Why Hollywood is AFRAID To Make A Gen Z College Show

[@ramonaflowers2813]

When you think about it, very borderline creepy that they always have high schoolers in these situations and not college students

[@jibarabicha4853]

It’s the same reason I could not get passed episode 2 of Euphoria. It just felt weird watching those scenes there were supposedly of high school students. I would have binged the heck out of it had it been a college drama. The fact that this is a high school show not meant for actual teens to watch is also pretty creepy.

[@user-xb5cj3xx1b]

Elite and gossip girl really throw me off with that shit.

[@Sasu123456789x1]

So many shows throw me off when they do that and its creepy as hell, its why I barely watch that genre anyway... its so problematic. I've been begging for more college based shows.

[@BratzRockAngels]

@@jibarabicha4853 Exactly, the fact that the show isn't even aimed towards teens anyway. It really just feels like the creators are some kind of perverts who get off to teens or something, cause there is so much unnecessary explicit scenes. I couldn't get past episode 2 either. Like, there's literally a pedo scene where a 17-18 year old girl has sex with a 40 year old man and it's completely sexualized and used for fan service, so gross.

[@lolak8573]

Veronica Mars 👀

[@trinaq]

"Sex Lives of College Girls" is probably the only teen college representation we currently have. I wish that there could be more shows centred around college, and not just have high school characters transition to college halfway through the show. It's a gamble which usually has mixed results.

[@andresvista8858]

"Merlí, Sapere Aude" is another show about the Gen Z life in college. It doens't get a lot of recognition because is in spanish but it's good. I'm sure he'll like it. Carlos Cuevas has 3 good shows about life in high school, college and as a young adult.

[@100anneray7]

Grown-ish

[@jasminecaldwell1173]

I like all American homecoming also! It really portrays hbcu college life accurately

[@coolboss999]

All American and All American Homecoming also gambles this as well

[@oliviamorris8736]

common Trina Q W

[@ProphetMisfit09]

This is a good question... Why are they always base in High School when Colleges open up the chances for so much more, plot wise.

[@comedygod522]

Because high school is way more vulnerable

[@wjshty]

because these scriptwriters wanna project the childhood fantasies they didn't get to live

[@ProphetMisfit09]

@@wjshty speak on it, because that is def what it gives.

[@ProphetMisfit09]

@Comedy God hooow though? Most of the time they have these high schoolers living like grown adults, parents barely present in their lives. College might as well be the setting because it is dumb.

[@comedygod522]

@PropfetMisfit09 high school is very small place no matter how big it seems like, the people you like you always will encounter them, a lot of sad stuff happens around this time, a lot can happen in four years but college is way more expansive and therefore a lot of things can be changed.

[@SocarellaDeToussaint]

My idea for a Gen Z show is "Hannah Montana: Horror Story" where basically Hannah Montana is an ancient deity that is bringing forth the Hannahpocalypse by sacrificing wigs to her altar.

[@muffins1072]

Perfect lol

[@imuRgency]

now thats camp

[@misspanda456]

Someone pitch this to Miley stat

[@randomgeekcrap]

I would watch the shit outa of that

[@Missmagazinebura]

Black mirror episode 😊

Millenial here, I think it’s because most of the writers are millenials and we just don’t want to accept that we’re getting so old that Gen Z-ers are now of college age 😂

[@rgonzalo511]

Are they millennials? I feel most writers are gen x but idk

[@ambriaashley3383]

@@rgonzalo511 right? Ha ha. Im a millennial, born in late 92. I think there is a decent amount of millenial Hollywood writers out there, but it is RARE that someone our age (30) is running a whole writers room themselves or is the head writer of a show or movie. I feel like Gen X (around 40 today) is still largely in charge of what new comedy or popular film gets produced. I should also point out that Hollywood isn't too diverse at all, right? We may be hearing new stories every few years from cis or white millenials or Gen X, but almost nothing from millennials of color. I think millennial and Gen Z poc would be the best at creating new, diverse, & accurate stories.

[@TheresaVibess]

Millennial here as well and I still feel like I just graduated High school and I definitely graduated in 2009 🥴🤣

[@Val-8CH]

@@ambriaashley3383Actually older millennials were born around '82. So those 40 yr olds running the writers room are millennials

[@alexrose20]

@@Val-8CH I was wondering if anyone was gonna say it 😂

[@mojo_joan]

As someone who's in the younger part of Gen Z, it sucks. Either we get overly sexualized shows or we get cringe stuff. I'd like to see more representation of the people that aren't very sexual, just trying to get through the hardships of life. Just sucks being a minority in Gen Z 👍🏽

[@Kota_bota777]

Exactly

[@mojo_joan]

@@tovahcooper8 FR they be making 14-year-olds the horniest people ever 😭

[@iHeartPiMore]

Yeah- I’m a 1998 baby, the “old” side of Gen Z, and maybe the only shows I almost related to were The Fosters and Switched at Birth.

[@mojo_joan]

@@iHeartPiMore I've refrained myself from watching a lot of the shows he talks about because I know what content is gonna show up. Nice to see I'm not alone :)

[@sita9071]

@@iHeartPiMore I'm a 2002 baby (probably on the cusp of "old" Gen Z and "middle" Gen Z but closer to old bc upbringing) and I pretty much went exclusively to cartoons and anime after like 2014. I outgrew the Nick and Disney sitcoms but was still too young for sexualized content (there are a lot of cartoons and anime that are still inappropriate and whatnot but there's more of a variety for what you can get compared to a lot of live-action stuff that seems to be out now). Hopefully there will be more shows made in the future that can find a good middle-ground.

[@sabahk]

I just don't get why we can't have both high school shows and college shows (+beyond) 😭. I'm an older gen z (I've graduated university like??) and it's true that most of our "coming of age" happens when we actually enter the real adult world. These shows make it seem like if you get into a good college, you're set for life when it isn't true at all. They hype up this decision in high school but then don't show us the consequences. They make it seem like your life ends with high school when in reality that's when it begins

[@lorettaknoelk3475]

I've always thought all high school movies made it seem like your life ends with high school in a way

[@Sasu123456789x1]

You are so right ✅

[@reasonablewalk4982]

Except for the Fosters/Good Trouble which skipped college entirely 😭

[@iHeartPiMore]

Right?? I was born in 1998 😩

[@lunasespinosa]

for real!!

[@mickeymcclell4545]

I didn't finish the video yet but this makes so much sense when you consider how the older generations constantly sees and portrays gen z as 16 and below. Forgetting that, at least half of us, are adults is wild to me

[@alaasusername]

yeah, like ... dude, I'm almost 23 LOL

[@lorettaknoelk3475]

Boomers & Silent Gens will constantly call me a baby. (I am an elderly Millenial). People wanna act like that's cute, funny, and harmless but I really do notice that they think of me (us?) as too young to know anything. They forget that we used DIAL UP, read the actual newspapers, and had to ask our friend's parents if they were home.

[@bardishcryptid]

Like, generation alpha will stop being born in 2 years and they’ll move on to the next generation label??? And Gen z are babies still?

[@artycorp.9230]

Technically, since Gen Z ends in 2010, by the end of this year, 70% of this generation will be over 18.

[@izzc2032]

@@artycorp.9230yes! I’m 26 and I’m constantly baffled at how I’m considered Gen z but can’t relate to half of the experience. My high school experience (graduated 2015) was definitely not the same from Gen z kids going to hs now 😂

[@maddummel]

give me "fresh out of college, born at the turn of generations, confused about their identity adult, who doesn't really know how to adult in this economy" show xD

[@L_R..]

SO many people go through this!!! They really need to incorporate that!!

[@jennmarie4969]

lena dunham's show girls did a decent job of that, as well as her movie tiny furniture, and greta gerwig's frances ha, if you're interested in taking a look at those

[@jennmarie4969]

lena dunham's show girls did a decent job of that, as well as her movie tiny furniture, and greta gerwig's frances ha, if you're interested in taking a look at those

[@importantstuf8870]

so girls?

[@MH-pe6ms]

@@jennmarie4969 Those are for millenials though. People who graduated hs in 2015/16/17 are just not represented at all. The older part of gen z is written off as a millenial or gen z depending on who's making the argument.

[@sirsugarcane7056]

Honestly the one about having a college student and a non college going person being like the main characters and combining that would be so helpful especially on growing the pro and cons of each side. Educational and drama. What our generation needs😭

[@ambriaashley3383]

Ooo yes that would hit so much ☺️☺️

[@asterismos5451]

could be cool too to get something like a sculpture major who works with wood and a carpentry apprentice or whatever as the characters where it's the uni and non-uni approaches to similar fields! It would probably make the whole show about the pros and cons of uni vs. apprenticeships or whichever alternatives rather than what I think would be more interesting which would be a sort of buddy-cop story approach where they are very different people who are friends or work together or something. Maybe they have to work on a project together due to their similar fields and clash about the approach, idk. But yeah there's potential there!

[@artemis1796]

yes god i need that!

[@whereisconstance]

THIS!

[@atlasiscooler4694]

True. Or even a wide variety of people i.e. uni person, community college person, trade school person, gap year person, person who started working right high school, etc, and then they all get brought together by different circumstances, showing that there isn’t one way to be a young adult, and contrasting certain experiences.

[@leena5875]

i would love to see a college show with the college vs no college dynamics and experiences: the stressed college student with secret vices, the college dropout, the one who struggles to find themselves after high school with no direction, the one who creates a successful startup, or even just the one who goes into trades while their friend/partner goes into high levels of academia.

[@leena5875]

Or the kid who feels they need to go to college but secretly wants be an artist and the kid who breaks into the music industry (like a hannah Montana 2)

[@user_gov]

Ughhhhh the way this fills me ith serotonin. There is literally NO show like this which is INSANE.

[@otsoko66]

@@user_gov Both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Dawson's Creek did exactly this back in the day -- a central character (Xander and Pacey, respectively) didn't go to college when the other characters did - and they still remained central characters in the show. So it's been done.

[@__Oku__]

I'm just really interested in the type of shows Gen Z are gonna make once we'll be able to. All of these shows trying to portray our experience are just not doing it right. Idk

[@BRIXXANY1]

I hate that the shows that represent a certain demographic are never the ones writing it, I feel like media will always be behind because of all these social norms we “have” to follow because they won’t hire us🙄

[@sabahk]

by the time gen z gets in the writers room, gen alpha will be annoyed that THEY aren't getting represented 😭

[@katgreer6113]

We are probably gonna do the same thing....

[@sib9769]

Exactly…just live your life and get off social media.

[@atlasiscooler4694]

I wonder if any other generations were really portrayed right in the teen shows of their time. Maybe we’ll get to show our perspective by portraying Gen Alpha and Beta (is that the next one?) wrong, leading them to be annoyed and write unrepresentative shows for the generations after them.

[@No1PlutoSupporter]

More shows and media outside of high school!!!! Even when I WAS in high school I was getting over books that were centered around teens bc it made me questioned “is this really supposed to be the best time of my life????”

[@heralisa3202]

True cause, why are so focused on these four year when we have our 20s, 30s even, like high-school isn't the peak of someone's existence

[@leena5875]

its so unrealistic and cringy at most. the love scenes, the immature petty bs, the academics

[@rawiii5578]

EXACTLY YESS! I was so desperate for shows in college cuz I wanted to like, get into it and get excited

[@linawaller2086]

As someone from Gen Z, I feel like if you focus less on only representing Gen Z and more on creating genuinely good work, we’d have more characters and projects that embody can our generation. Creating tv shows and movies with a sole purpose to be a generation’s “x y z” is definitely a trap because you can end up representing nothing at all. Also, I would argue that just dropping a Gen Z writer in a room isn’t going to fix anything if the writing isn’t any good and/or have nothing interesting to say. It’ll just end up like the millennial shows that couldn’t break through because it was trying to be everything.

[@yasmineguerin2852]

Idk think you understand, heartbreak high is a good example.

[@yasmineguerin2852]

Shows that try to hard is a good example of what your talking about

[@tenzinmutuzaki8228]

Absolutely, Lina. You can have a ton of insight into the lives of Gen Z and still write a terrible show. Researching and executing a good story are two entirely different things. Plus, Gen Z is a monolith, and not every member of it uses social media all the time or speaks the slang.

[@kphoria1009]

good shows require good writing either way, but there’s always a target audience. why not accurately represent the target audience

[@sarahjohnson.videos]

this legit made realize why whenever I watch a teen show I'm always mad about how they have been in high school for so long and i keep wishing for a time skip or smth in every show but writers wont let gen z grow up and as a genz I've been watching characters be in high school since i was in middle school and soon I'm going to be starting college and the characters are still in high school

[@r.v.alister2973]

I'm at the start of Gen z and am a high school teacher, teaching gen z. A very rare concept I feel, having a teacher in your same generation, anyway. I try to explain to them that high school is not the end goal here, that high school is supposed to be the easy part. All this drama and hard times and doing drugs and getting stupid drunk every weekend, that's not high school, that's TV. They say, "Nah Ms. Mac see back in your day-" Me, "Your day is my day, I'm seven years older than you!"

[@nobodyofknowhere973]

Thank you for voicing such an interesting prespective!

[@em6644]

I’m not a teacher but I’m an old gen z who’s worked with younger gen z in other roles and this is hilarious to me!! It’s also weird because most of the time it’s like these people are babies you know? Like they’re young and I feel responsible for them. But then there’s times where I find myself relating more with them than I do with my colleagues! Even compared to my colleagues who are closer in age to me, simply because of where the generational divide is.

[@tamiin1774]

As a teen 7 yrs is still a lot. I’m 6 years older than my sister and can’t imagine being in the same generation as her.

[@Nyxthebat04]

...There's 25 year old high school teachers? How?

[@Nyxthebat04]

@Tamii N Generations usually last 10-15 years. The age difference is big when you're a kid but once you're over like, 15, it's not as big a difference.

[@DA-yy8rs]

I'm so excited about this video as an ancient gen z (24, born in '98). We deserve undergrad and post-grad representation!!!

[@sc-8921]

Im right there with you. I’m 21 born in ‘01 and college senior and the content is just not giving

[@fernandoariza3895]

we also deserve more entering the corporate world after undergrad rep, coming from a fellow ancient genz :(

[@fuosdi64]

"Ancient Gen Z". Dude if you were born on 1997-1999 you're on the cusp. Meaning you are a Zillennial.

[@maroonhorizon1693]

Ancient? Girl please

[@rgonzalo511]

​@@fuosdi64 No such thing as Zillenial. Just like there's no such thing as a true gen z. No generation has ever been made up entirely of people who all lived the same lives. And this is more so with the younger generations. Who live in an era where 1 or 2 years can make a huge difference in lifestyle due to technology advancements

[@itsmesollol]

Not me being a Gen Z who writes scripts and is planning to be in the film industry some day watching this!! After watching, this gave me soo many ideas and after reading the comments I want to try my hand at writing something like this while also being close to graduating from college! Not really having shows that grow up with you takes the fun out of life fr especially at this age when you want to keep living in your youth😭. Anyways, remember me when the show comes out w my team of other Gen Z writers💗

[@em6644]

Good luck!!!! I’m sure it will be amazing!

[@leahelizabeth7861]

YES!!!! At 23, I have such a hard time finding relatable shows/movies. I either see all teenagers (or... people my age pretending to be teenagers) or all people who are moved out from their parents house and have a career.

[@katedirectioner3]

Exactly it’s like there’s no in between 🙃

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

Yes! Or people who are like, ten years into marriage and on the cusp of divorce😅 Honestly it’s starting to feel weird only watching high school shows, but I don’t relate at all to the older adult stuff. And I think these days, our generation doesn’t even get to live that typical ‘adult’ experience until soooo much later. So we spend basically our entire 20s in a state of permanent confusion and chaos, which is RIPE for TV material but completely unrepresented.

[@agnum0]

@@user-ed7et3pb4o I feel you

[@AstraeaAntiope]

I have clocked several examples of Netflix casting women in their 30s as high-schoolers/teenagers, recently.

[@Princessm1320]

Agree.

[@blackbuttahfly]

Older Gen Z’er here and I totally resonate with this, we also need a show for those of us who’ve graduated college and trying to find ourselves, it’s been a struggle because there isn’t anything relatable on tv for our experience especially navigating adulthood in a pandemic.

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

God I relate to this. I graduated in September and I’m currently just feeling so stuck. Like I have no idea what to do next.

[@nightcoffees]

I am so glad you made a video on this because this is something I've thought about in the past a lot. As an older Gen Z, it's pretty annoying how so many interesting stories and plots are handed to characters in high school when they could be better executed if they were young adults or just adults.

[@MrCreamtivityFlows]

ive been saying this forever LIKEE nobody tryna watch high schoolers be nasty its so uncomfortable

[@sarahhudson7108]

Thank👏you👏for👏this👏 As a mid 20s Zoomer, it is annoying and lowkey uncomfy that all thw shows about my generation are from high school. Sorry, I haven’t been there in over half a decade and I do not want to go back

[@fuosdi64]

"Mid 20's Zoomer". This doesn't exist LOL. You are a cusper, between both generations. Not a true representation of Gen Z.

[@rgonzalo511]

​@@fuosdi64 Gen Z is 1997 to 2012 meaning some Zoomers are as old as 25. And next year as old as 26. Gen Z being super young isn't really true anymore.

[@yukiandkanamekuran]

same im like 24 rn its been 5 years since highschool. as much as i love a boarding school drama, wouldnt it be cooler if it was college?

[@laurynelove7093]

@@rgonzalo511 26 is super young what

[@laurynelove7093]

@@rgonzalo511 also the oldest gen alpha are 10 genz are the youngest adults and most of the teens these days pls

[@shreyaprasai17]

A show that I have seen that actually does post- high school transition really well and the most realistic one is in Modern Family,Haley transition from being in high school to college and fitting in, getting her first job, dropping out & figuring out what she wants to do in her life this was one of my favourite episodes/season I like how the writers took their time with her storyline.

[@CorMan426]

Ever since I watched One Tree Hill straight up skip the college years & somehow everyone was a (mostly) successful young adult I knew I needed more realistic college shows. The thought of a Euphoria in college is desperately needed and I lowkey feel is coming cuz let’s be real euphoria likely isn’t lasting past 5 seasons

[@kelsilulu]

That’s because Hollywood is obsessed with youth. They like the idea of seeing kids in adult situations and it’s creepy

[@brielleg.3131]

I actually know someone who interns at a production company and her job is script coverage, essentially reviewing scripts people submit to the company. Her boss basically said they almost immediately disregard any scripts set in college/ with college aged people because it is not a universal experience. High school is a generally universal experience that most audiences can relate to. I also think she said that being in high school creates natural (and relatable) conflict because most high schoolers are controlled by authority figures (teachers, parents, etc.). However, college is definitely not a universal experience. A lot of people don't go to college, and if they do a lot (if not most) don't get to have that traditional college experience. So essentially a big reason there aren't that many college shows is because production companies don't think it will have a wide enough audience that could relate to it for it to be worth making. Though personally, I wish there were more college shows. And I the have found the Sex Lives of College Girls to be a really refreshing break from all the high school stuff, especially as a Gen Z who is now in college.

[@rawiii5578]

Bruh nooo, this generation has the highest ever number of people going to college. So it definitely should be a thing.

[@Ka_orellana]

@@rawiii5578ya and there’s also ppl who get homeschooled during hs

[@burrito2526]

Except so many hit shows have settings that aren’t relatable to the average person, so this logic doesn’t make sense. Breaking Bad, Money Heist, You, Severance, Bridgerton, Squid Game, Elite, Alice in Borderland, The Boys, the list is endless! All you really need is good writing and intriguing characters and a show will pop off. Think about it, there’s wayyyy more iconic TV shows that are ‘unrelatable’ compared to high school ones.

[@Sofil]

⁠​⁠@@burrito2526that’s exactly what i was going to say! A show doesn’t have to be relatable to be good, for example: game of thrones, the 100, stranger things, the walking dead

[@rodrickzero7248]

Honestly this is why I loved Community so much, I'm currently at college and that show does take advantage of that environment.

[@chuuyas_hat]

as an anti-social person who went to university, skipped out on frosh week (i was too nervous to do that lol) and commuted to school only for class and left immediately afterwards, it'd be interesting to have a college show accurately portray how commuters might just not get that full university experience & just feel like you've wasted a bunch of money on something not that great lmao....also the fact that other people might be gaining independence but you're just here not experiencing much of that because it's just not doable. i think it'd be good take to contrast how 'together' campus people are versus how isolated and awkward commuters might feel. but i'm canadian so maybe americans just don't have as much commuter students? and that's why it isn't shown much in these shows?

[@mismiserables]

I agree so much. This has been my experience also so I just never related to the portrayed college experience.

[@chuuyas_hat]

@@mismiserables yeah it'd be nice to see a different college experience! but the only issue that could come up is how incredibly mundane and boring of an experience it would be. idk if it could translate into a tv show at all. maybe a introspective coming of age movie tho!

[@squidwardtentacles7144]

I feel you tremendously! I'm just about to finish my first semester and I commute and leave right after (not by choice). And I feel you. Definitely not the college experience that's advertised. And also there's actually ALOT of people that commute to college in the United States. Everyone I know in college commute. I honestly feel like there's more people that commute than dorm actually be sure dorming is very expensive here.😬

[@dizzydee6362]

Same omg. My freshman year I had a 3 hour round trip bus commute so I missed out on almost the entirety of events because it was like "Do I wanna stay for this event or do I wanna get home while it's still light enough out?" Public transportation in the city as a 5'0 girl meant taking the bus after dark was an absolute no. Add on the fact that I just did not want to make the effort of trying to awkwardly introduce myself to new people that I may or may not see and it just made sense that the entirety of my freshman year was home>class>home.

[@opalminx8240]

Oh no, we have commuter schools as well or schools where dorm culture isn't prevalent

[@two-headedrat6954]

I’d like go watch a college show about two groups of friends that merge. First group was popular on high school and the second group was part of the average under achievers. And that’ll be interesting to see them interact.

[@caitlingill]

This premise lowkey reminds me of Scream Queens?

[@Sasu123456789x1]

That's a good idea

[@leshanloonena9033]

I was thinking this! Like most of Gen Z are over 18 now. We need shows about Gen Zs in the workforce or starting out life. The only 2 shows I know that do this are "Why are you Like This" and "Good Trouble"

[@JustBeBre]

Back when A Different World was on, it increased the number of enrollment in colleges. Because people wanted that college experience. I think that could be important now

[@bajabl]

Millennials begged for college aged shows when we were younger too (mainly discussed on tumblr) and the only one that was good was community 😭 I hope y’all get what we waited for lol, we’ll be tuning in too

[@Sasu123456789x1]

Omg I know right! I had been screaming for years 😭

[@kat12.]

That’s what i was thinking! Except i think Community was supposed to show how community colleges include all different age groups so it wasn’t even a millennial show, they just so happened to be in college lol.

[@sib9769]

Gen alpha will be complaining about there asses in a few yrs too. The cycle continues.

[@tamarah2085]

Community was truly a multi-generational show set in college - you had Millennial (Annie, Britta, Troy), Gen X (Jeff, Abed, Shirley) and Boomer (Pierce).

[@franciscagomes185]

Yes people´s mentality doesn´t change a lot when they get to college and we´re still teens. They always portray the end of high school as if they´re already full adults. Its not a faithful deciption

[@imuRgency]

exactly you’re literally still a teenager throughout like half of college

[@tinymeatbean]

i think the main problem is that series don’t last as long as they used to. i can’t tell you any popular shows that have made to 6 seasons? we don’t have anyone to grow up with anymore bc they cancel everything. the characters don’t make it to college, they’re dead lmao also - extraordinary is a new D+ show similar to Sky High (the main girl doesn’t have powers, everyone else does) and she’s 25! older than college, but 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@tamiin1774]

Cobra Kai.

[@ajinc.6398]

I’m in college myself and I was talking to my parents about how there’s so many streaming shows that try to explore really mature themes and ideas using high school kids and then market it towards mature audiences. Like why not just put them in college? Unless they also want to rope in the high school audience into their mature content, which really irritates me.

[@BRIXXANY1]

My gripe with this issue is that writers/producers think that it has to be either or lol there’s like hella people I’d know while I was in college who weren’t in college or were in community college near by. I literally moved into an apartment where one of my roommates was a in a community college about 40 minutes away and she was so fun. They don’t let young adults be nuanced in that way

[@tykelwilliams6053]

I feel like Genera+ion was the most accurate teen show they we’re like semi-happy twin of Euphoria but the difference was a teenager was a writer & they talked about being gay, nonbinary, teenage pregnancy, lesbian, throuples, depression, not having parents around, having a borderline homophobic parent, having a questionable parent who might be gay, interracial gay dads, death of a parent, being your true self, self discovery, feeling lost, learning to be a ally, felling alone, anxiety, transgender, feeling confused, having a friend group to support you, coming out in front your entire family at a wedding, standing up to homophobes, & school lock downs but the only thing that people didn’t like was the student & guidance counselor story line but they should’ve put in college because it could’ve worked but I don’t know how it could’ve continued unless they did like summer breaks as season 2 & Christmas break as season 4 but HBOMAX canceled them then removed it from the app & most fans tried to get moved to another network or streaming service

[@faithneedshelp]

and it worked so well cause the main writers were gen z

[@opalminx8240]

The same thing happened with Grand Army. It us like when teens have a show they can relate to that calls out things where they are awkward and not oversexualized, it gets canceled. Like wtf

[@nicolesherman8974]

TSLOCG is the only show that I can think of that does a great job of incorporating Gen Z life while at college. It doesn’t come off as “faux” or inauthentic.

[@ilikefood4482]

I’d love a college show. For some reason a lot of people think gen z are 18 or under 😅 but a lot of us are already 21-23. Someone even told me the cut off is 25 before you’re considered a millennial.

[@leatorrisi8468]

Another show that transitioned from highschool to college is Atypical. That show has definitely some flaws but the transition was *smooth*

[@newagehero9605]

Or a gen z show of people out of high school not going to college and doing a trade or just working

[@caitlingill]

I’d love a show about a group of friends who graduate high school and decide to step into the career field by internships and minimum wage jobs, eventually rising up through the corporate ladder throughout the show (and not going to college obviously in this case)

[@rocktheroadtowembley]

The Bold Type kind of is this show.

[@spoopep]

I would also love for some future Gen Z shows to not be set in some school like even college, showing some other experiences I didn't live the college experience and i have a totally different experience of getting into the professional world etc and i think it would be cool to show young people coming of age into the world in different ways

[@caitlingill]

I’d love a show about a group of friends who graduate high school and decide to step into the career field by internships and minimum wage jobs, eventually rising up through the corporate ladder throughout the show (and not going to college obviously in this case)

[@johnjairus_]

omg sky high was literally my fav movie when i was growing up! glad to know that someone knew that it existed, sir has culture!!!!!!

[@squidwardtentacles7144]

I'd also like to add that I think college shows aren't made enough not just due to the fact that high school shows are mainly marketers towards young teen girls and we all know teen girls are one of the biggest consumer demographics but because college life is a more individual sense while high school is more of a collective. What I mean by this is that let's say you have a cast of five people. Mostly likely than not they're not gonna have the same majors therefore won't have the classes and might not be at school around the same time. And that's assuming that they're dorming and not commuting or taking the community college route. While in high school, the periods are the same, the times are the same, and although some may have different classes the core subjects such as math, english, science, and social studies are still the same. I think high school just gives the characters more room for silly antics and immature behavior. Like the bullying for example. I just hear someone the other day say "It's so ghetto to bully someone in college. Imagine! Like we're grown." And I couldn't help but agree (I'm not negating the fact that bullying can still happens in college). Also the high school dramas such as gossip and fights and pranks aren't too popular in college either because everyone has their own life to worry about. They can't afford (literally) to be out here concerned with everyone else. They have their own lives and struggles to worry about. Honestly if show makers just focused on what college really is about and the struggles that come with it + the growth process that happens in college instead of trying to make it like a high school 2.0 then I think they'd be alot more popular than they are now.

[@sarahroddey2937]

YES!! THANK YOU!! As a Gen Z member who is married with a full time career it's so frustrating that the only shows and movies with people in my place in life are Millennials

[@yasmineguerin2852]

Not too much now.

[@yasmineguerin2852]

Lots of genz aren't like you

[@sarahroddey2937]

@@yasmineguerin2852 but lots are... Why can't we have an equal representation?

[@yasmineguerin2852]

@@sarahroddey2937 I'm not saying you don't or anything, definitely not true. But that it's easier to probably find someone that's super young, married has a house or something, a full time career. Lots of us are in hs starting life or in college struggling figuring stuff out you meet more of those them, I agree tho

[@actualnotanewbie]

11:12 my ex dropped out of college but chose to live right next to the college and still hang out on campus so she could retain her friend group. That could be an interesting show idea because then you're with college aged people but you're definitely not tied down to the show being about college

[@Springerror]

Honestly I feel like high school in Hollywood is like a setting because it’s mandatory everyone’s there and there’s not much explaining if they’re in school or not but college is a little more challenging because everyone has different things going on and different times to be at school and some don’t go to college and for college they need to have more of a set schedule and they actually have to plan certain things about it

[@johnsonpeter6247]

Honestly as a high schooler going to college in a year .I would love this representation to scope out the feel of college before I get there. Its as if high school is where I will probably peak

[@simply_moni5]

FINALLY someone said it!!!! i 100% agree, coming of age def takes place in college & post college more than anything! i WISH they would make a college or post-college show for gen Z. i wish they’d make more “grad school” shows too as someone who is currently in that phase

[@mcidkwiwtnt4193]

I love tslocg because it’s really the only out of high school rep any of us can comprehend and take seriously

[@NO-kc4xb]

I haven’t finished watching the video yet but I already think it’s a good idea. I’ve said before that the type of media we consume can sometimes make people- even as young as me (I’m 18) or some of you- feel old because the truth is that WE are getting older, but our characters aren’t. I remember turning 17 and being all like “damn, a lot of characters won’t be my age anymore pretty soon. This lowkey sucks😭”. I was irrationally disappointed about it lol. I’m still a teen and I feel old. Like wtf why??? I can kinda see Hollywood embracing this too. Which I feel lucky about because older gen z’s didn’t get that. I’m in the crux of gen z (early 2000s) so I can because I’m in this nice middle part of gen z. Hopefully this happens. It’ll be fun to see.

[@ithanvega]

Do a video on Sex Lives of College Girls season 2 cause we need to discuss how they made Kimberly so unlikable all of a sudden in the finale. Bela is becoming more unlikable but I’m not surprised about what she did cause I always saw her do shit like that eventually.

[@valentinatroncoso5274]

omg you're so right! like that Kimberly crush on Canaan?? I didn't see that coming at all, it made me dislike her so much for not sharing that with Whitney. And I also hated that they ruined Leighton and Tatum relationship just so she could get back with Alicia

[@lead6186]

Bela became unbearable, my girl Whitney is always getting the short end of the stick, Ieighton and Alicia made up all of a sudden and Kimberly and Canaan ummm no comment.

[@suzygirl1843]

@@valentinatroncoso5274 Yeah, Tatum was right. The stuff they were selling was trash.

[@nema.s210]

@@lead6186 With how leighton and Alicia ended and left things off they definitely shouldn’t have got together that fast, they should’ve took some time to have a conversation because I don’t know about Alicia but leighton has changed a lot in some ways since they were dating

[@Fannywikstrom95]

I think Kimberley is sort of growing up a little bit, I don’t perceive her as unlikable really. Of course she did a very shitty thing by kissing Canaan but I kind of like that she’s gone from this very innocent always studying “good girl” to someone who is a bit more messy, still finding herself. To me it feels like a genuine representation! Since Leighton has been on a redemption arc maybe it made sense to have the others stir the pot a bit..? I really hope Whitney gets more character development this next season as well

[@brupkin1177]

my reality as being 20 something is so weird cuz i have friends who are fully independent living by themselfs, friends who got marry and are raising kids, single moms struggling trought life alone and i also have friends who act like high schoolers even tho they're 25 but they always had financial support of family that allows them to be so behind in terms of maturity and responsability than the rest of us working ous asses to bearly survive. i would love to see a show that explore those differences in our genaration in dept and theres a lot of potencial for darker themes cuz our reality is very dark and hardcore

[@claranguematio6717]

There is Step up high water even though it has been cancelled and is focused on dance than the trad "sit in class, have group assignements".Another great but old college show was Greek, it succeded at romanticizing the college exeperience over 4 seasons with great storylines about finding what you want to do in life. It was my comfort show in college along with One tree hill.

[@kyrarose7552]

The sex lives of college girls definitely does a really good job of gen z college show

[@mmmaryj]

I agree so much! I don’t get why they’re always in high school.. never in class… always at club/parties… having lots of sex.. aren’t they 15-18!? 🤨 this could totally be set in college instead

[@blueviolet6152]

When the next season of euphoria comes out gen alpha will be teens. I wonder if alpha will find it representative of their experience 🤔

[@helle_larsen]

Aspiring filmmaker here, and as a soon 25 year old I have learned that the 20s got so much to it, that I only write scripts from the perspective of people in their 20s. The time when you learn the most about your identity, your dreams. You face so many hardships during this age, it is perfect for movies. I think future filmmakers will definitely focus more on this age group

[@LoraK31]

I feel like people don't cast Gen Z as adults because if they started doing that, they couldn't pass 30-something-year-old actors as 20-somethings. Hollywood is too obsessed with youth for that.

[@katalyria]

I'm gen Z (2000) and I just graduated college this year. I noticed this a few years ago, and it's not just Hollywood. I used to be a huge anime fan, but they barely make content for anyone older than middle school age. It just feels like they don't see us as individuals yet, just a demographic they can poke fun at. To your point, a show set in college but characters don't have to just be students would be incredible. Most of my college-age friends are not students. Our stories are worth being explored, I just hope they see that soon.

[@supernaturalawesome1]

Please do a vid on the rise of polyamorous relationships in media. Personally I want more of it 😆 I'm definitely in the camp that these gen Z shows should take place in college. Euphoria should have ended season one with high-school graduation then season 2 be their first year of college. The play would definitely make more sense. Super excited for Gen V. Darker older sister of Sky High! Yes please 🤣

[@lesbiangoddess290]

College in the sky?!!! I mean I'd watch the shit out of that

[@QTpatootie95]

The poly community is full of gross predators and is just having multiple wives repackaged as progressive imo anecdotally based on multiple personal and friend encounters.

[@helle_larsen]

Also one more thing to add as a Gen Z, recently I watched friends for the first time, and personally found it so refreshing to find a show focused on people in their mid twenties, trying to figure out life, because right now I feel way closer to my memories as a college student than my teenage years. I think a lot of older adults feel the same, they rather look back at their time in college than their time in high school, because your choices in college are the choices that led you to the life you live now as an adult.

[@Alexmary]

Sky High is literally one of the best movies Disney ever made😭

[@pau8154]

All American, All American Homecoming and Sex Lives of College Girls are 3 shows set in college right now

[@agla7460]

This! couldn’t agree more. most of the high school shows coming out now would make a lot more sense in a college setting, plus plot wise there is so much opportunity

[@genesisp3884]

I think also practically, it might be harder to film on a college campus for a show. Most sets are built for highschools already, so that might be one reason why. But I would definitely love to see more college dramas. It just makes more sense

[@khaliahmonet]

We need more college shows! College is more interesting in my opinion.

[@meganolivia403]

Right? Way more interesting! Not to mention how much more diverse casting can be since colleges are full of people from around the world depending on the campus!🌎

[@Sasu123456789x1]

Exactly!

[@Princessm1320]

AGREEE

[@ariannarenee389]

I'm so glad KZbin recommended your video to me. I'm a gen z, and I've been writing since I was little. I've always wanted COLLEGE aged people like me, and my friends. I have so many ideas of people in that setting, especially as one of my generation who isn't in college because it's too expensive, and I have a crippling fear of debt. So you've inspired me to just finish one of my story ideas in a college setting finally, and be that person to express that representation

[@kat12.]

I’m 33, so very in the middle millennial, and I don’t really remember college shows for my age group either. The ones you mentioned from the 90s came out for older millennials. I guess Community counts but that was really a college show about all age groups (which is what made it better, in my opinion). But i agree! I was so surprised that Euphoria is based on high school. Like who is experiencing high school like that? I can’t really think of any show that accurately portrays the generation it’s supposed to be writing about though lol. Like ever.

[@anegron3285]

Degrassi did about 2 seasons in college and then they stop it

[@langstonj2476]

I'm older Gen Z and would love to see a post-college shows or shows about graduating and that first-adult-job grind . . . idk if there are tons of shows like that and I just haven't paid attention, but that would be cool! (esp if the MC was a black man or person of color!) But yes this was a really cool video - love your take. Curious: I don't know if you've seen Reservation Dogs, it's definitely not a Gen Z college show - but I do get some Gen Z vibes from it strangely enough. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that show as it relates to Gen Z writing/representation :)

[@lizschannel8046]

There is a fantastic show on Netflix based in uni, that looks at sex and relationships, it’s been called the Polish Sex Education and season 2 is coming out in January next year, but I feel it doesn’t get the recognition that it should, apart of me thinks it might be because it’s in another language (although it can be dubbed), but it could be that because it’s based at in uni, and not everyone can relate to that, it might have put a lot of people off, but I feel that many could relate to the characters in the show. The show is called Sexify, highly recommended.

[@charlestaylorco8713]

I’m really glad you made this video and really hit on a lot of points I been saying for a little while now to my close friends. Currently I’m trying to write a pilot for tv show for a group of friends navigating through life at a modern HBCU (but more in the vain of A Different World/Sex Lives of College Girls and less of the heavily dramatic elements of All American and The Quad) and hope one day it can help fill this gap in both black and Gen Z representation

[@princemorpho2103]

I wish there was a show like Insecure or something that was centered around gen z adults navigating life outside of a school setting.

[@taylormilan7554]

all american homecoming is probably the best college show out there rn

[@comedygod522]

The reason why Gen-Z shows are set in high school instead of college is that it's way more vulnerable, high school is where all students have to be next each other all the time, some of us look older, some of us look younger, things are way more dramatic but college is way bigger, people who you know can just go to a different class or part of campus and never see them again.

[@mismiserables]

But so many films and movies exists with characters outside of high school so...I'd figure that at least one person who works in the industry could come up with some ideas, jeez.

[@ivannakovalenko8922]

That’s definitely true for larger universities. However, in smaller institutions and even within larger institutions, there is often social or academic clubs you might to go to or become parts of various committees to improve the university or joining research teams or working at the school or religious groups. In my experience, I usually saw the same people there and once I got into my specific and I shared a lot of classes with the same people. For me it was much more vulnerable to become involved in so many aspects of university life and become more exposed to different people from all walks of life.

[@bluegreen9799]

Eh I wouldn’t agree. I go to a small college, and I keep to myself. But if I wanted to I could join the drama. I see the same people every 5 minutes walking to and from classes. Also clubs and the cafeteria are places where people see eachother all the time. Yeah hs is vulnerable but actual drama only happens in both settings when people start drama. Also you can’t drop a college class mid semester so you very well could be forced to be in a class with someone you don’t like.

[@yasmineguerin2852]

Also the people are weirdos

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

Eh, I disagree. College is also so so vulnerable. You’re literally by yourself for the first time ever, usually in a completely new town far from home surrounded by completely new people, you’re still a teenager and struggling to find your own identity, but meanwhile you’re actually expected to be an adult. High school was very stressful in its own ways but college is so emotionally consuming.

[@ODimiGabriel]

I'm yet to finish the video, but my uneducated guess (and by that I mean that I didn't research before I post this but I actually am educated in audiovisual media) is that college shows are just not as popular as High School ones. And yeah, you can mention some exceptions, but MOST teen shows are around HS, not college life and the ones that are in HS and last enough to go to college start to lose audience when that happens. I'm not sure if there's actual study to know if there's a real correlation or is just that the show is losing popularity after their first seasons which is generally what happens with ANY show, but that does happen. I particularly like shows focused on college life, but they're not as easy to find as high school shows that are literally everywhere.

[@Hero-up8hv]

Yes I’ve always thought for years that college is still young enough to engage in a coming of age story but be legally allowed to do things. Everytime I see a high school show as a teen I couldn’t relate

[@kore9003]

as somebody who is 19 with a lot of friends in college but not in school myself i feel like there’s a lot to be explored in the feeling of inadequacy that comes with not going to college and navigating the professional world without the buffer of school between high school and making it on your own

[@asterismos5451]

I think Buffy is a case of a show attempting to transition from high school to after and failing miserably (though they eventually found their footing, s6, my beloved). But that sort of thing probably scared some people off of letting anyone graduate. Not that adding infinite new characters and graduating the old ones does them any favours either.

[@chellymac16]

I never thought about it like this but you're right. I am so bored of high school shows as a senior in college but I LOVE the Sex Lives of College Girls and I didn't realize why til now, I RELATE so much with the characters or they do things that I see all the time at my university. They need to make more shows like it.

[@marleyhernandez3416]

Absolutely want to hear about the move to trouples. I'm imagining it's simply a new storyline for people to attach to, a new taboo and unique niche to attach to a show, but I would love to hear what you think!

[@johnstudio55]

It’s difficult to shoot a show about highschoolers that’s accurate because it takes a few years to shoot a show so by the time the show is done filming that age group has already graduated and become college students

[@violet3395]

I feel like one show that was left out was “Industry” as the future of gen z media. It addresses a variety of situations/circumstances for those post high school and new graduates from university moving into the work world.

[@1mezion]

11:14 The pitch you made for having a college show with some students in college and some out of college and telling the stories of both is an excellent idea and would make for a great show especially if they have excellent writing, but I bet the executives would cancel it within the first season if it isn't getting like 50 million views, not everything has to get 50 million views damnit.

[@litneyloxan]

I’m on the cusp of millennial and gen z at age 26 so i definitely agree. I love euphoria but too often humble myself that they are not me at age 19

[@fuosdi64]

You're a millennial if you are 26.

[@sophisitcated1194]

@@fuosdi64 Nope. Millenials are 29 to 42. 95-2012/3.

[@fuosdi64]

@@sophisitcated1194 Incorrect. Gen Z is 1997-2012, it's a much smaller generation than millennials. Millennials are the largest generation and run 1981-1996.

[@sophisitcated1194]

@@fuosdi64 Depends on where you read it. Some readings say gen z is as early as 1993. Othera say 2000. Some even said 2003. Its subjective.

[@sophisitcated1194]

@@fuosdi64 Also 1994-1996 is known as the cusp (generation Y.1). This generation can be known as zillineals, older gen Z, or younger millineals. The cuspers can subscribe to who they want to.

[@agnum0]

Coming of age during COVID, like my university life was 2.5 years of online education and those were supposed to be development years and I feel like what I got chewed up and spit out. And what I'm left with is burn out, no friends and no aim at what I'm supposed to be doing next

[@nikkimalave251]

Tell Me Lies on Hulu is pretty accurate to Gen Z college representation! But it focuses more on showing how a sociopath/narcissist navigates their relationships + their childhood trauma that shaped them that way, instead of really tapping into Gen Z culture.

[@la6136]

I hated that show I could barely watch the first episode. It was so cliche and the characters were so typical I could already guess their backstories by episode 1.

[@Walnutcase9]

I whole heartily agree. As someone approaching their mid 20s, it be nice to see people trying to figure out how to be adults.

[@princessmia1553]

Have you heard that Netflix is making a on my block spin off? They needa let it gooo😭🤦🏽‍♀️

[@jujubih9343]

Okay, but you bringing up Skyhigh just made my entire morning 😂💓 great video btw, this is something I’ve been thinking about for a while now (millennial, ‘94) in terms of media. I don’t mind majority of media being targeted to gen Z, however, it seems (like you said) that there just isn’t enough gen z screen writers, so a lot of the media comes off very satirical, obnoxious, and just an overall cash grab (lacking in depth) Not only that, but it also feels like they JUST want to cater to gen z alone, so there’s no… middle ground, for lack of better words(?) This definitely Meade more sense in my head but I agree 10000% with your video, got a subscriber outta me 🤙🏽

[@jomiasharris357]

Boom!! Where's reaction to interview with the vampire??

[@gabriellejackson5832]

I love everything about the thoughts and organization that went into making this video. so glad i watched

[@neivilde.1242]

yes do the poly video NOW PLEASE! the only reason i even continued to s2 of gg was for the triad lmao (but s2 has been surprisingly giving actually, they fixed some issues), and i am SO MAD the bastard son got canceled BEFORE WE ACTUALLY CONFIRMED THE THROUPLE!!! like i was READY for the nathan/gabriel/annalise era. i used to joke around a lot that the solution to any love triangle was a throuple (but for real sometimes i can see it), but now I'm actually craving some poly representation right now, give it all to me

[@liahbooker3900]

I saw the title and immediately thought of Grownish and All American Homecoming so now you got me hooked

[@ayerhead07]

This is how it's always been tbh. In my day it was The OC, One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, and even Pretty Little Liars. The actors were in their 20s (with parents in their 30s 😂), they were always in all kinds of ridiculous adult situations, and they did not act or sound like real teenagers at all. I think high school as a setting for "young people" stories is sort of like workplace comedies for adults. It's an easy premise to understand without needing a lot of explanation for places and relationships, a shortcut for having all the characters in the same building, etc. That said, I hope we see writers rooms continue to diversify and include younger perspectives. I am totally on board with representing a wider range of early adulthood experiences. Love hearing your thoughts about this stuff!

[@craishon]

I'm a 97' baby and I identify with both millennials and Gen Z, leaning towards millennials a little bit more. Because I'm the youngest sibling and I basically just watched and listened to everything my millennials siblings were into. But as I got older and found my own interests. The shows dedicated towards older Gen Z weren't giving. I was watching grown-ish junior year of college and could not connect. Euphoria felt more real but most of those characters in real life are in their mid heading into late 20s, so it's becoming unbelievable. We need post graduate content and good college shows.

[@ffossip]

i love college shows, they seemed more natural! greek was a good one from my teen years