raising controversy with its cutting, graphic and adult humor.
Wonder Showzen, which is similar to a satire of Sesame Street, features puppets in every episode that ask pressing questions in relation to religion, politics and all of society. A scene such as a pooch that performs caesareans with his teeth has raised much controversy among viewers.
According to Entertainment Weekly the most controversial part of the show is Beat Kids. In Beat Kids, kids interview adults and participate in different skits with the puppets. One skit involved a young boy in a trench coat telling a senior citizen at a racetrack, “I do an impression of you… “Gamble, gamble, gamble, die.”
John Lee, co-creator of Wonder Showzen said, “We use children as chicken wire to block the bottles that would normally be thrown at us.”
Lauren Taylor, a sophomore English and communication major, said, “I’m familiar with the show but I won’t be watching it. The show has a negative influence on teens that are trying to form opinions about the world they don’t know yet. It’s shows like this that form a biased opinion and force young minds to make up their minds before they know what they are talking about.”
Co-creators of Wonder Showzen Vernon Chatman and Lee, 34-year-old college friends, met when making fun of a comedian performing at their dorm. They write and direct every episode together.
In a recent interview done by Entertainment Weekly Chatman said, “We do outrageous or shocking things, but it always has a clear satirical point.”
The same network family that brings Total Requested Live to MTV brings wonder Showzen to viewers.
Chatman said, “I think we’re actually lucky to be at MTV. The advantage of MTV is that they don’t have any scripted shows. MTV is all reality and videos.”
Wonder Showzen airs Fridays at 9:30 p.m. and the first season is now out on DVD.
Carolyn Roberts, a sophomore exercise science major, said, “It sounds like a typical show on TV. I would try to avoid watching it. I like more of an elevated type of humor.”
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