Groove High
OK musical series promotes creativity, performing arts.
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Groove High
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Groove High is an animated series with a dual format: Live-action sequences show the main characters interacting between their band performances, and animated segments recall those same characters' past experiences at a high school for performing arts. Tom and Zoe have big dreams and big ideas to fulfill them, and that often gets them into some precarious and hilarious situations. Expect unlikely happenings like mistaken identities and other silliness, as well as some mild flirting among teens. There's no violence, but there are some accidents (crashes, falling through a ceiling, etc.) that are intended to be funny. This series doesn't wow, but it's a serviceable show that can remind kids of the importance of following their dreams.
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What's the Story?
In GROOVE HIGH, best friends and bandmates Tom (Jonathan Bailey) and Zoe (Samantha Barks) reminisce about their time at an unconventional performing-arts high school populated by a hodgepodge of colorful personalities. The series is produced in a combination of live action and animation, with present-day segments showing Tom and Zoe in between concerts on the road, recalling the funny and formative events that happened during their years at Groove High. As their memories take shape, the format changes to animation to replay the characters' experiences at school.
Is It Any Good?
This musical show's unusual format, which bounces back and forth between animation and live action several times during an episode, bolsters its otherwise forgettable qualities. The quirky characters and unlikely situations are good for some chuckles, and Groove High's good-natured rivalry with another nearby arts school, A-List, creates some contention that's laughable, too. Groove High's content is silly and superficial, but it's also mostly innocuous content that will entertain -- if not enlighten -- kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the performing arts. How do dance, music, and other arts encourage self-expression? Kids: What disciplines are of interest to you? What inspires your creativity? Is success in the arts something that can be measured?
What differences, if any, do you see between Tom and Zoe's characters at present and those they revisit from the past? How do our experiences help shape our personalities? What memories do you have of formative times in your past, and how did those events change you?
Is Groove High intended to be a realistic look at high school? In what ways does it succeed? How does it fall short? Do any of the characters stand out for positive qualities like leadership? Who are some of your favorite role models from series or movies you have seen?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 1, 2012
- Cast: Samantha Barks, Jonathan Bailey, Jules de Jongh
- Network: Comcast Kid Central
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Arts and Dance, High School, Music and Sing-Along
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: February 27, 2022
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