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Testees: Season 1
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 9, 2008
  • Season #: 1
Metascore
37 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 12 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 7 out of 12
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  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    70
    There are people in this world who find flatulence mightily entertaining, and they should be happy here.
  2. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Tom Shales
    70
    The two-zany formula still works for movie after movie, and the occasional TV show. Case in point: Tonight's Testees, airing on the risk-happy FX network; the comedy doesn't push boundaries so much as trounce and trash them.
  3. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    60
    I don't know that there's a long-running series here--even the pilot runs out of steam before the end--but I did laugh several times.
  4. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    50
    In FX's Testees, viewers get a good premise gone sophomorically sideways.
  5. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    40
    The crass gags--some of which I laughed at--ultimately overwhelm everything else. Better to dole out the tastelessness carefully, so that each crude zinger has some value.
  6. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    37
    At least these comedies are upfront about what they are: Cheerfully raunchy shows that lean heavily on adolescent obsessions with bodily functions. If that's your thing, you may enjoy the deadpan Testees.
  7. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Ginia Bellafante
    30
    All of this might be vaguely defensible if "Testees" were trying to satirize the abuses of Big Pharma, or the limited opportunities for dumb white men, or really if it were trying to satirize anything at all. But it just sits there, inert, like a patient on a gurney.
  8. Salon
    Reviewed by: Heather Havrilesky
    30
    A show so strange and vile and stupid that I really wish I could strongly recommend it.
  9. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    20
    Testees probably shouldn't be considered part of the fall season, but let's be fair--it's as lousy as anything the broadcast nets have come up with.
  10. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    16
    It's horrible, horrible, horrible, and you will hate yourself for laughing--although I'm afraid you will.
  11. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    10
    Mostly, this is poor man's Farrelly brothers material, without the explosive wit or glee that would make the raunch irresistible, if not palatable to watch while eating.
  12. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    10
    There's no need to go any further. Testees makes "Kath & Kim" look smart and savvy, a nearly impossible feat.
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.6 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. desilva01
    10
    In a time dominated by ridiculous shows such as Two and a Half Men that only by the grace of God has somehow managed to find a place at the top of the most watched television shows, I am left in disbelief that a little slapstick humour like that of Testees has been met with so much displeasure, I hope that this show is given another chance because, at the end of the day, life can get you down and as silly as this show is, it makes you laugh, and that, after all, is all a comedy sets out to do. In that respect, Testees ticks all the right boxes.… Full Review »
  2. kpiv
    10
    Witty comedy with plenty of slap stick sprinkled on top. I can only hope that this show is brought back. This show is exactly what I hope to watch after a long day.… Full Review »
  3. DebraB
    10
    We were prepared to hate it. The only reason we tried it out was it aired after It's Always Sunny and we were on too much of a high from Sunny to turn off the tv. Over the weeks, we were strangely looking forward to Testees more than Sunny. Scenes that were so over the top you had to look away; calling a friend in the middle of an episode because we "couldn't believe that they can get away with that on tv??!!" And now it's canceled. Sure, bring another season of Big Brother. We need more important shows like Charm School. Shame on you FX. I always thought you were a step ahead of the other networks. It had witty writing & was deliciously raunchy. Shame on you for dumping it.… Full Review »
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