 | 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. |
Shake It Up
- Disney Channel
- Genre: Comedy
Common Sense Media says
Dance-themed series offers a simplified view of teen life.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there’s nothing offensive about this sugary series that will entice pre-tweens, but it is another example of how tween-oriented sitcoms greatly oversimplify the reality of teen life for its young audience. The characters’ troubles are easily overcome in the show’s 30-minute timeframe, and the pressures of social status, family responsibilities, and school are glossed over in favor of humor. That said, the show centers on a likable pair of teens who value their friendship over everything else and are willing to put in the time to achieve their dreams.
What's the story?
Best friends and aspiring performers CeCe Jones (Bella Thorne) and Rocky Blue (Zendaya) get their big break when they land spots as backup dancers on the local weekly dance show Shake It Up, Chicago!. Overnight fame and weekly paychecks are just a couple of the perks of their new job, but it’s not all fun and games. Their lives are a lot more complicated now that there are new routines to learn, responsibilities to juggle, and social pressures to deal with, but through it all, CeCe and Rocky hold tight to their friendship and rely on each other to navigate the choppy new waters.
Is it any good?
Disney churns out another entertaining series for tweens in SHAKE IT UP, a buddy comedy that celebrates the triumphs and pitfalls of friendship. CeCe and Rocky’s big personalities get them into plenty of offbeat adventures, but through it all, their affection for each other trumps the bad stuff and helps them work things out. They learn that it’s not always a smooth road to achieving their dreams, but they are dedicated, determined, and willing to work hard if it means getting what they want.
This series has all the markings of a typical Disney hit: colorful characters, upbeat music, and positive vibes all around. What’s more, Shake It Up features plenty of modern dance moves kids might want to emulate. Its overly sanitized view of life won’t work for more worldly tweens, and it certainly doesn't offer kids much quality content to sink their teeth into, but it’s mostly innocuous for kids...as long as parents follow up with a reality check now and then.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about setting and achieving goals. Kids: What are some things you hope to accomplish in your life? What skills or education will you need to acquire to achieve these? How can setting smaller goals help you stay focused on reaching the big ones?
Why is friendship important? How can a friend’s presence help you through difficult times? How do you show that you’re a good friend? What instances stand out for you as times when you helped a friend or (s)he helped you?
Do you think the TV shows you watch reflect realistic situations? How do characters’ experiences in school, family, and with friends compare to yours? Can you still learn something from a show if it oversimplifies the characters’ struggles? How do you think your life would translate to a TV show?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
PG-13 Concepts and Humor
I'm a pretty mellow Mom. There are a lot of things out there that don't bother me. But this weekend the Disney Channel, of all things, finally tripped my Mom-censor.
Shake It Up seems to be a fairly new show. I haven't quite gotten the basic plot line, but it seems to involve girls dancing a lot.
This weekend, my daughter and her friend were watching Disney Channel in the background while the adults were having coffee and chatting. Suddenly, I heard *this* snippet of conversation between two characters:
Teen Girl finishes a dance number.
Teen Girl's Grandmother: "You call that dancing? I did better than that when I was a Vegas Showgirl....And I was in my birthday suit!"
I immediately got up, walked over, and turned the TV off. I've seen some dubious things, but HOW did that get past Disney's quality control? The answer has to be that it was deliberate to add a bit of shock value and further Disney's goal of making it cool for teens.
So, let me get this straight. Disney thinks it is OK to glorify strippers in its teen programming????!!!!
I gave this program one star because I had to give it at least one star. I am doubtful now about the Common Sense ratings since this one was given a green light for ages 7 and up. In no way is this appropriate for 7-year-olds. This is adult humor and has no place in a show for tweens.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
I hate this show...my 5 almost 6 year old want to watch it if she sees that it is on t.v. and my husband and I both say no! The 2 main character girls are the worst influence/ horrible role models. They use words like "losers" and "nerds" to other children in their school at a time when we are having children being killed/killing themselves because of bullying...yet Disney is promoting!? There are never parents around and the girls make wrong choices all the time with no lessons learned, what kind of message is Disney trying to send? Even Cece's little brother, who is under the age of 12 in the show always appears to be home alone. I get that this might be for tweens or teens, but it is so unrealistic of how life is as a child during those ages. The girls are always wearing a ton of making and wearing clothes that are just not appropriate. The main character girls are talking back and giving attitude to adults, including teachers in the school setting. I just don't understand why Disney would chose to air this show. I think this show is HORRIBLE for any child and it should NOT be on the air. I HATE this show and the lack of message it provides for all children. I feel like Disney is totally promoting bulling at a time when children have to sign a pledge at school saying they won't take part in that kind of behavior. I will not let my child watch this show ever and i suggest all parents do the same.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
I personally hate this
I really hate this show. Now I haven't really watched it before, but it's just annoying. I watch my sister a lot these days. She is really into Shake It Up. The show has gotten highly addicting for her. About every 5 minutes she asks me what time it is. And when I say the time and ask her "why?" she says, "Shake It Up!" And when she is watching it I can hear what the characters are saying. Every other word is a put-down or an insult. And I heard Ty (Rocky's older brother) and Flynn (Cece's younger brother)Ty was trying to show Flynn how to get a girlfriend. I mean SERIOUSLY? He's like, I don't know 8 or 9. What could he possibly know about dating. Plus there's alot of cheap music and the dancing is just awful.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Ugh...
Normally me and my sister, eleven, enjoy watching television together. We watch Wizards of Waverly Place, Sonny With a Chance, True Jackson VP, even Spongebob Sqaurepants, with each other and end up laughing out loud. Nope. Not with this show. She's in love with it and normally we get into fights over whether or not it's any good! I've taken ballet and jazz for a long time, and I love kind of 'modern times' dancing. These girls can't dance. And they are just bad role models.
Let me tell you a few things on that show.
"CeCe" gets a tutor because she cannot do math. She is freaking out with excitement. "Eeeee! I'm going to get to date a college boy!" These girls are like, thirteen or fourteen.
The two main characters get out all their money and throw it all over the place and roll around in it and scream and jump around -- and "CeCe"'s mother joins in!
The girls are racist to asians. I'm serious, in one episode, some asians come to the recording studio for an interview, and CeCe says in a mock accent "Ooooo. Do dey have Shaake It Upppp in yaor country tooo?" Like. Not funny. That's just being rude.
I could go on and on but I'm not going to.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
You would be better off watching something(anything) else
First of all, the only parent present is Cece's single mother who works and is barely around and Rocky and Cece are allowed to wander around the city by themselves day and night. Second of all, they are waaaaayyyyy to close and have no other friends because all the do is spend time with only themselves and as we all know, it is better to have many friends. The dancing is terrible, the girl's are materialistic and wear things and act like you should never in the real world. Plus, the crude humor is amazing. The writers might think it is funny or will just go over kids heads, but it doesn't. My daughter and I had to have many awkward discussions about these "jokes". Also, Rocky and Cece both look like they haven't eaten in years and they wear trashy makeup and hair styles.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
No way. Seriously, Disney channel?
First, I'm usually lenient about what my 9 year old watches. But this show is being banned. It features shallow, bad role models, although the show tries to redeem itself (somewhat) with Rocky's character.
To put if briefly, the girls are obsessed with clothes, boys, and money. And as someone else stated, Cece wears way too much makeup and appears anorexic.
Also, there is almost no parental involvement in the girl's lives. The only parent you see seems to exist more as a plot device.
If this was more realistic, they'd both be on drugs (have to if they're going to keep up with both dancing and school, right?) and birth control within a year. Rated for inappropriate language because of the way characters speak to each other. There's no cursing but the rudeness is not acceptable.
I can't think of any age for which this show is appropriate. In fact, the entire Disney channel and it's associated channels is on the verge of being OFF in my house.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
It's sad when people have to look at this show for intertanment....
Wow... what can I honestly say. Well, for one, they constantly, and I mean CONSTANTLY talk about "omg, that guy is soooo hot" ALL the time, and gee, their only 13. The girls play with money as if it's some kind of toy, while their are people that would give anything for a little just to put food on the table. The girls are ungreatful, snooty, laugh and comment on the way other people look, they think they're the best thing discovered sinse Michael Jackson. They're mean to Cece's little brother. They're always seen on dates. It's just not a good show. I mean, a few things are funny. But, my gosh Disney, how long are you planning to keep this up? The ONLY sweet thing I've seen on the show is when Cece is dyslexic. The ONLY THING.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Worst show on Disney, Cancel it please!
This is the worst show on Disney. It lacks the humor and story that a Suite Life or Wizards has. The lead girls who play BFFs are annoying and spoiled and don't really teach kids the value of working hard for your dreams. The boys on the show are equally annoying and the fake Russian tweens are terrible actors. Over all value of this show is awful and lacks total production value.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Ridiculous, silly, stupid show
My boys (8 & 10) started watching this show when it started, and I'm considering banning it. My biggest issue is that these girls are only supposed to be 13, yet they're regularly seen without any parental supervision. Cece (and yes, that's the correct spelling. It was on her custom-made hoodie) is apparently in charge of her younger brother at night while her mom works and Rocky doesn't appear to have any family except her brother. At this young age, they're working on a dance show while attending school, sneaking out in the middle of the night to go to an adult party, shopping at some really cool thrift stores and walking the city streets after dark alone, etc.
And what is up with all the touching? I know young teen girls like to touch each other and giggle, but these girls are WAY over the top. They can't seem to keep their hands off of each other! Also think they really need to expand their horizons and find some friends besides each other. They're very poor role models....and I haven't even mentioned the first time they got paid and tossed the money all over themselves to "make it rain"....(stripper term).
I might find it a teensy bit more realistic if the girls were 16 or 17. Since they're 13, it seems like they have to much freedom and are left alone to their own devices and poor judgement.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Where is Disney getting their money to make this junk?!
When I first saw this, I thought it would be one of the dumbest things in creaton. Now I realize it's at least 1 step down from that. The dancing is okay, and the theme song's decent..sorta, and I love it that they live in Chicago, but this is what I hate: For one, you know it's going to be just like the other sitcoms, I mean, come on, it's 21st century money grubbing Disney! It's like Sonny with a Chance in a way, except, it's not a 'comedy show' but a 'dancing show' -big diff. Now I admit I love the idea of the mother being a cop, and the two little boys are adorable, but that can't cover up the tragity. These girls are rather self obsorved. I see them often making wisecracks (minus the wise) about people's appearences, and then doing some stupid finger sqiggle. That's not nice, it's not cool, my gosh, sorry we can't all be bone thin and plastic like the rest of you. The girls wear the glitziest outfits, who dresses like that?! I have nearly NEVER seen a Disney channel star wear some regular 15 dollar jeans and a sweatshirt or some regular t-shirt with a school logo on it. The two mean characters (something and Tinka) are from some country I don't know, and are just plain... goofy. Great, so any immagrants that come around and talk like that are going to be shunned...welcome to America alright. I admit some jokes are pretty funny, but 'pretty' funny, is not near good enough to get me watching it. I just don't like these shows compared to the GREAT shows I grew up with, now a bunch of kids are being suduced into thinking "this shows the bestest eva" By the way, their friendship isn't that great, it's tight compared to other Disney friendships, but they're just snobby girls. Cece and Rocky aren't very nice to the little brother (do any of these stars ever have an older or younger SISTER? It's all one main girl and brothers) And yes, I know Cece has Dyslexya, and that was the only time I actually liked the show, when it was realistic. I love the sweet moments they have, but it's not going to keep me glued in if they can't be nice to others around them.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Topics: | arts and dance, friendship, high school, music and sing-along |
| TV rating: | TV-G |
| Network: | Disney Channel |
| Cast: | Bella Thorne, Zendaya |
| Genre: | Comedy |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
