Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this series includes scenes in which mothers and their teenage daughters argue, as well as scenes in which the teens push the boundaries their parents have set for them. Some of the girls on the show have boyfriends, and in some episodes there is dirty dancing and accusations of cheating.
Families can talk about how teens can successfully juggle extracurricular activities while keeping their grades up. How can you effectively manage your time in high school? Issues involving sports, competition, and ambition also come into play. How do you know when you've crossed the line in pursuit of a goal? Do parents put too much pressure on their kids to succeed?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Lucy Maher
In CHEERLEADER NATION, viewers are taken behind the scenes as a group of super-competitive teenagers vie for spots on Lexington, Kentucky's Dunbar High School varsity cheerleading squad in the hopes of helping the school get to its third straight national championship.
Leading the group is tough-but-sensitive coach Donna Martin, who along with team choreographer Saleem, guides the girls through tryouts, daily practice, and, ultimately, the United Cheerleading Association National championships. Her daughter, Ryan, makes the team as a sophomore and finds herself struggling to gain the approval of her mother both on and off the court.
Also on the team are high-achiever Ayrica, a junior who juggles practice, maintaining her GPA, and helping her parents take care of her three sisters. Joining them are Katie, Dunbar's star soccer player who, as a senior, gives up the sport for cheerleading; sophomore Chelsea, the squad princess who's been raised by a single mom; and sisters Megan and Alexa, a senior and sophomore, respectively, who find themselves dealing with sibling rivalry.
Teens and their parents will be enthralled by each hour-long episode, which gives them a rare glimpse into the lives of seemingly regular -- though extremely athletic -- teenagers navigating their way through high school. The girls on the show deal with managing friendships and romances while pursuing their goal and keeping up their grades, and come across as sincere in their attempt to "have it all."
But while the teens on the show are painted as "everygirls," they are anything but. All are extremely attractive, with nary a hair out of place, and all seem to come from affluent families where no need goes unmet. The only real issue these girls apparently have to deal with is overbearing moms who have just as much invested in their daughters' cheerleading skills as the girls do.
Still, families who watch the show together will find much to talk about and will be highly entertained, if nothing else.
Fans of Cheerleader Nation might also like High School Musical and MADE.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentSome of the girls on the show have boyfriends, and one of the girls is accused of cheating on her beau. One episode features some suggestive dancing. |
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LanguageOne of the moms, when frustrated with her daughter, calls her a "little snot." |
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Social BehaviorSome of the girls get jealous when their teammates do a better job than they do. The show features a lot of intense competition, but also some good role-model behavior for teen girls (working hard, juggling activities and good grades). |
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