Help me find TV Shows (Live Action) for tween boys
July 10, 2013 7:19 AM Subscribe
My tween boy has been looking for live-action television shows that are boy-orientated to watch in the hour or two he watches tv on any given night. He's watched Kickin it, Lab Rats, Pair of Kings, etc. What else is there?
Hi all,
My tween boy has been looking for television shows that are more live-action, and less animated to watch in the hour or two he watches tv on any given night. He's watched Kickin it, Lab Rats, Pair of Kings, etc. and those seem to be what he is looking for more of.
I've managed to get him Ned's Declassified, and even You Can't Do That on Television via Amazon on demand and Netflix.
(He's REALLY into Ned's right now).
Are there any other shows, past or present that you can recommend for him to try out?
I'm not really against animation (heck, Phineas and Ferb are fantastic) but he's at the age where he needs to see more live-action interaction to help with social skills I think.
Tnx
Hi all,
My tween boy has been looking for television shows that are more live-action, and less animated to watch in the hour or two he watches tv on any given night. He's watched Kickin it, Lab Rats, Pair of Kings, etc. and those seem to be what he is looking for more of.
I've managed to get him Ned's Declassified, and even You Can't Do That on Television via Amazon on demand and Netflix.
(He's REALLY into Ned's right now).
Are there any other shows, past or present that you can recommend for him to try out?
I'm not really against animation (heck, Phineas and Ferb are fantastic) but he's at the age where he needs to see more live-action interaction to help with social skills I think.
Tnx
I find the Disney live-action shows pretty insufferable, but if he likes it then he might like The Suite Life, The Suite Life on Deck, and Zeke and Luther. Also see if he goes for Malcolm in the Middle--you might get lucky and find something there that you can both enjoy, which is difficult in that age range.
posted by drlith at 7:29 AM on July 10, 2013
posted by drlith at 7:29 AM on July 10, 2013
Oh, yeah, I forgot Drake & Josh, which features high-school age characters but I remember my daughter watched the heck out of it when she was 11/12, and is actually pretty watchable.
posted by drlith at 7:40 AM on July 10, 2013
posted by drlith at 7:40 AM on July 10, 2013
Doctor Who!
posted by Hanuman1960 at 7:49 AM on July 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Hanuman1960 at 7:49 AM on July 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks guys... some more info that might help... he has tried the other standard Disney stuff a bit (Suite Life, Zeke and Luthor) and it hasn't caught his imagination so far... although, I'll try Drake and Josh.
He loves Doctor Who, Sarah Jane Adventures, and Wizards vs Aliens, but sadly, those are all in hiatus or no longer made (and to be honest, while he likes some of the classic Who, it's not quite as easy for him to watch as he's used to the Daleks being able to go up stairs in the latest series LOL).
I'll try Animorphs! great suggestion!
posted by niteHawk at 7:55 AM on July 10, 2013
He loves Doctor Who, Sarah Jane Adventures, and Wizards vs Aliens, but sadly, those are all in hiatus or no longer made (and to be honest, while he likes some of the classic Who, it's not quite as easy for him to watch as he's used to the Daleks being able to go up stairs in the latest series LOL).
I'll try Animorphs! great suggestion!
posted by niteHawk at 7:55 AM on July 10, 2013
Best answer: MacGyver? I just discovered that it's on amazon prime now.
posted by instamatic at 8:05 AM on July 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by instamatic at 8:05 AM on July 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I don't know most of the shows you listed so forgive me if this suggestion doesn't line up with what you're looking for, but I've been watching Malcolm in the Middle with my 11 year old boy and we both love it. Brian Cranston is every bit as good as Hal as he is playing Walter White on Breaking Bad. Such a fun show.
posted by bondcliff at 8:10 AM on July 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 8:10 AM on July 10, 2013 [2 favorites]
If he's into Ned's, he should definitely have a look at Drake and Josh, which is more like Ned's than The Suite Life is. He might also like iCarly or possibly Victorious. And I'll nth Malcolm.
If you want to add in a little reality TV from time to time, Destroy Build Destroy is fun.
This is going to sound like a weird suggestion, but...my rather cynical tween-aged kid who loves all the shows I've mentioned so far, is also really into Leave It to Beaver. The show is almost entirely about social mores, some antiquated and some not, and I think that's what has her hooked.
posted by gnomeloaf at 8:24 AM on July 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you want to add in a little reality TV from time to time, Destroy Build Destroy is fun.
This is going to sound like a weird suggestion, but...my rather cynical tween-aged kid who loves all the shows I've mentioned so far, is also really into Leave It to Beaver. The show is almost entirely about social mores, some antiquated and some not, and I think that's what has her hooked.
posted by gnomeloaf at 8:24 AM on July 10, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh, also when he was ten we watched the first couple seasons of The Dukes of Hazzard. It's as stupid as you remember, and every show basically has the same plot, but he loved the heck out of it. At one point, during a car chase, he turned to me and said "THIS IS THE BEST SHOW EVER!"
We both got bored of it eventually, but it was fun for a little while.
posted by bondcliff at 8:44 AM on July 10, 2013
We both got bored of it eventually, but it was fun for a little while.
posted by bondcliff at 8:44 AM on July 10, 2013
Oh, Ned's! Such a great show. I wish that it was still on the air.
I liked iCarly a lot more than Drake & Josh...it just seemed funnier and more well-written.
posted by DRoll at 8:58 AM on July 10, 2013
I liked iCarly a lot more than Drake & Josh...it just seemed funnier and more well-written.
posted by DRoll at 8:58 AM on July 10, 2013
My tween boy likes Top Gear (both the UK and US versions) and Mythbusters.
posted by Lucinda at 9:56 AM on July 10, 2013
posted by Lucinda at 9:56 AM on July 10, 2013
Freaks and Geeks? He's probably a little too young yet, but maybe not. I mean it's pretty light on car chases and cool boy stuff, but it's fantastic for seeing other kids dealing with social skills-related issues that are coming at them fast.
posted by Naberius at 10:43 AM on July 10, 2013
posted by Naberius at 10:43 AM on July 10, 2013
The Aquabats! Super Show! is really good, but since I'm not a parent I'm not sure if that's aimed at tweens or a bit younger. I'm 48 and I love it, if that means anything.
posted by InfidelZombie at 11:21 AM on July 10, 2013
posted by InfidelZombie at 11:21 AM on July 10, 2013
Response by poster: Wow! GREAT suggestions! How I forgot Boy meets world... ("TO-PANGA!") I don't know.. MacGuyver is a great idea! Destroy Build Destroy looks cool! and Let;s be honest, Top Gear is just a great show!
posted by niteHawk at 11:49 AM on July 10, 2013
posted by niteHawk at 11:49 AM on July 10, 2013
Best answer: I'm not sure how far into tweendom your son is but my son (12 going on 13) loves:
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Anime: Naruto, Hikaru No Go, Inuyasha, Prince of Tennis
- Top Gear, Destroy Build Destroy, Mythbusters, Ancient Aliens, Gold Rush, Bering Sea Gold
- Blue Water High (australian show about surfers)
posted by LittleMy at 1:24 PM on July 10, 2013
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Anime: Naruto, Hikaru No Go, Inuyasha, Prince of Tennis
- Top Gear, Destroy Build Destroy, Mythbusters, Ancient Aliens, Gold Rush, Bering Sea Gold
- Blue Water High (australian show about surfers)
posted by LittleMy at 1:24 PM on July 10, 2013
Best answer: Horrible Histories is just great, and many episodes are available in full on Youtube.
posted by goo at 1:31 PM on July 10, 2013
posted by goo at 1:31 PM on July 10, 2013
Is he into shootin'? I say this as by far the most pro–gun control person alive, but Top Shot (on the History Channel) is seriously amazing. It's a reality contest show for high-level marksmanship, and it's shockingly fun to watch. (Again, I'm suuuuper super into gun control, no one should have guns at home, the NRA is Satan, etc etc, I have literally never seen a gun not on a gun range, so liberal am I.) But on a controlled range, with trained and gifted markspeople, under specific conditions — nothing *ever* seems like shooting at a living creature — this show is seriously THE BEST THING EVER, AND EVERYTHING BLOWS UP. Shoot a jug full of gumballs from a mile away! Try these Annie Oakley–style trick shots with old-timey pistols! Good god, I just cannot get enough.
posted by Charity Garfein at 11:15 PM on July 10, 2013
posted by Charity Garfein at 11:15 PM on July 10, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tilde at 7:27 AM on July 10, 2013