The 5 types of TV content your child actor should be watching
Today, we're diving into a topic that's as crucial as it is fun: TV watching for young actors. Yep, you heard that right – I'm actually encouraging screen time! But before you start planning a weekend-long binge-fest, let's chat about why this is so important and what your little thespian should be watching.
The TV Tragedy of Our Times
Picture this: It's 1994, and I'm sprawled on the living room floor, eyes glued to the TV, soaking up every nuance of performance from the stars of "Boy Meets World" and "Friends." Fast forward to today, and what do we see? A generation of kids who can scroll TikTok faster than I can say "action," but who barely know what a TV show is.
This generation of aspiring actors, almost allergic to traditional TV, is missing out on a crucial opportunity. But for young actors, this shift away from traditional TV viewing is like a chef who's never tasted food. They’re leaving themselves without the essential references needed to analyze character arcs, acting choices, and the subtle nuances that come from fully-produced episodic television. In short, watching TV is free training.
Why TV is Your Child's Free Acting School
Here's the kicker – watching TV is like enrolling in a free masterclass for actors. It's an accessible classroom full of examples that can help young actors learn everything from comedic timing to emotional depth. It's a front-row seat to different acting styles, character developments, and storytelling techniques. Plus, it's a goldmine of pop culture references that can make or break an audition connection. (Trust me, nothing makes a casting director smile like a kid who gets their obscure 90s sitcom reference!)
So, where do you start? Here's a list of five types of TV content your young actor should make time for, and why they can’t afford to skip it. Think of it as their homework, but way more fun!
1. Tween Multi-Camera Sitcoms: The Disney Channel and Nickelodeon Special
Why It's Essential: These shows are often the entry point for many young actors in the industry. They're like the kiddie pool of TV acting – a great place to start splashing around.
What to Watch: Shows like "iCarly," "Bunk'd," or "Raven's Home"
The Scoop: Multi-cam sitcoms have a unique energy and pace. They're often filmed in front of a live audience, which means the actors need to be larger than life and have impeccable comic timing. Watching these shows helps your child understand:
- The rhythm of joke delivery
- How to play to both the camera and a live audience
- The art of the perfectly timed reaction shot
Plus, watching a character in a brightly-lit set navigate wacky situations is exactly the kind of high-energy, audience-dependent performance that separates stage and screen actors from each other.
2. Procedural Dramas: Where Every Episode is a New Adventure
Why It's Essential: Procedural dramas often blend moments of intense personal conflict with fast-paced action, offering young actors a crash course in shifting between emotional vulnerability and heightened stakes. And more casting opportunites come from the many weekly co-star and guest star roles than any other genre of TV content.
What to Watch: Series like "9-1-1," "Grey's Anatomy," or for the younger crowd, "The InBESTigators"
The Scoop: Procedural dramas are like the swiss army knives of the TV world – they do a bit of everything. One minute you're spouting medical terms, the next you're in an emotional heart-to-heart. Watching these helps your child:
- Learn how to deliver complex information naturally
- Understand the balance between professional and personal storylines
- See how to maintain character consistency across various scenarios
3. Single-Camera Sitcoms: Where the Fourth Wall is Your Best Friend
Why It's Essential: Single-camera sitcoms offer a different comedic style that is more nuanced and natural compared to multi-camera shows. They provide an opportunity to learn subtle humor, timing, and the art of reacting in a more realistic setting.
What to Watch: "Modern Family," "The Middle," or for a tween-friendly option, "Andi Mack"
The Scoop: Single-camera sitcoms are like the cool, laid-back cousin of multi-cam shows. The acting is more subtle, the humor often more nuanced. By watching these, your child will pick up on:
- How to play comedy in a more realistic setting
- The art of the subtle reaction
- How to break the fourth wall and connect with the audience through the camera
Watching these shows will help young actors learn how to convey humor authentically and create relatable, everyday characters that don’t depend on a laugh track.
4. Family Dramas: Where Emotions Run High and Tears Flow Freely
Why It's Essential: These shows are emotional bootcamps, teaching actors how to tap into deep feelings and a guide to navigating the highs and lows of complex relationships.
What to Watch: "This Is Us," "Parenthood," or for a younger audience, "The Baby-Sitters Club"
The Scoop: Family dramas are like emotional rollercoasters – thrilling, sometimes scary, but ultimately rewarding. They're perfect for helping your young actor:
- Develop their emotional range
- Understand family dynamics and how to portray them
- Learn how to build and sustain long-term character arcs
Family dramas are essentially a masterclass in raw emotion. They allow young actors to observe the layering of performances, where quiet moments can lead to explosive emotional scenes, offering a blueprint for developing dramatic range.
5. Sci-Fi/Adventure Series: Where Imagination Meets Acting Chops
Why It's Essential: Sci-fi and adventure series push young actors to work with heightened stakes in imaginative settings. These shows challenge actors to make the unbelievable believable, a crucial skill in our green-screen-heavy industry.
What to Watch: "Stranger Things," "Lost in Space," or "A Series of Unfortunate Events"
The Scoop: Sci-fi and adventure series are like acting in a foreign country – everything's a bit different, but the emotions are universal. These shows help your child:
- Develop the ability to react to things that aren't there (hello, special effects!)
- Learn how to build a character in extraordinary circumstances
- Understand how to balance action with emotional storytelling
Lights, Camera, Watch!
Watching television isn’t just downtime; it’s work, and it’s the kind of work that’s fun, free, and vital for your young actor’s growth. By exposing them to these different genres, you’re giving them a library of techniques to draw from. They can observe how real professionals handle comic timing, high stakes, the delivery of emotion, and the incredible range demanded of actors today. It's essential to start seeing TV not as entertainment alone, but as a training tool—a front-row seat to masterful performances in action. And hey, if anyone gives you the side-eye for letting your kid watch TV, just tell them it's for their career. You're not a couch potato enabler; you're a star-maker!
Now, I'd love to hear from you. What shows have your young actors learned the most from? Any hidden gems you've discovered? Share in the comments below!
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FAQ: TV Watching for Young Actors
My child doesn’t like TV and prefers online content. What should I do?
While online content is great, it doesn’t replace the depth of character arcs and storytelling found in a full TV series. Try to make it an experience—watch together and talk about the scenes, the characters, and how they make choices. Engage with them to help build the habit.
Isn’t TV too passive compared to acting lessons?
Not at all! Watching actors perform well is incredibly active training when done right. Have your young actor take notes, pause scenes to ask how they’d handle it, or mimic the actor’s choices as practice.
Can’t my child learn the same thing from watching movies?
Movies are great for certain elements, but TV shows give you a longer window into character development. It’s invaluable for actors to see characters grow over time, to observe how an actor maintains consistency or adjusts as new layers are added to their role.
How often should my young actor watch TV for training purposes?
Ideally, they should be watching at least a few episodes a week from a variety of genres—mixing and matching genres will help keep it fun and balanced. Make it part of their acting homework!
Should my child only watch shows with kid actors?
Not at all! While shows with young actors are great, it's important to expose them to a variety of performances and styles across age ranges.
What if my child gets inspired by bad acting?
Great question! Use it as a learning opportunity. Discuss what didn't work and how it could be improved.
How can I make TV watching more educational for my young actor?
Watch together when possible, pause to discuss interesting scenes, and encourage your child to keep a "performance journal" noting what they've learned.
Are streaming services okay, or should we stick to traditional TV?
Streaming services are great! They offer a wide variety of content. Just be sure to curate a mix of current and classic shows to give your child a well-rounded viewing experience.
