Parents' Guide to

Bella and the Bulldogs

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Likable series tackles gender barriers in thoughtful ways.

TV Nickelodeon Comedy 2015
Bella and the Bulldogs Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 8+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Linus Parent
Linus Parent Adult
August 6, 2018
age 14+

All about dating

Well can be a crash course on dating. Some reviewers talk about positive message. True, it makes about 2% of the series. The rest is about how to package (and for parents how to raise) a girl to be a product attractive for boys. The rest is a shallow message to push this deeper message in disguise. The girls are just obsessed with boys and with getting their attentions. Parents are not present at all, and scarcely are teachers: portraying a society without any guidance and kids do whatever they think it is correct and of course they don't have any other learning responsibilities or even any sense of what their future should look like. Promotes an empty lifestyle with no future.
2 people found this helpful.
LBB1968
LBB1968 Parent of 9 and 9-year-old
March 20, 2020
age 9+

A show with a great message!

The first episode was mostly about football and how Bella didn't quit but all the other episodes were a little too much about dating and not enough about football. Each episode has a good message anyway. Bella's two best friends are Pepper and Sophie and they are very different. That helps make the show funny. I think if your kids want to watch this, they should.
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Bella Dawson (Brec Bassinger) loves being her middle school's head cheerleader because it puts her close to the action on the football field. So when Coach Russell (Dorien Wilson) offers her a try-out after seeing her throw a spiral, she's determined to show him she's up to the challenge. The football team isn't thrilled about the idea of a female teammate; least thrilled is egotistical veteran quarterback Troy (Coy Stewart), who sets out to make sure it doesn't come to pass. But Bella proves her doubters wrong when she earns a roster spot and bumps Troy from his starting position, raising eyebrows throughout the school and among opposing players. Even her best friends, Sophie (Lilimar) and Pepper (Haley Tju), aren't sure what to make of it, but they have Bella's back as she strives to make her dreams come true.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (29 ):

Girls on the football field isn't exactly groundbreaking news these days, but BELLA AND THE BULLDOGS is a highly likable series that takes the gender-equality message a step further by making Bella an impressive role model. She's charismatic, caring, and conscientious, and, oh, by the way, she can throw a pigskin the length of the field. What makes her even more appealing is that she doesn't take her position for granted; when the going gets tough, she buckles down, puts on her game face, and works harder for herself and her team.

Of course, her challenges are pretty mild compared to what they might be in a real-world scenario, but kids who watch won't question why troubles resolve themselves so quickly in Bella's experience, and that's OK. What they will notice is a girl following her dreams, despite other people's doubts and the trends of the past, changing people's prejudices as she does so. She's surrounded by friends who support her and adults who encourage her, and she earns every bit of her success. As media messages go, kids could certainly do worse than what this show has to offer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes Bella a good role model. Does she demonstrate good sportsmanship? How does she show that she values the people in her life? In what ways does her success on the football field change her?

  • Kids: Do you ever hear people say that certain activities are meant for boys or girls only? How does that make you feel? What does Bella learn from challenging that rule in football? What do her teammates and friends learn?

  • This show inspires discussions about prejudice in a kid-friendly way. Talk to your kids about the dangers of judging people by how they look. Do they ever witness instances of prejudice within their peer groups? If they did, would they speak out against them?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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