New Teen Nick Show: iCarly is an Innovative New Show Real Teens/Tweens can Participate On

August 26, 2007

I’m officially getting old, because I just don’t get shows geared towards Teens and Tweens. While I understand that most of them attempt to be humorous, I do not get the kind of snarky or stupid humor that most shows seem to play off. I do know that these are the shows that are most popular with those in the 9-12 and 13-15 age groups and I guess that should be the thing that matters. Now I know what my parents meant when they said they didn’t “get” what I was watching on television as a teenager.

That being said, I had the chance to review the first episode of a new series on Nickelodeon. The show, iCarly, is geared towards teens and tweens, with humor that has carried shows on the network such as Drake and Josh and Zoey 101. This is probably because the same creator of these shows is behind iCarly. The show is unique in that it is the first show of its kind to have a show within a show, where real kids can send in videos to be aired on the iCarly on-air webcast.

Let me tell you, the audience the show is geared for are going to love the show. Meanwhile, parents may laugh at the occasional funny moments, but the overall “hyper action” that makes the show what it is won’t make this show popular with an adult crowd. While I watched this show with my 12 year old son, who loved it and laughed hysterically the entire show, I spent most of the episode acting like a cantankerous adult who wanted to show these wayward kids what it is like to have a little parental supervision in their lives.

It’s not that iCarly is necessarily a bad show. It just isn’t something that is going to appeal to audiences of all ages. Since the issue shows kids in what is a relatively realistic setting (kids being snarky at school, dealing with dating and crushes, fighting with teachers, etc.) it is going to appeal to those who are actually going through these things. Kids can relate to iCarly and some will aspire to be the lead of the show by having their own webcast. I can see an increase in both technological creativity and web exploration due to this show.

iCarly follows the life of an 8th grader by the name of Carly Shay. Carly is played by Miranda Cosgrove (Drake and Josh, Yours, Mine, and Ours). In the story, Carly is raised by her eccentric, 26 year old artist brother, Spencer because their parents are both overseas serving in the military. Carly is joined on her show by her best friend Sam Puckett, played by Jeanette McCurdy. The show also features the boy across the hall from Carly’s home, Freddie Benson (Nathan Kress). Freddie is not only in love with Carly (it’s unrequited), he’s also a technology nerd, who helps by producing and running the iCarlyweb show on a technical level.

In the first episode of iCarly, Carly is punished for something Sam does. Her punishment is to hold the talent show auditions her teacher scheduled on the weekend. Carly brings Sam along to help and Freddie invites himself to provide assistance in taping the auditions for the teacher (played by Dr. Evil’s evil henchwoman, Frau Farbissina, portrayed by Mindy Sterling) to review at a later date.

During the auditions, when Sam and Carly start acting goofy and making fun of the teacher, Freddie tapes them. When he goes to edit them out of the talent show auditions, which Carly told her teacher she would place up on a fictional YouTube type of website, he accidentally uploads their “humor routine” instead. This is what ultimately leads to the idea for the web show, iCarly.

The one neat thing about iCarly is any kid can go to the iCarly website and upload their videos, which may end up appearing on the show. This type of interactivity with the audience has never been attempted before and is part of the innovative concept for the show created by Dan Schneider.

If that name sounds familiar, those who are my age might remember him as Dennis on Head of the Class. Younger generations know him as the creator of Drake & Josh and Zoey 101 as well as a driving force behind All That, The Amanda Show, and the Nick movie, Good Burger. His innovative vision has been entertaining teens for the last ten years or so, and made him one of the leading voices of the popular SNICK (Saturday Night Nick) lineup.

While iCarly may not be a conventional show, parents will just have to accept that their kids are going to love it. The website for iCarly will be finished and live on September 8, 2007. Here, kids can give iCarly show ideas for her webcasts, can upload videos (right now they are looking for those with unusual talents), get advice on what to submit, and find information on both the show and the characters portrayed on it.

The show, iCarly, will be premiering on Nickelodeon in two, back-to-back episodes, on the same date as the website release, September 8, 2007. The 30-minutes long sitcom will be on television from 8-9 PM, the ideal time for teen/tween audiences to watch the show. From there, iCarly fans can catch the show in its regular time slot, on Sundays, at 7:30 PM EST.

Photo copyright and provided by Janet Van Ham and Nickelodeon.

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Technorati Tags: Nickelodeon, iCarly, new television show, teens, tweens, webcast, technology

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