Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Friendship, diversity hit high notes in so-so musical show.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Make It Pop
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 14 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a nostalgic favorite for many, filled with teamwork, dancing, and catchy songs, often introducing viewers to K-Pop culture. However, it has faced criticism for poor representation, stereotyping, and a lackluster plot, with some parents expressing concern over its suitability for younger audiences due to mature themes.
- nostalgia
- teamwork
- poor representation
- mature themes
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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 ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
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