Kids Say the Darndest Things
Kids Say the Darndest Things is an American comedy series originally hosted by Art Linkletter from 1959-1967, and then later reprised by Bill Cosby on CBS as hour-long specials on May 16 & November 14, 1997, followed by a weekly series from January 9, 1998, to June 23, 2000. A revival hosted by Tiffany Haddish aired on ABC from October 6, 2019, to January 19, 2020. ABC cancelled the revival after one season.[1] However, the revival moved to CBS, its original network, from May 5 to June 23, 2021, with Haddish returning as host.[2][3]
Kids Say the Darndest Things
Morris Abraham
Bruce Miller
United States
English
5
92
- Eddie Kritzer
- Bill Paolantonio
- Art Linkletter
Eric Schotz
- 22–24 minutes
- 60 minutes (with commercials)
LMNO Productions (1997–2000)
Linkletter/Atkins/Kritzer Productions Inc. (1998–2000)
CBS Productions (1997–2000)
Anvil 1893 Entertainment, Inc. (2019–21)
She Ready Productions (2019–21)
CBS Studios (2019–21)
May 16, 1997 –
June 23, 2000
October 6, 2019 –
June 23, 2021
Premise[edit]
The host would begin a conversation by posing a question about life topics to a child, who usually responds with their own innocent, often comedic perspectives on the various topics.[4][5]
In the show's first inception, it would sometimes flash back to the 1950s and 1960s show Art Linkletter's House Party, with Cosby joined onstage by Art Linkletter, that show's host, to introduce the vintage clips. It would show kids (of the time), their same comedic reactions to whatever Linkletter would ask or say to them. Cosby also provided some of the humor in the show.[4]
The revival continued the premise, with part of the show performed in front of a live audience, and the rest featuring taped segments.[6]
In other media[edit]
The subplot of the Family Guy episode "Brian Does Hollywood" features Stewie auditioning for the show in an attempt to hypnotize the entire world using a mind-control device, with Cosby later unwittingly foiling his plans.
In 2005, Robert Johnson and Albert Evans adapted the show into a full-length musical comedy.