 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Popular
- Genre: Drama
Common Sense Media says
Edgy teen dramedy tries to spin a positive message.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this series follows a group of high school sophomores segmented into stereotypical "in" and "out" groups: blondes vs. brunettes, jocks vs. geeks, conformists vs. individuals, etc.; though the show is subtly critical of these stratifications. Characters use "ass" a lot to punctuate sentences (as in "Don't be such a
kiss-ass.") and dish out insults like "skank-ho." One character is still recovering from a serious eating disorder and
often obsesses about her weight; she's also considering having sex with
her boyfriend, although both remain virgins. A few pricey brand names are mentioned, too, and some teen characters drink alcohol socially with no obvious negative consequences...other than throwing up.
What's the story?
Blonde cheerleader Brooke McQueen (Leslie Bibb) might be POPULAR. But there's no way she'll ever be friends with dark-haired alterna-girl Sam McPherson (Carly Pope) ... at least, not if Sam has anything to say about it. There's a social line drawn in the sand when the cheerleaders humiliate Sam's best friend Carmen (Sara Rue), and Sam and her friends declare an all-out war. But the battle stalls when the rivals learn that their parents -- Brooke's divorced dad (Scott Bryce) and Sam's widowed mom (Lisa Darr) -- plan to marry and make them step-sisters.
Is it any good?
If you're an avid Glee fan, it won't take you long to realize that Popular sounds a whole lot like it, minus the singing. (And with good reason, since Ryan Murphy, who also dreamed up the adults-only Nip/Tuck, created both series.) In both shows, for example, you'll find a star football player who's considering sex with his virginal cheerleader girlfriend and secretly loves to sing. You'll also spot an aggressive, sexually ambiguous science teacher in Popular that clearly inspired -- but pales in comparison to -- Glee's Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), and catch glimpses of Glee's Mr. Schuster (Matthew Morrison) in one of Popular's overly dedicated student advisers.
When it originally aired in 1999, Popular only stuck around for two seasons and left its fans hanging with one heck of a cliffhanger that would never get resolved -- and that's a shame, because it was a pretty good show. It became a pretty great show, however, when Murphy added an infectious soundtrack, changed some of the central plot points and called it Glee. So maybe things do get better with age.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the show's portrayal of the high school social scene and whether it's been grossly exaggerated. Who are the heroes and villains supposed to be here? Does pitting overly simplistic stereotypes against each other -- ie.,
preppy, blonde cheerleader conformists vs.grungy, brunette alternative
outsiders -- serve a certain purpose? Does it reinforce those
stereotypes, or make them seem ridiculous?What are the show's main messages when it comes to teen sex? Do you think the show handles the topic in a realistic way? Why or why not?
Why do you think this show only lasted for two seasons before it was canceled? Do you think it would have any fared better in today's media market?
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
| TV rating: | NR |
| Cast: | Carly Pope, Leslie Bibb, Sara Rue |
| Genre: | Drama |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
