100 Things to Do Before High School is funny and entertaining, two words I never thought I'd use with a Nick sitcom again. Most "Nick-coms" of the past few years have ranged from clichéd (iCarly and Victorious) to inconsistent (The Thundermans) to just awful (Haunted Hathaways). But 100 Things, created by Scott Fellows (Ned's Declassified) is simply brilliant.
Like Ned's Declassified, the show focuses on the lives of three middle-schoolers: C. J. (Isabela Moner), Crispo (Owen Joyner), and Fenwick (Jaheem Toombs). Together, they make a to-do list of everything they need to do before high school. The premise sounds hackneyed, but the result is anything but.
The acting from almost everyone involved is top-notch. Moner brings effortless charm to C. J., one of the most likable leads in any teen sitcom I have seen. Unlike recent Nick female leads, she's not a drama queen and doesn't overact, lending her character a relatable charm. Toombs and Joyner compliment each other well; Toombs's Fenwick obsesses over details while Joyner's Crispo takes a decidedly laid-back approach. Even the supporting cast, including venomous bully Mindy Minus (Brady Reiter) and guidance counselor/voice of reason Mr. Roberts (Jack De Sena, better known for playing Sokka on Avatar The Last Airbender).
Refreshingly, there's no laugh track present, and the writing is so good that it doesn't need one. In fact, the writers are the same geniuses behind Fellows' Ned's Declassified. As in Ned's Declassified, the writers never hesitate to throw in surreal or random elements, often to hilarious effect.
If you've given up on quality programming from Nickelodeon, I highly recommend 100 Things to Do Before High School. It's creative and funny and I hope it gets the long run it deserves.
