Biz Kids

Cast

Biz Kids, often written as biz KID$, is an American educational television series focused on teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship to children and teenagers. The show blends sketch comedy, musical performances, guest appearances, and young actors to illustrate basic economic ideas. Its slogan is "Where kids teach kids about money and business." Critics have compared its style to KING-TV's Almost Live! and noted its format is similar to CBC Television's Street Cents.

The series was created by the producers behind Bill Nye the Science Guy, the Emmy Award-winning science program from the 1990s. Comedy sketches, parodies of older TV shows and movies, fake commercials, and silly behavior are performed by a cast of teenage actors from Seattle. Jamie Hammond served as executive producer, with Jeannine Glista working as a co-producer.

Most of the Biz Kids cast consists of teenage performers from the Seattle area. Writer John Keister appears in small recurring roles. The show follows a group of high school teenagers and one middle school preteen as they teach other kids about money; these characters have been friends since preschool through high school. The original cast included Lauren Dupree, Kaelon Horst, Bob Jones, Maia Lee, Alexander Oki, Amanda Powers, Miriam Schwartz, Austin Siedentopf, Devon Stark, Christina Taylor, and Elizabeth Wright.

Lauren, known as The Hip Hop Dancer and also called "The Popular Girl," is a 17-year-old student at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences who enjoys theater, dance, and music. She is Austin's childhood girlfriend. During her freshman, sophomore, or junior years of high school, around 2004, 2005, or 2006, she was voted "Miss Popularity," "Best Dressed," "Most Pretty Girl," and "Best Popular Teen." Her idols include Beyoncé, Scary Spice, and Raven Symone.

She leads the Theater Arts team at her school and is the adoptive older sister of Lizzie. The series follows her from her senior year of high school in season 1 through her college years in season 5, ending when she turns 21 and graduates from Howard University. By season 6, she is depicted as a woman in her 30s. She appeared in the movie Crossroads as a young child during middle school. Her parents are married. She is 17 in season 1, 18 in season 2, 19 in season 3, 20 in season 4, and 21 in season 5.

Kaelon, called The Smooth and Suave Boy and also known as "The Jock/Popular Girl's Pal," has been Lauren's best male friend since childhood. They met in the 1990s. He is a 17-year-old student at South Kitsap High School who loves playing basketball. He is Austin's adopted brother. Along with Lauren and Maia, he leads The Biz Squad, a parody of The Mod Squad. He wore braces until later episodes. He appeared in episodes of the South Kitsap High School show Wolf Tracks. The show ends when Kaelon is 21 and graduates from UCLA. He is a leader on both his high school and college basketball teams. By season 6, he is a man in his 30s. He starred in the short film Driver's Ed when he was 15, during his sophomore year. His parents are married. He is 17 in season 1, 18 in season 2, 19 in season 3, 20 in season 4, and 21 in season 5.

Maia, known as The Friend Lover and also called "The Popular Girl's Other Pal," has been Lauren's best female friend since childhood and is the second youngest of the Biz Kids. They met her in the early 2000s. She is a 14-year-old girl at her high school who loves shopping, music, and friends. She is like a younger sister to Alex. Her idols are Marie Osmond, Selena Gomez, and Sporty Spice. Her character leaves the show by the end of season 3, when Maia is 16. The series follows her from her freshman year in season 1 to her junior year in season 3. She played a young girl in the film Max Rules! when she was 11 or 12, in sixth or seventh grade, and later played an orphan in the silent movie Brand Upon the Brain! when she was 13, in eighth grade. Her parents are married. She is 14 in season 1, 15 in season 2, and 16 in season 3.

Alex, called The Language Speaker and also known as "The Smart Boy," is a 17-year-old student at Lakeside School where he studies different languages. He is like an older brother to Maia. They met him sometime between preschool and their sophomore year. His idols include Donny Osmond and David Henrie. He is Amanda's love interest. He leads Alex's Angels, a parody of Charlie's Angels, with his childhood friends Amanda, Miriam, and Christina. The show ends when Alex is 21 and graduates from Yale University. The series follows him from his junior year in season 1 through his college years in season 5. By season 6, he is a man in his 30s. He plays baseball. He starred as Woody in a ReAct Theater production of Six Degrees of Separation when he was 16. His parents are married. He is 17 in season 1, 18 in season 2, 19 in season 3, 20 in season 4, and 21 in season 5.

Amanda, known as The Attention Girl and also called "The Second Popular Girl," is an 18-year-old student at her high school who is friendly and outgoing. She likes to pay attention. She is the oldest of the Biz Kids. Her idols include Britney Spears, Madonna, and Baby Spice. She is one of Christina's childhood best friends.

Sketches

The series includes a variety of recurring sketches. "All My Investments" parodies the ABC soap opera All My Children and appeared in episodes "Saving and Investing for Your Future" and "Bulls, Bears, and Financial Markets." "The No-Sale Zone" parodies The Twilight Zone and was featured in "Sell, Sell, Sell (The Science of Sales)." "Mr. Squeezya Card" is a commercial parody of the Visa card, appearing in "Using Your Credit-Crazy or Compelling?"

Two sketches, "As the Economy Turns" and "As the Budget Turns," parody the CBS soap opera As the World Turns. "The Adventures of Compulsive and Compare Kid" features Amanda and Miriam as two teenage girls examining the newest phone, in "How to Be a Smart Consumer." "Banks of Our Lives" parodies NBC's Days of Our Lives in "Take it to the Bank!" "Gus Greenback: Gumshoe Detective" follows teenage detective Gus Greenback (Austin Siedentopf) with friends Darla Dollar (Miriam Schwartz) and Sergeant Sawbuck (Lauren DuPree) solving entrepreneur files in 1940s–1950s Seattle.

"Tooth Fairy Tales" stars Austin Siedentopf as a fairy who gives money to friends. Film and television spoofs appear in some episodes.

Lost Sketches

Several sketches were produced but are considered lost. "Fairy Tale Money Tips" featured Maia Lee as Snow White, Amanda Powers as Cinderella, Lauren DuPree as Aladdin's princess, and other cast members as fairy tale characters offering money tips. "Besties with Cash!" starred two best friends Stacey (Miriam Schwartz) and Jessica (Elizabeth Wright) discussing fashion, beauty, money, and school with co-hosts Katie (Maia Lee), Debbie (Lauren DuPree), Natalie (Christina Taylor), Darcy (Amanda Powers), and others.

"Super Biz Kids" was a fictional superhero team similar to the Avengers and Justice League, led by Princess Glitter (Lauren DuPree) with teammates Thunder Boy (Alexander Oki), Lightning Girl (Maia Lee), Destroyer Dude (Kaelon Horst), Kung Fu Boy (Devon Stark), Flammo Dude (Austin Siedentopf), Plant Girl (Amanda Powers), Pixie Dust Girl (Christina Taylor), Wind Girl (Miriam Schwartz), and Snow Girl (Elizabeth Wright), battling villains Dr. Andy, the Queen of Hounds, The Banker, and others.

"Seattle Money Beat" was a talk show with co-hosts Melissa (Lauren DuPree), Kelly (Maia Lee), and Brian (Kaelon Horst) discussing money, similar to Northwest Afternoon. "Money Saver Films" parodied educational films from the 1950s to the 1990s, including titles like "Cash: What a Payday!" and "The Right Time to Make Money." "The Charlie, Trisha, and Lori Radio Show" featured teenage radio personalities Charlie Crowne (Kaelon Horst), Trisha Clint (Lauren DuPree), and Lori Wainwright (Maia Lee).

"How to Survive a Payday" parodied the NBC soap opera How to Survive a Marriage. "Boyz4+Girlz6" was a teen pop band similar to Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls, and All Saints. "The Lindsay Heinebart Show" starred Maia Lee as Lindsay Heinebart, a parody of Cindi Rinehart, discussing money, fashion, and electronics with special guests. "The What Keeps Me Booth" featured everyone from that booth.

Reception

Scholar Renee Hobbs described the series as employing "a clever blend of entertainment and education" with "a fast-paced mix that includes actors, sketch comedies, animation, and feature stories featuring young entrepreneurs." Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media called it "a great choice" for parents to watch with children, noting that the children could teach adults valuable money lessons. Florangela Davila of The Seattle Times wrote that the tone is "Nyesque, which is to say: hip, zany and smart."

Production

Biz Kids was created by the producers of Bill Nye the Science Guy, the Emmy Award winning science show from the 1990s. Comedy sketches, spoofs of mostly old TV shows and movies, commercial parodies, and silly antics are performed by a cast of Seattle teenage actors. Jamie Hammond served as executive producer. Jeannine Glista served as a co-producer.