Parents' Guide to

Rockville, CA

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Online soap from Gossip Girl creator has iffy stuff.

TV Online Drama 2009
Rockville, CA Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

Online Web soap ROCKVILLE, CA centers on the romantic highs and lows of a group of twentysomething music lovers who regularly hang out at Club Rockville, a fictitious L.A. showcase for cool indie bands. Deb (Alexandra Chando) is a new talent scout for Wall-to-Wall Records who hangs out at the club looking for rising stars to sign; while working, she finds herself spending time with some of the club regulars, including sarcastic Hunter (Andrew J. West), flamboyant club co-owner Chambers (Ryan Hansen), waitress Callie (Jelly Howie), bassist Syd King (Matt Cohen), and Shawn (Bonnie Burroughs), the club's aging primary owner/matriarch. But music isn't the only thing in the air, and soon Deb and the rest of the gang find themselves pursuing a variety of love interests that lead to broken hearts -- and meaningful relationships.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Like any typical soap opera, Rockville features endless conversations about the romantic entanglements among the diverse cast of characters. But what makes this series unique is the fact that it uses actual bands' performances as the backdrop for these stories. That means it also serves as a clear promotional vehicle for these bands, who surely don't mind the opportunity to increase their fan base and online presence.

It's an interesting concept, but (not surprisingly) the show's focus on the edgy independent music scene leads to iffy behavior, including lots of drinking and occasional marijuana use. Some of the conversations and song lyrics contain profanity. And while the series doesn't feature anything particularly explicit, there's plenty of sexual innuendo. Older teens should be able to handle it, but it's not a great choice for tweens and iffy at best for younger teens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the similarities and differences between online shows and "regular" TV shows. What are some of the things that shows "aired" online can show or do that regular TV shows can't? Is one type of show "better" than the other? Why or why not? Families can also discuss the changes taking place in the music industry. Why must bands now heavily rely on the Internet to promote their music? What are some of the benefits of this kind of promotion? Drawbacks?

TV Details

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