The Angry Video Game Nerd
TV Show • 2004 • Comedy
ReportThe Angry Video Game Nerd is an adult web television series of comedic retrogaming video reviews created by and starring James Rolfe. The show's format revolves around his commentary and review of older, but unsuccessful video games which are deemed to be of particularly low-quality, unfair difficulty or poor design.
The series began as a feature on YouTube and later became a program on ScrewAttack Entertainment before moving to GameTrailers exclusively. The show was renamed The Angry Video Game Nerd to prevent any trademark issues with Nintendo and due to the fact he started reviewing games from non-Nintendo consoles such as those made by Atari and Sega.
Rolfe's character, "The Nerd" is a short-tempered and foul-mouthed video game fanatic. He derives comic appeal from excessive and inventive use of anger, profanity, and habitual consumption of alcohol while reviewing video games.
A feature-length film, Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie, is expected to be released between 2013 and 2014.
This tv show contains 39 potentially triggering events.
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Your Triggers
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Unanswered Triggers
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Does someone attempt suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
80 supporters
Add comment
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Abuse
Is someone stalked?
22 supporters
Yes
3
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2
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OJAndToothpaste
In the horror themed episodes, this is a common trend.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there domestic violence?
National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233)
85 supporters
Add comment
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3
Yes
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Addiction
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Does someone abuse alcohol?
19 supporters
Yes
6
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Anonymous
The Nerd drinks loads of "Rolling Rock" beer to cope with the terrible games he reviews
1 comment | Add comment
Animal
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Are animals abused?
0 supporters
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Sibelos
Not sure if this counts, but Bugs Bunny is beaten up and then gets defecated on. Its pretty obvious its a man in a bugs bunny costume.
2 comments | Add comment
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4
Is there a dead animal?
116 supporters
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6
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Anonymous
Dead animals are referenced in the theme song.
1 comment | Add comment
Are rabbits harmed?
0 supporters
Yes
5
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Sibelos
Bugs bunny gets beat up and pooped on.
1 comment | Add comment
Does a cat die?
0 supporters
Yes
1
No
5
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OJAndToothpaste
No cats die in the series, however the real life passing of the Nerd's cat Boo is referenced in the Purr Pals episode.
2 comments | Add comment
Does a pet die?
171 supporters
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5
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OJAndToothpaste
Not in the show, but the Nerd's real life cat Boo passed away, which is referenced with a tribute in the Purr Pals episode.
1 comment | Add comment
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3
Are there spiders?
53 supporters
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1
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TodoketeKasane
There's Spider *Man*, but no actual arachnids as far as I'm aware
1 comment | Add comment
Are there snakes?
17 supporters
Yes
3
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0
OJAndToothpaste
The Nightmare on Elm Street episode has snakes as an in game enemy, and a gag where the Nerd slaps around a toy snake.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there sharks?
6 supporters
Yes
4
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Sibelos
In the super pitfall episode.
2 comments | Add comment
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3
Assault
Is rape mentioned?
94 supporters
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OJAndToothpaste
In the Sega 32X episode, and in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Revisited.
2 comments | Add comment
Is someone restrained?
30 supporters
Yes
3
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OJAndToothpaste
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Batman episodes have the Nerd tied up and forced to play shitty games.
1 comment | Add comment
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1
OJAndToothpaste
The Batman two parter ends with this
1 comment | Add comment
Are there jokes about sexual assault on men?
57 supporters
Yes
3
No
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1
OJAndToothpaste
Most notable example is the second half of the Batman episode.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
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OJAndToothpaste
No, but the Batman episode ends with the Joker getting the games shoved up his butt.
1 comment | Add comment
Bodily Harm
Is there shaving/cutting?
33 supporters
Yes
4
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2
Anonymous
The Nerd's clones are graphically murdered by Freddy Kreuger in a haloween episode.
1 comment | Add comment
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2
Is there decapitation?
41 supporters
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3
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OJAndToothpaste
In the Nightmare on Elm Street episode
1 comment | Add comment
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Yes
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3
Is someone buried alive?
32 supporters
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2
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OJAndToothpaste
Kind of? The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Revisited episode has a gag where the Nerd finds himself in Robert Louis Stephenson's grave.
1 comment | Add comment
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Yes
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Yes
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Is there genital trauma/mutilation?
92 supporters
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1
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0
TodoketeKasane
IIRC, the Nerd kicks Bugs Bunny in the crotch when they fight.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone become unconscious?
5 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
2
feckhead
The Nerd is knocked out in the "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Shrek: Fairy Tale Freakdown" episodes. Probably other ones too, but I can't remember
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
5
No
1
Does someone have a seizure?
10 supporters
Yes
0
No
3
1
feckhead
No, but references to characters in games having a seizure when glitching or jokes about flashing patterns in games making the Nerd feel like he's about to have a seizure are made frequently enough
1 comment | Add comment
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Is there eye mutilation?
102 supporters
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OJAndToothpaste
The Earthbound episode has the Nerd lose his eyes offscreen. Also referenced in the Drake and the 99 Dragons episode.
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone stabbed?
1 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
1
Sibelos
In the Nightmare on Elm Street episode
1 comment | Add comment
Is there excessive gore?
104 supporters
Yes
2
No
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Sibelos
A few episode do have gore, but it's very clearly fake. Some games he reviews also have gore.
2 comments | Add comment
Children
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Death
Does a major character die?
24 supporters
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3
No
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TodoketeKasane
The nerd himself dies in some episodes
1 comment | Add comment
Does a non-human character die?
0 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
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TodoketeKasane
The Purr Pals episode has a tribute to the Nerd's cat, Boo, who had passed away. An earlier example is episode 100, with the nerd fighting and killing ROB the Robot Kaiju style.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone die?
13 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
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OJAndToothpaste
Usually played for over the top comedy
1 comment | Add comment
Disability
Is the r-slur used?
30 supporters
Yes
6
No
2
5
Sibelos
In the rambo episode, the Nerd says "Now I feel bad. I feel like I picked on a r****d or somethin, like: 'What are you, r****ded?' 'Oh. I'm sorry.'" It's also used in the episode on the Halloween game.
4 comments | Add comment
Drugs/Alcohol
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3
Family
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3
Yes
0
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3
Is someone kidnapped?
7 supporters
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2
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2
1
OJAndToothpaste
Texas Chainsaw Massacre episode has the Nerd being kidnapped during the climax
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
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3
Fear
Are there ghosts?
8 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
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OJAndToothpaste
One of the Christmas specials parodies Charles Dickens' classic tale of Scrooge and his ghostly visitors.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there jump scares?
68 supporters
Yes
6
No
0
1
Sibelos
The first scene in the nintendo power episode has a pretty funny one.
2 comments | Add comment
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3
Are there clowns?
0 supporters
Yes
6
No
1
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Sibelos
The batman episode
1 comment | Add comment
Is someone possessed?
0 supporters
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3
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2
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OJAndToothpaste
Implied by the Polybius episode
1 comment | Add comment
Gross
Does someone vomit?
112 supporters
Yes
6
No
0
1
Sibelos
Particularly in the Toxic Crusader episode when Lloyd Kaufman is pooping on a video game cartridge.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone wet/soil themselves?
25 supporters
Yes
6
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0
1
OJAndToothpaste
Frequently, and on other things
2 comments | Add comment
Is there farting?
11 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
2
Sibelos
Anytime someone is defecating there is a sound of flatulence.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there on-screen pooping?
46 supporters
Yes
10
No
0
4
Sibelos
Particular examples include the Bugs Bunny episodes, Atari Jaguar, Toxic Avenger, and Nightmare on elm Street.
3 comments | Add comment
Does someone spit?
11 supporters
Yes
6
No
0
1
Sibelos
Both, in the rambo review he spits at the cartridge and in a few episodes he defecates on some games.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Large-scale Violence
Are there 9/11 depictions?
6 supporters
Yes
3
No
1
1
OJAndToothpaste
Sort of. The intro to the Die Hard episode has the Nerd draw comparisons between the box art (the game was released on the NES) and 9/11.
1 comment | Add comment
Law Enforcement
Yes
0
No
4
LGBTQ+
Are there transphobic slurs?
1 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
3
Sibelos
In the AVGN vs Nostalgia Critic video, the Critic calls the Nerd a "cow humping trans******". Worth noting that the Nerd is not trans.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
0
No
3
Loss
Is a priceless artifact destroyed?
7 supporters
Yes
3
No
1
1
OJAndToothpaste
Played for laughs in the Nintendo Championship episode with Pat the NES Punk, but it is only a prop.
1 comment | Add comment
Medical
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Yes
1
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2
Yes
0
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Yes
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3
Mental Health
Yes
3
No
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Sibelos
In one of the bible games episodes the Nerd rips his heart out for jesus, this very obviously fake.
1 comment | Add comment
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2
Yes
0
No
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Yes
3
No
0
Does someone have a meltdown?
8 supporters
Yes
6
No
0
2
Sibelos
Almost every episode has the Nerd go into a meltdown after playing a crappy game. They range from vulgar analogies to the nerd defecating on the game.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there misophonia?
31 supporters
Yes
2
No
2
0
TodoketeKasane
The Bart vs the World video has the nerd eating his boxers accompanied by exaggerated eating noises. As soon as he says "F*ck this sh*t, now I'm gonna eat my own shorts," mute or click off.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
1
No
2
Does someone say "I'll kill myself"?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
30 supporters
Yes
3
No
2
0
OJAndToothpaste
In some of the earlier episodes, the Nerd mentions games being bad enough that it makes him want to kill himself.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
1
No
2
Yes
0
No
3
Does someone die by suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
85 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
1
No
2
Noxious
Are there underwater scenes?
8 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
1
feckhead
In the "Ecco the Dolphin" episode
1 comment | Add comment
Is there shakey cam?
48 supporters
Yes
4
No
0
0
TodoketeKasane
Sometimes the Nerd will hrab the Camera and shake it.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Is there screaming?
16 supporters
Yes
4
No
0
1
OJAndToothpaste
At his angriest, the Nerd sometimes starts screaming with rage.
2 comments | Add comment
Is there obscene language/gestures?
8 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
2
Sibelos
It's what he's known for, a lot of f-bombs, middle fingers, vulgar metaphors and similes, and rare uses of c**t.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
No
0
Paranoia
Is someone watched without knowing?
14 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
2
feckhead
In the "Halloween" episode, Michael Myers watches The Nerd through the window without his knowledge
1 comment | Add comment
Is the fourth wall broken?
10 supporters
Yes
6
No
0
2
Anonymous
Review series with the host directly talking to the viewer.
1 comment | Add comment
Pregnancy
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
0
No
3
Are there babies or unborn children?
17 supporters
Yes
0
No
4
0
TodoketeKasane
More recent episodes will sometimes have the nerd mention his daughters (one video had him playing some of the Mario Maker levels they made, for example), but they are never shown on screen.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
0
No
3
Prejudice
Yes
0
No
4
Is there ableist language or behavior?
41 supporters
Yes
3
No
2
0
OJAndToothpaste
A bit more common in early episodes
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
5
No
0
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
1
No
2
Race
Is there blackface?
35 supporters
Yes
1
No
2
1
feckhead
While not intended as such, Mike Matei does wear brownface when dressed as a Klingon in the "Star Trek" episode
1 comment | Add comment
Religious
Is religion discussed?
1 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
3
Sibelos
In the bible games episodes.
2 comments | Add comment
Are there demons or Hell?
13 supporters
Yes
3
No
0
2
Sibelos
In the Super Mario Bros 3 episode. The devil shows up. The cartridge also says "your mother sucks c**ks in hell".
2 comments | Add comment
Sex
Are there nude scenes?
53 supporters
Yes
2
No
1
0
Sibelos
There are none, except for the Atari Porn games episode (though its only with atari graphics)
1 comment | Add comment
Is there bestiality?
87 supporters
Yes
0
No
4
2
Sibelos
Not on screen but in one episode the nerd says "I'd rather fuck a porcupine while shoving a cactus up my ass".
2 comments | Add comment
Is someone sexually objectified?
47 supporters
Yes
1
No
2
0
TodoketeKasane
There are a few jokes whenever a character is well endowed ("Here coms Mrs. Tits"), but nobody is actively sexually objectified.
1 comment | Add comment
Are there incestuous relationships?
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.4673
93 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Is there sexual content?
64 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
2
OJAndToothpaste
The Atari Porn episode is themed around sexually explicit Atari games
1 comment | Add comment
Sexism
Yes
1
No
2
Social
Yes
0
No
3
Spoiler
Is Santa (et al) spoiled?
6 supporters
Yes
0
No
4
0
TodoketeKasane
But the FFVI episode has the Nerd beating the stocking (pun intended) out of Santa after he trips and causes the Nerd's tv to unplug.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Vehicular
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
2
No
1
Does a plane crash?
1 supporters
Yes
6
No
1
3
Sibelos
In the iconic moment in the Top Gun episode, the Nerd shouts "ASSSS" after failing to land a plane.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
3
Violence
Yes
1
No
2
Yes
5
No
0
Yes
0
No
3
Is there gun violence?
1 supporters
Yes
5
No
1
1
Sibelos
In a good number of the games he covers. Some episodes even have him use the NES Zapper and other gun accessories.
1 comment | Add comment