The official trailer forThe D’Amelio Show上周下降,诱惑做了一个体面的工作at giving us a sneak peek into the complexities that come with being one of the first famous TikTok families. In other words, a new generation’s Kardashians?
The thing about this generation is that we prioritize relatability, and that’s one of the reasons why TikTok has become so big. In the same breath, I’ve noticed some of the app’s earlier stars, such as the D’Amelios, slightly lose thattouchthey had in the beginning because of how huge they’ve become. And that’s when they cue up a binge-worthy reality tv show where we get a look so close up that we cannot help but be pulled in.
No matter how many times we see mama Heidi say, “they’re normal kids,” there’s no doubt that they’ve got a lot of not-very-normal things going on in their life. The trailer shows us photoshoots, fancy business calls, and recording studios. What are the similarities and differences between a social media star and a traditional star? What’s the difference anymore? Does drama differentiate itself between new media and traditional media? Once you become intimate, or you think you’re invited into their intimate moments, the investment is the same, no matter how they got their start.
Charli comes across as soft spoken and shy, but there are clips where she talks about her public break up with TikToker, Lil Huddy (I hope they get back together because they are adorable), dealing with online hate, and trying to balance the pressures of being the It Girl. Again, a traditional star concept now applicable to modern stars. Speaking of who has “it” though, to my surprise, the show looks like it will be diving into Dixie’s fame just as equally as Charli’s. For those who don’t live on TikTok, Charli was the first D’Amelio to blow up on the app, and has 122 million followers (she’s also the most followed on the app), while her older sister Dixie has just over 54 million followers.
Some say Dixie only got popular because of Charli, but her exploration into music gave her the separation she needed to be seen as her own person. There’s a part in the trailer where someone tells Dixie that this is her “discovery process” that she can use to find out what she is good at, and I think that is such an interesting perspective-- especially when, traditionally, celebrities have the talent first, and then the fame follows. The Kardashians totally obliterated this requirement.
But as much as I want to trust that Dixie genuinely enjoys music, I can’t help but think it might just be something she did to stay relevant…or maybe the series will prove the opposite. Dixie’s TikTok boyfriend, Noah Beck, is in the show too, and I’m vibing with the supportive partner role he’s playing (as he should). It also looks like a central theme of the show is the sisterly D’Amelio bond, which, thankfully, isn’t coming across as cheesy (my favourite part is when Charli says sometimes her breathing can set Dixie off).
So the Kardashian energy here is strong, because although it's nice to see the fun celebrity stuff, that focus on familial relationships is what makes it dynamic. We’ve got countless shows on air about families that aren’t even famous to begin with, so there’s obviously a pattern of success here. Which means it’s also very possible that the parents, Heidi and Marc, might emerge as stars in their own right, like Kris Jenner.
The D’Amelio Showbegins streaming on Hulu September 3rd.
