Summary
- Olivia Rodrigo and Jake Paul rose to fame through the Disney show
Bizaardvark
. - The series focused on young content creators but struggled to resonate with viewers.
- Despite launching two megastars,
Bizaardvark
remains relatively obscure in pop culture.
As a long-time admirer of the Disney Channel and its illustrious alumni, I’ve been quite fascinated by the contrasting trajectories of Jake Paul and Olivia Rodrigo post their stint on the channel. While Jake Paul’s transition into professional boxing has undoubtedly left many scratching their heads, it’s hard not to be intrigued by his audacity! On the other hand, Olivia Rodrigo’s meteoric rise to pop music superstardom is a testament to her talent and the enduring power of a good debut single.
Olivia Rodrigo and Jake Paul are currently two highly recognized figures in the entertainment industry, yet they couldn’t be more dissimilar. One is a talented actress and music sensation, whereas the other is a consistently debated YouTube personality turned professional boxer. You can figure out who is who. Interestingly, both Rodrigo and Paul first gained widespread recognition as part of Disney Channel’s sitcom “Bizaardvark” in the mid-2010s.
Rodrigo and Paul once starred in a satirical series called “Vuugle Stars,” a play on Google and YouTube, where they interacted with other online personalities within the Vuugle Studios environment. The show, much like typical Disney children’s programming, didn’t leave a lasting impression on viewers. Nevertheless, it served as a crucial stepping stone for both Rodrigo and Paul to reach the stardom they enjoy today. Rodrigo continued his role throughout the series’ entire run, but Paul had to part ways midway due to being unable to maintain his “Disney kid” persona off-screen. With two future megastars gracing its cast, one might wonder why this show isn’t more frequently discussed. Let us delve into the details of “Bizaardvark,” examine how it catapulted Rodrigo and Paul to superstardom, and explore reasons for its relative obscurity in today’s conversation.
Bizaardvark Took a Look at Young Content Creators
The show titled “Bizaardvark” made its debut on Disney Channel back in 2016, wrapping up after three seasons until 2019. In the series, Rodrigo played Paige Olvera alongside Madison Hu as Frankie Wong, a pair of best friends running their YouTube-like channel named “Bizaardvark.” In the initial episode, they reach 10,000 subscribers and get an invitation to collaborate with other content creators at the Vuugle studios. During this visit, they encounter several fellow “Vuuglers,” including Dirk Mann, who hosts a channel similar to Jake Paul’s, taking on random dare challenges. Throughout the episodes, much of the storyline revolves around Paige and Frankie’s struggles in creating content, which often results in unexpected mishaps.
As a passionate cinephile, I’d put it like this: Throughout the series, I was thrilled to see some beloved YouTube personalities make appearances, including JiffPom, Grumpy Cat, JoJo Siwa, Lilly Singh, and Annie LeBlanc. Interestingly, Paul’s character Dirk has a sibling named Kirk, portrayed by none other than Logan Paul. The third season takes us to the Vuugle House in Malibu Beach, where these content creators reside under one roof. The series concludes with the sale of the Vuugle House, forcing everyone to relocate. However, there’s a silver lining: Paige and Frankie secure a TV show offer, while the rest of the group hatches a plan to remain connected in some capacity.
Jake Paul and Olivia Rodrigo’s Post-Bizaardvark Fame
Rodrigo stayed on the show for its entire duration, whereas Paul was merely a cast member up until the midpoint of Season 2. In July 2017, it was announced that Disney Channel and Paul had mutually agreed to terminate their partnership, although The Hollywood Reporter and New York Magazine reported that he was actually fired. At this point in 2017, the Paul brothers were already causing a stir for the wrong reasons, even before they reached their peak notoriety. No specific reason was provided for Paul’s departure from the series, but his firing occurred soon after neighbors lodged complaints about noisy parties and reckless behavior at a Hollywood home he rented. Despite this, Paul’s character, Dirk, continued to appear on Bizaardvark until mid-2018, only to mysteriously vanish without an explanation. It was later revealed in Season 3 that Dirk had left Vuugle. This is ironic because Paul’s rising YouTube career ultimately led to his exit from the show.
Jake Paul didn’t make his official debut on Bizaardvark. Instead, he gained popularity on Vine (you might recall that platform?) back in 2013. This early fame led him to mainstream exposure on the Disney Channel. Since then, his reputation has been marked by controversy, but he shifted from his childhood roles more significantly and focused on his music career.
After wrapping up the show Bizaardvark, Olivia Rodrigo took a more traditional route following Disney Channel, landing the lead role as Nini Salazar-Roberts in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. This show marked the start of her music career, which reached unprecedented heights with the release of her debut single “Drivers License” in January 2021. Since then, Rodrigo has shifted her focus from acting to a successful pop music career, earning recognition as a true pop superstar. Interestingly enough, Rodrigo and Jake Paul have not been in contact since he left Bizaardvark. However, in an interview with the LA Times in 2021, Rodrigo shared that before he departed, Paul had predicted her future success by saying, “You’re gonna sell out stadiums one day, kid.” It seems Jake Paul may have been a bit clairvoyant when it came to Olivia Rodrigo!
Why Isn’t Bizaardvark More Well Known?
As a dedicated fan of pop culture who grew up watching Disney Channel classics like Hannah Montana and iCarly, I must admit that I was excited when Bizaardvark premiered back in 2016. However, after giving it a chance and following its run for a couple of seasons, I found myself disappointed.
In a modern context, Bizaardvark failed to adapt, leaning heavily on antiquated notions of viral stardom. By 2016, amassing 10,000 subscribers was hardly impressive. Unlike other YouTube collectives, there wasn’t a shared space where content creators could collaborate once they surpassed a specific number of subscribers. Truth be told, Bizaardvark didn’t aim for an organic YouTube-style experience; instead, it was a network executive’s misguided perception of what young people believe YouTube represents. If you recall Bizaardvark today, it’s probably not because of the show itself but rather because it catapulted Olivia Rodrigo and Jake Paul into the limelight, for better or worse. By the way, Bizaardvark is currently available on Disney+.
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2024-08-18 18:31