Side Hustle
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Mediocre messages in social media stars' funny sitcom.
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Side Hustle
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Based on 4 parent reviews
Colorado Springs
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The best Nickelodeon show ever!!
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What's the Story?
When a mishap with fireworks accidentally does damage to someone else's personal property, three teens put their heads together to devise a plan to make some quick cash to pay for repairs. Presley (Jayden Bartles), Lex (Annie LeBlanc), and Munchy (Isaiah Crews) launch Kid-Ding, an app that solicits lucrative temp jobs from its users with help from Presley's tech-savvy little brother, Fisher (Mitchell Berg). As the business endeavor takes off and the teens take one odd job after another, they discover that hard work -- or at least hard hustling -- can pay off.
Is It Any Good?
This mostly unremarkable sitcom leans on the star power of its dynamic social media-famous duo to carry an otherwise formulaic production. SIDE HUSTLE starts with two cookie-cutter besties, adds a quirky but self-assured guy pal and a nerdy sibling who gets reimbursed (ahem, bribed) for his help by allotted time spent ogling his sister's pretty friend. Orbiting the main characters are a rotating cast of overly accommodating and goofy grown-ups, whom the teens often manage to undermine to their advantage in a series of increasingly ridiculous temp jobs that present themselves as fundraisers for their money-making cause.
On the upside, Bartels's and LeBlanc's chemistry translates easily from their real-life friendship to the screen, making their BFF relationship the most believable aspect of this entire show. And their temp jobs, while crafted mostly for laughs, do offer them opportunities to brainstorm creative problem-solving skills on the fly. Mostly, though, Side Hustle seems a platform for further elevating its stars' stardom, which it seems likely to do.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what these characters' actions demonstrate about responsibility. Do they take their job responsibilities seriously? What repercussions, if any, exist when they don't? How might a similar situation play out in the real world?
Kids: Were you familiar with the stars of Side Hustle before you watched the show? If so, did that influence your desire to see it? Does watching it make you want to check out their other work on screen and on social media? What screen time rules does your family have for ensuring healthy media habits?
In what ways do the characters demonstrate (or not) integrity in this series? Why is this an important character strength? Is it one that you value or strive for?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 7, 2020
- Cast: Annie LeBlanc , Jayden Bartels , Isaiah Crews
- Network: Nickelodeon
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: June 10, 2022
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