Sing It!
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Sing It!
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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 SING IT! requires a YouTube Red subscription to watch and has strong language, graphic sexual references, and other mature content that make it an iffy choice for teens. Adults talk about wanting sex during their "dry spells," guys converse about masturbation, and in one scene a women talks longingly about "having a guy inside me." Body references such as "vagina" are common, but nudity is blurred. Expect to hear lots of red-letter language: "F--k" is edited, but "bulls--t," "dammit," "suck," "dick," and "ass" are audible. There are jokes about drug use and all kinds of name-calling as well. This snarky parody of reality shows such as American Idol is bawdy but hilarious, particularly for viewers familiar with American Idol and/or other singing competitions, but its content is iffy for younger teens.
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What's the Story?
When founding producer of the long-running music competition SING IT! gets the ax, and presumptive shoo-in for the job, Stacy (Mircea Monroe), doesn't make the cut, new boss Drew Davies (Mark Jude Sullivan) arrives and begins implementing changes that ruffle the feathers of contestants and staff. Pushing radical ideas such as putting the "reality" back in the reality series and asking the judges to weigh in on the performances in a more meaningful way, Drew makes more enemies than friends on the set of the established show. As the season progresses, emotions run hot in this win-or-go-home contest where stakes are high on both sides of the camera.
Is It Any Good?
This scathing parody of music competition shows such as American Idol takes no prisoners in its ribald mockery of what it suggests goes on behind the scenes of reality TV. Shown through the lens of Drew's shock when truths are revealed (wait, they hire actors to put on disastrous auditions merely for the audience's entertainment???), it's a laugh-out-loud slant on how and why American Idol and the many other shows it inspired garnered such a following. Of course, it's also a commentary on the fans of these somewhat manipulative TV offerings, so if you're one, you have to be willing to laugh at yourself a bit, too.
Sing It! boasts some notable performances from Preston Jones as the narcissistic host Troy and Missi Pyle as the oblivious studio exec who brought Drew aboard in the first place. Debby Ryan also stands out as the fragile, has-been singer-turned-judge Holly who's positively horrified at the idea of having to cast judgment on the contestants she sees. The talented ensemble cast brings out the best in what this comical spoof has to offer, but the racy content and strong language seal its fate as fare for mature teens and adults only.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about reality TV and what this show has to say about its authenticity. Can we believe anything we see on TV? To what degree do you think competition shows are staged? Do you think bias ever shows up in fact-based TV such as documentaries or newscasts?
Are any of these characters good role models? Does someone have to be a hero or heroine to be considered a good role model? What can we learn from watching someone's bad behavior? Do these characters suffer consequences for their negative actions?
Teens: How do you work with people you don't particularly like? Why is it important to know how to do so? In what areas of your life have you overcome differences with others to achieve a common goal?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 25, 2016
- Cast: Mircea Monroe, Debby Ryan, Mark Jude Sullivan
- Network: YouTube
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Arts and Dance
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: July 1, 2022
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