My Bites and Bytes: Wondershowzen a dose of culture and crack

Are you the type of person that loves to see how far a show will go just to offend? Shows like “South Park,” “The Simpsons,” “Married With Children” and “Family Guy” all have tried (and succeeded many times) to shock viewers with non-PC humour. Well, throw all those shows out the window because if you want to see one of the most offensive things that is on TV (well, not in Canada), brace yourself for “Wondershowzen.”

If you've never heard of this show, think about it as a variety show, like the Muppets but without the special guest stars and on loads of crack, cocaine and booze. If you ever thought what it may be like to see the Muppets on crack, then this is your chance.

The show blends segments featuring lead puppet, Chauncey, and his friends with other cartoon shorts and live action segments. One twist here is that many of these segments involve kids who are probably six to seven years old. Yes, this is a kid's show, with kids, for adults. I have to say that I have no clue what parent would allow their kids to be a part of this raunchy, racist, anti-religious hodgepodge of sick and twisted content, but screw it, it brought me so many laughs that I practically pissed myself in between gasps of “they just didn't do that, did they?”

Each episode focuses on a certain topic, just like a regular kid's show. You can TRY to learn about Health, Nature, Space, the Ocean, Diversity, History and Patience. Mind you, the Diversity episode turns into a plot which features numbers who are Islamic and letters who are Jewish intertwined in a gang war that turns, how can I put it so this paper will print it….sexual? Don't blame me, I didn't write the show. You'll be amazed just how far this show pushes the limit.

One of my most favourite segments of this show includes a puppet named Clarence and his antics on the street where he harasses people. If there was mainstream merchandise from this show, the first thing I would buy is a Clarence puppet so I could do the same thing.

Season two is slated for release sometime in October and I'll definitely be picking it up to see if they can push the envelope even farther (though I doubt it). If you love to laugh and cry at the same time and are not easily offended, do yourself a favour and pick this two disc set up for about $25 bucks or at least go to youtube.com and search for some clips from the show (especially Clarence). This is a set that I'll watch over and over again by myself or put it on for guests who have no clue what they're in for. Great stuff. I love freedom of speech. 9.5 out of 10.