Hollywood Arts

Netflix's new release Hollywood Arts is a wonderful teen comedy for younger teens to watch who love performing arts. It's a spin-off to Nickelodeon's show Victorious, streaming more than a decade after the original series ended.

The show is about Trina Vega, Tori Vega's less famous sister who returns to her former high school as an unqualified substitute acting teacher, where she tries to inspire a brand-new generation of ambitious and eccentric performers.

You can watch Hollywood Arts with your younger teen and you will enjoy the nostalgic throwback to classic sitcom formats while your teen will connect with its high-school world where students can express their identities and follow their performance dreams.

One useful conversation starter is Qwest, a talented musician who hides his passion behind a fake basketball scholarship to meet his parents’ expectations. Ask your teen what they do when other people’s expectations do not match what they truly love.

Trina’s story is also worth discussing. She did not achieve the specific kind of stardom she once wanted, but she still finds a way to use her passion. You might ask your teen whether goals and hobbies always need to become perfect or successful, or whether it is okay simply to enjoy them.

The kids in Trina's class are constantly competing to stand out and prove how talented they are. This makes the show a useful starting point for teens who want to be in the showbiz, and show them, that they need to keep working at it and try to get better and better every day.

It is also a great show to watch and talk to teens who don't want to be special and you can ask your teen if they ever feel like there's hidden pressure at school to have one specific 'thing' or talent that defines who they are?

Hollywood Arts is best suited to younger teens who enjoy school comedies, music, and performing-arts stories. Watch it together for an easy, nostalgic, and conversation-friendly family viewing experience.