TV Shows We Love: “Crash and Bernstein”

When I was a kid, my absolute favorite thing in the world was the Muppets. So the idea of a Muppet-style puppet coming to life to be my sidekick? Sounds cool to me. That’s the premise of Disney XD’s new combination live action/puppet show, Crash and Bernstein. Wyatt Bernstein (played by Cole Jensen) is the only male in his house and longs for a brother. After a trip to a “Build-A-Bestie” store, his creation comes to life in the form of Crash—a rude, outrageous bada**. In this world of tweens, Crash is the boy gone wild, the fun kid with no fear. He brings the chaos.

Cole Jensen as Wyatt

This show feels a bit old-fashioned, with actors playing “big,” their acting a bit on the theatrical side, but who cares? The cast is a game bunch and Crash is a junior division "Ted the bear" from the recent Seth MacFarlane surprise hit, Ted. Crash is all about fart jokes and other cheap laughs; in short, he’s your average tween boy. And this show really is for little boys. Parents will probably find this pretty juvenile. But it’s not for you; it’s for them. There’s even a warning at the top of the show that kids should not try Crash’s head-banging stunts.

At its best, Crash is all about facing your fears and going for the tween version of gusto. And the show’s theme song is worth a look. Love the way Crash raps “Crash and burn (bern)” as Wyatt shouts, “Stein!”:

It’s all silliness and fun; those last few years before kids have to buckle down and get ready for high school. In the mean time, let’s Crash and Bernstein!