Make It Pop

Make It Pop
Genre	Sitcom Musical
Created by	Nick Cannon Thomas W. Lynch
Directed by	Various
Starring	Megan Lee Louriza Tronco Erika Tham Dale Whibley
Opening theme	"Make It Pop" performed by Megan Lee Louriza Tronco Erika Tham
Country of origin	Canada
Original language	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	22 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Nick Cannon Thomas W. Lynch Steven DeNure Anne Loi
Production locations	Toronto, Canada
Camera setup	Film, Single-camera
Production companies	DHX Media Nickelodeon Productions Tom Lynch Company N'Credible Entertainment
Original release
Network	YTV Nickelodeon
Release	March 26, 2015 (2015-03-26) – present

Make It Pop is a K-Pop inspired Canadian musical comedy series in a telenovela-like format that currently airs on Nickelodeon in the United States and on YTV in Canada. The show first aired on Nickelodeon on March 26, 2015, and it did not start airing on YTV until September 9, 2015.

Plot

Make It Pop follows three girls in boarding school—media star Sun-Hi Song, fashionista Jodi Mappa, and bookworm Corki Chang—who, with the help of DJ Caleb Davis, form a high school K-Pop-inspired band called XO-IQ and find music, mischief, love, and friendship.

Cast and characters

Main

• Sun-Hi Song (Megan Lee) is a funky, free spirit, and self-proclaimed star on the rise. Sun-Hi is one of a kind. Accompanied by her one true love—her phone—she constantly vlogs to the "Sun-Hi Nation," updating them on everything and everybody in her life. When she discovers her magical connection with Jodi, Corki, and Caleb, her dreams seem even more within reach. Fueled by her need for fame and social media attention, Sun-Hi's behavior causes all sorts of mayhem. A result of that is her initial rivalry with Corki due to the fact that Sun-Hi's parents wanted her personality to be more like Corki's. One thing is certain, Sun Hi has little time for homework or boys, but she doesn't think she needs that stuff if she's the next pop sensation.
• Jodi Mappa (Louriza Tronco) is strong, independent, and fierce. Jodi has a keen eye for all things fashion and design. Combine these skills with her love for dance, she provides an essential ingredient in the band's makeup. Jodi brings her personal flare to the table, enhancing the band's pop/EDM look. Kind and thoughtful, Jodi is always ready to help a friend. Jodi's schoolwork tends to fall behind her fashion design and band priorities. This is something that puts her in hot water on more than one occasion.
• Corki Chang (Erika Tham) is the brains of the group. Having been home-schooled her entire life, Corki's new to the "socializing in a school environment" thing. She can speak Mandarin Chinese and is incredibly smart and musically gifted. Her inexperience in going to school with others frustrates her new roommates in many ways, but they love her all the same. Raised by a wealthy single father in China, Corki values her privacy and feels pressure to impress him. That is revealed in the first episode when calling her father and saying she will do well. However, she wants to be a regular teenager, so she's constantly at odds with herself and how to navigate these opposing worlds. Despite her inner turmoil, Corki is the perfect addition to XO-IQ. Her background in singing and classical violin truly elevates the band on every level.
• Caleb Davis (Dale Whibley) is the disc jockey of the band. Half boy, half sub-woofer, he is all music. A talented DJ, Caleb always has the right beats for every song. Accident-prone and music-obsessed, Caleb cannot sit still. His parents sent him to Mackendrick so he could focus on academics and settle down, but naturally he chose to do the opposite. One of the masterminds behind the creation of XO-IQ, Caleb often neglects life's most basic navigation tools like logic and common sense, but is chock-full of creativity. At his core, he's a good kid who's passionate, excitable, and always up for a good time.

Recurring

• Jared Anderson (John-Alan Slachta) is the student president, football quarterback, and ruler of the school; he's the king of his own mind. Jared's the most popular, confident, and amazing kid at Mackendrick, and those are just the things he says about himself. Once you get past his smug exterior, it is believed that he has one or two redeeming qualities, but Jared will only reveal them to one special person. Although every girl in school has a crush on him, Jared knows his heart can only go to one person at a time. He's a sensitive human who doesn't deal well with rejection, and if he gets his way, he may never learn that there's more to life than himself.
• Valerie Graves (Taveeta Szymanowicz) is the central antagonist in the series. She is the senior class's "it girl" and captain of the Spirit Squad. Quick-witted, beautiful, and honest to a fault, Valerie loves to be underestimated. Always followed closely by her sidekick Heather and the cheer-leading "Valettes," little phases her, except for a few talented freshmen who turn up at the worst times. Unable to share the spotlight with anyone and focused on winning Jared's attention, Valerie must constantly prove to all who really runs the school.
• Mr. Melwood Stark (Matt Baram) is the head of the Theater Arts Department and resident adviser at Mackendrick Prep. Mr. Stark's the main guardian for the students. Little does everyone know, he too is in need of a guardian. Equal parts self-obsessed diva and tortured artist, his mood is difficult to predict. Constantly living under the strict rule of Principal Diona, he does what he can to get through the day and shares his passion for theater with anyone who will listen—emphasis on "anyone." After several unsuccessful plays at Mackendrick and many more as a failed actor, Mr. Stark constantly walks the line between giving up completely and forging ahead.
• Ms. Belinda Diona (Karen Holness) is a disciplinarian. As the power-hungry Principal of Mackendrick Prep., Ms. Diona truly lives for the job. With a laser focus on every student, nothing slips past her, including all of Mr. Stark's silly behavior. Slightly quirky and extremely mysterious, Ms. Diona has a lot of secrets. Patience is not her strength, especially when it comes to the arts program and musicals. Ms. Diona would love nothing more than to shut down the entire department. It's difficult to say whether her motivation for this is to improve the school or silence her own personal demons.
• Dylan (Carray Hammend) is a minor character, but has appeared in four episodes. He's usually quiet and has only spoken a few times and enjoys gaming. He is shown to be friends with the group.
• Heather Duncan (Natalie Ganzhorn) is the secondary antagonist in the series. She is friends with Valerie and is one of the members of the Spirit Squad at Mackendrick Prep. She is shown to be mean, snobby, and not very smart.
• Linc Harrison (Vinson Tran) is a guitarist who comes to Mackendrick Prep in the Christmas special and becomes the new student in second season, who is arrogant, similar to Sun Hi. This causes her to not like him.
• Alex Phan (Mickeey Nguyen) is a fashion designer that Jodi meets at her internship with Hye Jung Ko who likes to "vibe."
• Hye Jung Ko (Tina Jung) is a extremely famous fashion designer, Jodi's role model and boss at her internship.
• Mr. Chang (Russell Yuen) is Corki's strict father that lives in China.

Series overview

Main article: List of Make It Pop episodes

Season	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired
1	20		March 26, 2015 (2015-03-26)	May 1, 2015 (2015-05-01)
Special			December 5, 2015 (2015-12-05)
2	20		January 4, 2016 (2016-01-04)	January 29, 2016 (2016-01-29)
Special			August 20, 2016 (2016-08-20)

Production

The first season consisted of 20 episodes. On May 1, 2015, it was announced that Make It Pop was renewed for a second season, which premiered on January 4, 2016. Before the second season, a Christmas special aired on December 5, 2015.

Broadcast

Make It Pop premiered on Nickelodeon in the United Kingdom and Ireland on July 20, 2015 and also premiered in Latin America on Nickelodeon on July 20, 2015. The series debuted on Nickelodeon in Australia and New Zealand on August 10. In Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, the series debuted on August 31 on Nickelodeon. In Canada, the series debuted on September 9 on YTV, and in France, the series debuted on October 12 on Nickelodeon 4Teen FR.

Music

XO-IQ is the band that was formed in the series by Caleb, Sun Hi, Jodi, and Corki. Vocals for the band's songs were recorded by Megan Lee, Louriza Tronco, and Erika Tham in Toronto.

The band made its first live appearance at the pre-party for the 2015 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles, where they were introduced at the event by Nick Cannon. The band then performed at the 2015 YTV Summer Beach Bash.

Soundtracks

Untitled

Make It Pop, Vol. 1

1. Light It Up – 3:38
2. Do It - 3:10
3. Now I Am Here (Superstar Mix) - 3:20
4. Party Tonight – 3:16
5. Make It Pop - 3:09
6. Spotlightz - 2:46
7. Get It Right - 3:00
8. Skillz - 2:40
9. My Girls - 3:28
10. United (Who We Are) - 2:20

Untitled

Make It Pop, Vol. 2

1. Luv Em Boys – 2:20
2. How I'm Made - 2:34
3. Girls @ - 2:50
4. Do You Know My Name – 3:38
5. Friday Night - 3:53
6. What Love Is About - 3:00
7. Party Tonight (Remix) - 3:48
8. Let's Make a Change - 3:04
9. The Rules - 3:23
10. My Girls (Dr. R Remix) - 3:28

Untitled

Make It Pop, Vol. 3

1. Looking for Love - 3:32
2. What Love is About (DaCapo Remix) - 3:54
3. Superstar - 3:41
4. Skillz (Flange Squad Remix) - 2:43
5. The Rules (Dr. R Remix) - 3:18
6. Now I Am Here (Fashion Mix) - 3:23
7. Do It (Flange Squad Remix) - 3:02
8. Spotlightz (Dr. R Remix) - 2:56
9. Get It Right (The CP Remix) - 2:46
10. Friday Night (St-Thomas Random Remix) - 3:35

Untitled

Make It Pop, Vol. 4

1. United (Who We Are) [Flannge Squad Remix] - 2:26
2. Luv Em Boys (Luv Em Girls Mix) [feat. John-Alan Slachta] - 3:15
3. Superstar (St-Thomas Random Remix) - 3:44
4. How I'm Made (Flange Squad Remix) - 2:39
5. Let's Make a Change (Shebrock Remix) - 3:00
6. Do You Know My Name (Jodi & Corki Reprise) - 3:40
7. Looking For Love (Flange Squad Remix) - 3:33
8. Girls @ (St-Thomas Random Remix) - 2:43
9. Light It Up (Flange Squad Remix) - 3:37
10. Make It Pop (St-Thomas Random Remix) - 3:00

Untitled

Make It Pop! (Deluxe Edition)

1. Make It Pop - 3:09
2. Light It Up – 3:38
3. Party Tonight – 3:16
4. Skillz - 2:40
5. Do You Know My Name - 3:38
6. Now I Am Here (Superstar Mix) - 3:20
7. Spotlightz - 2:46
8. Do It - 3:10
9. United (Who We Are) - 2:20
10. Get It Right - 3:00
11. Luv Em Boys – 2:20
12. Looking for Love - 3:32
13. My Girls - 3:28
14. What Love Is About - 3:00
15. Friday Night - 3:53

Untitled

All The Love

1. All The Love - 2:59
2. Jing Jing Jingle – 2:40
3. Deck The Halls – 2:05

Untitled

Tomorrow Is Ours

1. Walk That Walk - 3:20
2. Make You The One – 2:55
3. Tomorrow Is Ours – 3:01
4. We Doin' It - 3:00
5. Back To Me – 3:27
6. Good Karma – 3:09
7. Where Our Hearts Go - 3:21
8. You Make It Better – 3:38
9. Music's All I Got – 2:39
10. Situation Wild - 2:48
11. Like A Machine – 2:56
12. Whispers – 2:59
13. Rock The Show - 3:07
14. Jump To It – 2:50
15. Gratitude – 3:04

References

• "SHOWATCH Make It Pop". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 6, 2015.