Make It Pop
Friendship, diversity hit high notes in so-so musical show.
Parents say
Based on 4 reviews
Kids say
Based on 13 reviews
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Make It Pop
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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 Make It Pop is a musical comedy series inspired by K-pop (Korean pop) music that follows three teen girls who share a love of singing and form a band. Much like High School Musical and its cohorts, there are numerous impromptu outbursts of singing (er, lip-syncing) and elaborately choreographed dancing, which tweens (and certainly adults) are apt to find a bit cheesy. One character's obsession with social media self-promotion wears a little thin, but parents can use the opening to talk with their kids about Internet safety. It's a safe bet that those who like the show will want to download its music as well. On the upside, the teens' friendship bridges the gap between their vastly different personalities.
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What's the Story?
MAKE IT POP is set in Mackendrick Prep, a fictional boarding school with a heavy focus on academics and a lukewarm tolerance of the arts. But when new roommates Jodi (Louriza Tronco), Sun Hi (Megan Lee), and Corki (Erika Tham) discover their shared love of music, their new band, XO-IQ, brings harmony to Mackendrick's halls and plenty of recognition to them. This is great news for aspiring pop diva Sun Hi and fashion-savvy Jodi, but will it turn bookish Corki's attention from the studies she's instructed by her domineering father to take seriously? And can their new friend Caleb (Dale Whibley) use their rising fame to help revamp an old skating rink into a burgeoning local club? Only time will tell whether these teens have the right stuff to make their dreams come true.
Is It Any Good?
Make It Pop's sound is inspired by K-pop, a musical genre originating in Korea that's often recognizable by its incorporation of audiovisual elements. The result is a number of Glee-style song-and-dance breakouts and lots of visual stimulation to go along with them. It's the kind of thing the younger grade schooler crowd enjoys most, since they're not about to question how it is that the characters just happen to know the lyrics and manage to dance in sync at a moment's notice.
It's always nice to see a kids' show embrace diversity in its cast, and Make It Pop's three leading ladies are generally a fun bunch to follow, even if Sun Hi in particular is self-absorbed and a little shallow at times. With drastically different personalities, they remind kids that friendships can form anywhere you find shared interests, and the results always bring surprises. The bottom line? This airy series is unrealistically light on adversity of any kind, painting a pretty inaccurate and consequence-free picture of teen life, but its music promises to delight young fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it takes to make it in a competitive market such as singing. Judging by today's popular musical personalities, is having talent enough to make you a star? Which other qualities are fans looking for?
Kids: Do you like the music in this show? Do you notice differences between it and what you normally see in other shows and movies? How likely are you to want to download some of the songs from this series?
What does this show say about friendship? Can it overcome all odds? How does having a friend by your side make it easier to face difficult challenges?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 26, 2015
- Cast: Erika Tham, Megan Lee, Louriza Tronco
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Arts and Dance, Friendship, High School, Music and Sing-Along
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
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