Smart Girls at the Party

Title: Smart Girls at the Party

Format: TV show/online

Review/Summary: Smart Girls at the Party is an Internet series created by Amy Poehler, Meredith Walker and Amy Miles. In each episode, Amy Poehler interviews a tween girl about her particular forte. The first episode, for example, features 10-year-old Cameron, who writes supernatural stories. Amy asks Cameron all about her writing techniques, writers' block, and future writing goals. It was funny to me, but only because I sounded exactly like Cameron when I was 10! Another episode features Anna, who is in 3rd grade and loves yoga. She takes the show creators outside to do some yoga, and works with each of them on their poses.

The show might turn off older tweens, if only because it features girls 9-12. Someone who is just getting out of that age group--who is perhaps 14 or 15--might not necessarily enjoy this. They might, but they might not identify with these girls anymore. For younger tweens, though--the 10 year olds and the 5th graders--would probably get a lot of encouragement out of Amy Poehler's interviews. If nothing else, they'll feel better about themselves and their own interests. Smart Girls at the Party's tagline reads: "Celebrating extraordinary individuals who are changing the world by being themselves." Poehler might be trying to turn girls on to new things, but I think she's more interested in reassuring tween girls that being themselves is completely okay.