In the debut episode, “Start Hustling” (#101), our unsuspecting young entrepreneurs find themselves in a bit of a pickle—one that involves an accidental boat incineration. With money in desperate need of being made, they take on a gig as living mannequins at an upscale store. Sounds easy, right? Well, not quite. The wool ensembles they’ll be modeling? Itchy beyond belief. After hours of itchiness paired with awkward poses, our protagonists hatch a master plan to close the store early. Because who doesn’t want to escape fashion’s worst nightmare?
Is this a TV Show we see before us? #SideHustle is live at @Nickelodeon, folks! Featuring @jaydenbartels, @annieleblanc, and many more. RT if you dare!
Jules LeBlanc, a former YouTube sensation from her family’s channel “Bratayley,” has gone from vlogs to the vibrant world of Nickelodeon. With over 27 million followers, she’s also dabbled in hits like “Chicken Girls” and “We Are Savvy.” As a singer, LeBlanc has six Top Ten iTunes hits and two Billboard Top 50 songs. Her accolades include winning “Choice Music Web Star” and being nominated for “Favorite Female Social Star.” As if that weren’t enough, she braved the digital realm with “Annie vs. Hayley” alongside her sister and helped host the “Camp Nick” event with co-star Bartels.
Speaking of star power, enter Jayden Bartels: singer, actress, and dancer extraordinaire. Writing and arranging her own tunes, she released her EP “What Really Matters?” last year, and recently dropped her latest single, “Gameboy.” Her social media following? Almost 12 million! Between touring with Echosmith and filming various shows, she’s managed to rattle off quite the résumé while keeping her crush on social media intact—over 1.6 billion likes on TikTok. Plays in “Coop & Cami Ask the World” and films like “To The Beat!” are just the cherry on top.
LeBlanc and Bartels recently co-hosted Nickelodeon’s digitally-produced “Group Chat,” which emerged as the top unscripted live-action show in Q2 2020 for kids 6-11. They’ve even expanded their empire into season two with social media sensation Brent Rivera.
Behind the curtain, executive producers John Beck and Ron Hart helm this ship, while Shauna Phelan and Omar Camacho manage all things production for “Side Hustle.” Let’s hope that translates to more chaotic hijinks on screen.
To mark the launch of “Side Hustle,” Nickelodeon has collabed with Wattpad for three writing contests. Are you a budding storyteller stuck in a financial pickle? Enter the first contest by tagging your tale with #SideHustle. Prizes include a mysterious Wattpad swag bag, a socially-celebrated shoutout from your favorite stars, and possibly a $500 Visa gift card. Just a reminder: this is not an episode of “Survivor.” There’s no need to eat bugs. But you probably will be crafting an epic side hustle story that will be told in hushed tones around campfires.
“Side Hustle” embodies Nickelodeon’s particular brand of pandemonium, bringing along the hilarious elements of being a kid today. Considering that kids are now the most diverse generation ever, it’s essential they see relatable characters navigating their challenges. After all, who wouldn’t want to glimpse at entrepreneurial dreams interwoven with social media trends while avoiding itchy wool sweaters? So, tune in at 8:30 PM (7:30 PM CT) for the ride of your life. That is, if you can survive the itch.
