Shake It Up
Shake It Up is an American teen sitcom that originally aired on Disney Channel from 2010 to 2013. The series centers on best friends CeCe Jones and Rocky Blue as they pursue their dreams of becoming professional backup dancers on a local Chicago TV show, 'Shake It Up, Chicago.' The show follows their comedic adventures and misadventures both on and off the set, exploring themes of friendship, ambition, and navigating the challenges of early teenage life and burgeoning fame. While maintaining a generally lighthearted tone typical of Disney Channel programming, parental reviews suggest the show features slightly more mature dialogue and dance styles compared to earlier Disney offerings. The series targets a pre-teen and early teen audience, focusing on relatable situations and humorous character interactions.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe television series 'Shake It Up' itself does not feature explicit LGBTQ+ characters or themes within its canon storylines. However, online fan communities dedicated to the show contain fan-created content, including fanfiction, that depicts lesbian relationships between the main characters, CeCe and Rocky, with explicit sexual content.
One fanfiction titled 'Rocky And Cece Lesbian it Up Chapter 1' describes Rocky in 'her bra and crotchless panties' and details explicit sexual acts between Rocky and CeCe. Another fan-created story, 'Girl Love It Up!,' portrays CeCe and Rocky as 22-year-old bisexual best friends who live and sleep together, engaging in explicit sexual acts, such as CeCe licking Rocky's posterior.
Violence
MediumThe show includes mild, comedic, and slapstick violence consistent with a teen sitcom. There are instances of minor physical altercations and comedic threats, rather than graphic or intense physical harm.
In the episode 'Kick It Up,' a character mentions being 'beat up' by a girl described as 'extremely aggressive and eloquently expressed herself with small bony fists.' Additionally, Rocky makes a joke about 'sweaty felons' making knives in the episode 'Glitz It Up!'
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe series features typical mild teenage romance, including flirting, crushes, and kissing. Parental reviews indicate that some dances and costumes are perceived as 'sexier' than traditional Disney fare, and dialogue can be 'crass,' suggesting mild suggestive themes.
Rocky and Logan share kisses in the episode 'I Do It Up,' leading to discussions among the characters regarding their relationship. The Plugged In review notes that 'the dances (along with the costumes that go with them) are a tad sexier than we're used to seeing from Disney,' and that the dialogue is 'just a bit more crass.'
Profanity
MediumWhile strong profanity is generally absent from the Disney Channel series, some parental reviews and fan discussions highlight the presence of 'crass' dialogue and implied mild cursing, indicating language that may be perceived as borderline or mildly inappropriate for younger viewers.
A parental review mentions the dialogue being 'just a bit more crass' than what is typically expected from Disney Channel shows. In a YouTube video discussing 'Jokes You MISSED As a Kid!,' it is noted that Tinka is heard 'cursing in whatever her native language is' when she is upset, though the specific words are not translated or explicitly stated.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumWhile not a horror or suspense series, 'Shake It Up' has featured themes that were considered intense enough to warrant modification. This includes references to eating disorders and instances of gross-out humor.
The episode 'Party It Up' (also known as 'Colbie Caillat') was temporarily removed from rotation by Disney Channel and later re-aired with 'eating disorder references' removed following criticism. The show also incorporates gross-out humor, such as CeCe flatulating in the episode 'Embarrass It Up,' and Rocky and CeCe vomiting after eating a giant meatball.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumCharacters, particularly the teenage protagonists and younger brother, sometimes exhibit disrespectful behavior towards authority figures and engage in minor acts of rebellion or mischief, often played for comedic effect. Parental figures are occasionally absent, leading to scenarios where the children operate unsupervised.
The Plugged In review notes that 'Parents or any other sort of involved adult authority figures are sometimes absent for entire episodes, leaving CeCe and Rocky to run the ranch,' implicitly showing a lack of consistent adult supervision. Rocky explicitly tries to appear 'bad' by 'being disrespectful to and ultimately pranking the school’s newly-arrived vice principal' in an episode. Additionally, Flynn, CeCe's mischievous younger brother, takes his mom's handcuffs, stating, 'I'm sure she won't miss them for a day,' and calls someone a 'dirt bag' in the pilot episode 'Start It Up.'
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThe 'Shake It Up' television series does not contain any themes related to witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, or supernatural elements. The show's narrative is grounded in real-world scenarios focused on dance, friendship, and personal aspirations.
No characters are depicted practicing magic, casting spells, or engaging in any form of occult rituals. The storylines consistently avoid any supernatural beings, demons, or overt occult symbolism.
Substance Use
LowThe show does not depict characters engaging in alcohol or illegal drug use, nor does it promote smoking. Any references to substances are indirect and typically presented in a G-rated, cautionary context.
In one instance, energy drinks are referred to as a 'G-Rated Drug' on TV Tropes, with the character Rocky comparing their use to 'steroid use' and cautioning against a 'slippery slope' if she and CeCe become reliant on them. There are no explicit scenes showing characters consuming alcohol, smoking, or using illegal drugs.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe series does not contain any explicit or implied anti-Christian themes. Religious content is largely absent from the show, which maintains a secular focus on dance, friendship, and career aspirations.
No characters are depicted mocking or insulting Christian beliefs or symbols. The plotlines do not incorporate any narratives that promote anti-Christian messages or explicitly criticize Christianity.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Recommended for ages 8+ due to mild suggestive themes, occasional crass dialogue, instances of disrespectful behavior, and mild physical comedy. While generally lighthearted, certain elements may be more appropriate for slightly older children, and parental guidance is suggested for discussions around themes of self-image, peer pressure, and respectful communication. The show aligns with typical Disney Channel content, likely falling within a TV-G or TV-PG rating category.
Additional Notes
While the official TV Parental Guidelines rating was not explicitly found in the search results, 'Shake It Up' was produced by Disney Channel, which typically targets a family and tween audience. The content concerns, particularly regarding suggestive elements and mild disrespect, suggest it would likely be rated TV-G or TV-PG. Parents should be aware of the existence of explicit fan-created content online that is not part of the official show but is easily discoverable within fan communities.
Related Reviews
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