Kidding

:

Season 1
  • Network: SHOWTIME
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 9, 2018
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 102 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 79 out of 102
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 102
  3. Negative: 11 out of 102
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on
Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. jonnybgoode
    Sep 21, 2018
    4
    Depressing, predictable, obvious, dumb (and did I mention depressing? If you think 2 men having sex in a horse costume paraded in front of children is funny, have I got the show for you!) Basically everything Jim Carey has been doing all of his career. Not worth your time unless you already worship at the alter of Mr Carey.
  2. Idiota150
    Sep 15, 2018
    4
    Too painful to watch ... let me know if something crazy happens, and I might return. For now, bye bye to this show.
  3. McGillotine
    Sep 2, 2018
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. While you see that they're definitely building up to something in the long run the premiere episode of Kidding starring Jim Carrey is fairly mundane. Carrey stars as Jeff Piccirillo aka Mr Pickles a 'Mr Rogers' type character who struggles to grieve for his deceased son as his innocent and naive view of the world prevent him from processing his own anguish. As a result he becomes distant from his wife and surviving son and prefers to shy away from his grief and lose his sanity by by abandoning his Jeff identity who is sad and adapting the personality of his character Mr Pickles who is happy.

    Now this show is serviceable but its not exactly 'great television' and if the premiere episode is anything to go by, you can tell that the show will likely be extremely predicable. At the risk of being stoned to death i'll even argue that i didn't care much for Jim Carrey, sure there is some of the Jim Carrey essence here and there but it's not exactly him at his 'Truman show', 'Man on the Moon', 'Eternal sunshine' level. In fact he kinda looks bored from time to time like he didn't really care, though if we are judging by who looks like they don't give the biggest f*ck on this show it would have to go to Frank Langella hands down who seems like he is putting no effort in at all. Currently its difficult to really talk about the performances of the other characters considering there limited screen time in an already short 30 minute episode that really should have been 50 minute episode.

    On the brighter side props to the design crew however as the sets look terrific and add a genuine authenticity to the idea that this is a long withstanding children's show with memorabilia, puppets, and toys all given enough color and expression to really add depth to the show. Lyricists also deserve praise for the songs made for the show as they are both catchy and look as though they do belong in a Mr Rogers show.

    Kidding is an okay show but in its current state its forgettable television, nothing unexpected or amazing happens and everything happens as you imagine it would happen. Sure there are some good moments and some that try to make you sad and make you sympathize with the character by as it stands i'm just not invested in the show from a premiere episode that is supposed to 'wow' me and make me watch the whole season. I would recommend a watch of the first episode as its only 30 minutes so you can see if you like it, but this show still has a lot to prove.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Best TV Season of 2018
53
#53 Most Discussed TV Season of 2018
75
#75 Most Shared TV Season of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Richard Roeper
    Dec 14, 2018
    88
    Langella is a master of deadpan comic timing as Seb. ... Greer is equally wonderful as Jill, who tells Jeff being married to Mr. Pickles is like being Mrs. Santa Claus. Nobody cares about Mrs. Claus! And then there’s Jeff/Mr. Pickles, and what a pair they make. ... Carrey is brilliant.
    Read full review
  2. Reason.com
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Sep 22, 2018
    35
    None of this plays as interesting or funny as it sounds on the printed page. Carrey's Mr. Pickles is tortuously unappealing, a smiley-faced drip in need of a hard slapping. And Mr. Pickles' Puppet Time itself is on the screen, it's light years past unbearable.
    Read full review
  3. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Susan Kemp
    Sep 21, 2018
    75
    Kidding is taking audiences down a rabbit hole of emotions that’s as dotted with clever dialogue and sharp acting as it is with philosophical inquiry. Meaning that it’s worth getting lost inside Mr. Pickles’s brain as he figures out what the world has in store for him.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »