Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Global girl pop group contest mixes cultures, has cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
POP STAR ACADEMY: KATSEYE is an unscripted series that follows young women from around the world who go through an intensive training program in hope of earning a spot in a global girl group. HYBE (the label that gave the world BTS) has partnered with U.S.-based label Geffen Records to create HYBE x Geffen and launch an international K-pop-style female group. After scouting around the world with the help of social media to find contestants who fit their vision, 20 young women are selected and sent to an accelerated K-pop training and development program (T&D) in Los Angeles. Cameras follow as they undergo extensive training in singing, dance, and group performance, and receive monthly critiques from folks like Interscope/Geffen Records senior vice president Charlie Christie, HYBE x Geffen president Mitra Darab, and Sungdeuk Son, HYBE's executive creator. Throughout the process some of the contestants are eliminated, and new ones are brought in. The last 10 remaining in the T&D program compete in a live "survival" show, during which the final elimination—based on popular votes and executive decisions—takes place. The six remaining women become the founding members of KATSEYE, and begin the journey together toward (they hope) pop group stardom.
Is It Any Good?
The voyeuristic competition series looks at the rigorous process that goes into creating and debuting a K-pop group; on the line is stardom and lucrative returns for their labels. The Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE contestants (the first 20 of which were chosen from 120K applicants) are shown constantly practicing songs and routines, learning how to dance in heels, getting makeovers, and receiving tough but constructive criticism as they vie for a place on what the labels hope will be an internationally successful act. Meanwhile, each young woman has her own professional backstory, as well as individual strengths and weaknesses, the latter of which are unapologetically put on full display throughout.
The series' concept is reminiscent of early-2000s series like Making the Band, but what makes Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE different is the merging of two culturally different industry approaches: It combines the structure and uniformity of K-pop culture with the Western celebration of individual uniqueness. It also highlights the key role social media now plays in the process of launching, promoting, and supporting new talent, and how the misuse of it can end a career before it even begins. You won't see a lot of interpersonal cast drama or polished group performances here, but you'll certainly see the hard and often unglamorous work and sacrifice it takes to make it in the profession.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the work that goes into being in a K-pop group. Did you know that the Korean K-pop industry's training and development begins when potential future pop stars are children and continues for years? How does this compare with training and development of pop group artists in the U.S.?
On Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE, do the HYBE executives expect more of the contestants than the Geffen executives? Or are their approaches simply different due to cultural differences?
TV Details
- Premiere date: August 21, 2024
- Cast: Sophia Laforteza , Manon Bannerman , Daniela Avanzini , Lara Rajagopalan , Megan Skiendiel , Jeong Yoon-Chae
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Arts and Dance
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: August 26, 2024
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Watch Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate