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Nursing has become a new frontier for gig work, and it's creating the same issues that Uber drivers face

nurse nursing
Some nurses are turning to gig work apps to find shifts at hospitals and other medical facilities.

Joe Raedle / Getty

  • Gig work has expanded to include nurses at hospitals and medical facilities, per a new report.
  • Many nurses who work this way face challenges similar to Uber drivers, the report found.
  • Nursing represents a high-stakes use case of gig work apps, one of the researchers said.

Gig work has expanded to the nurses who care for patients in hospitals and care homes — and it's coming with some of the same challenges that delivery and rideshare contractors have already pointed to, according to a new report.

Apps like CareRev, Clipboard Health, and ShiftKey have taken an approach similar to the one companies like Uber and Instacart have used to build up their workforces, and applied it to nursing at hospitals, care homes, and other medical facilities.

But the report, which the Roosevelt Institute released a summary of this week, found that medical facilities often turn to gig nursing services as a way to cut expenses, especially under the tutelage of private equity firms.

Medical professionals on the apps, which the report collectively calls "Uber for Nursing," also face many of the same issues that other gig workers do, from low pay to having their accounts on the platforms deactivated with little or no explanation.

The apps make pitches that are attractive to the nurses themselves, Katie Wells, a senior Fellow at think tank Groundwork Collaborative and one of the report's authors, told Business Insider in an interview. Wells wrote the report with Funda Ustek Spilda, a senior lecturer at King's College London and a research associate at the University of Oxford's Oxford Internet Institute.

Full-time nursing jobs often involve putting in long hours as well as working night or weekend shifts. COVID's strain on hospitals and other medical facilities also pushed many nurses to quit or consider finding other work.

Like rideshare and delivery companies, the apps say that they offer nurses more choices over how and when they work. ShiftKey's website, for instance, says that its users have "the freedom to make choices best suited to their lives" including how much they earn and "their relationship with work."

For a burned-out nurse, that can be an appealing pitch, Wells said.

"There is almost no flexibility and control," Wells said. "So it is no wonder that these apps become attractive."

Wells and Spilda interviewed 29 nurses and nursing assistants for their study. The interviewees all used at least one gig work app to find nursing shifts.

Like delivery and rideshare contractors, nurses who use the apps must claim jobs through them. The nursing apps often charge a fee for access, and workers bid with their pay rates. The user who offers the lowest pay gets the shift, according to the report.

Working the shift, however, can be tricky. When they show up for a gig, the nurses often have to navigate the facility themselves — even if they have never worked there before.

"At most hospitals and medical facilities, no orientations are required for gig nurses and nursing assistants," the report reads. "Workers do not know where supply closets are located, how to access patient portals with medical histories and current medication lists, and whom to contact in the chain of command."

And like Uber drivers or Instacart delivery workers, nurses who use the apps don't have a boss to contact when things go wrong. One Oregon-based nurse interviewed for the study said that she was barred from Clipboard Health's app for two weeks after she had a hernia on the job and had to leave early.

In another instance, the same nurse said that she went to work with COVID after learning that she couldn't cancel her shift without losing "attendance points" and hurting her chances of getting gigs in the future, the report reads.

"It sucks that there's nobody that you can get ahold of immediately," the nurse told Wells and Spilda.

"It's really as if AI has eaten the managers," Wells said.

The apps also advertise that nurses can make more on their platforms than at other jobs. One nurse interviewed by the researchers said she made gross pay of $23 an hour on ShiftKey. That dropped to around $13 an hour after accounting for fees that she paid to ShiftKey.

Despite the challenges, the report found that 19 of the 29 people interviewed planned to continue working for the apps, though some also said they also had jobs in other industries to make enough money to live.

The report says that gig nursing apps are often used by facilities that are trying to save money and are under pressure to produce returns for investors.

Wells told BI that bringing the gig economy to medical care creates risks not present in food delivery or rideshare.

"The stakes are higher because this has to do with patient safety, and the immediacy of health and care makes things more palpable," she told BI.

ShiftMed, which employs its nurses as W2 employees but still offers them much of the flexibility of gig work, said that it deactivates nurses' accounts for various reasons, from patient safety to legal violations.

"Nurses file an appeal by submitting a formal review through the app or support channel, after which ShiftMed conducts an internal investigation, reviews records, and determines the next steps," CEO Todd Walrath said in a statement to BI.

The company said that it also offers an orientation so that users "are fully prepared for any clinical setting by aligning health system-specific requirements, such as training or shadowing before they begin shifts," Walrath said.

CareRev, Clipboard Health, and ShiftKey did not respond to requests for comment.

Are you a nurse who works as an independent contractor with a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at [email protected]

Read the original article on Business Insider

'Outlander' star David Berry breaks down his 'challenging and weird' sex scene that audiences didn't want to see

Lord John Grey (David Berry) and Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) in season seven, part two of "Outlander."
Lord John Grey (David Berry) and Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) in "Outlander."

Starz

  • Warning: Major spoilers ahead for season seven, episode 11 of the Starz drama "Outlander."
  • Actor David Berry spoke to BI about shooting an intimate scene with Caitríona Balfe.
  • The actor said he would always wonder if they could have done it differently.

Season seven, episode 11 of "Outlander" saw the Starz drama take on one of the most-anticipated — and controversial — storylines from the book series written by Diana Gabaldon.

After learning in the previous episode that the ship Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) was traveling on had sunk, Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) and Lord John Grey (David Berry) were left grief-stricken.

When audiences saw them next, the pair hastily married to stop the English army from arresting Claire for espionage.

While their marriage was meant to be entirely platonic — given John's sexuality and Claire's unending love for Jamie — the two unexpectedly ended up consummating their marriage while in a haze of despair, drunkenness, and delirium while both imagining that the other is their beloved Jamie.

Speaking to Business Insider, Berry reflected on the experience of shooting his first sex scene for "Outlander" and the challenges that came with it.

"This was a very big moment for me as an actor because it's the first time that I was called upon to do sort of an 'Outlander' intimate scene," Berry said, adding that it "was a moment I was afraid of but also looking forward to."

Berry's trepidation at taking on the scene is understandable. While not the most shocking scene in "Outlander" — the show has long been serving up challenging scenes — it is one particularly unpopular with fans given its implications for Jamie and Claire's romance.

But Berry said that despite his concerns, he went into the storyline with enthusiasm.

Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) in season seven, part two of "Outlander."
Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) in season seven, part two of "Outlander."

Starz

"I think as someone who's been on the show for eight years and has sometimes felt like I've been on the bench, this was a great opportunity for me to step up my game," Berry said.

"There was a lot of excitement, on my behalf, to portray something so challenging and weird and just kind of solve that mystery of how and why these characters do what they do," he continued, adding: "It's a dangerous moment for the show because it really tests the credulity of the audience to believe that these characters would do such a thing."

"You still have to ground it in some element of truth," he added.

Lord John Grey (David Berry) and Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) in season seven, part two of "Outlander."
Lord John Grey (David Berry) and Claire Fraser (Caitríona Balfe) in season seven, part two of "Outlander."

Starz

The actor said it was no easy feat to nail the scene in a way that would communicate his and Balfe's characters' shared trauma, corporeal urges, and the humanity behind their decision.

The pair prepared for the sequence with Vanessa Coffey, who has worked as an intimacy coordinator on the show since season six.

But preparation began long before even getting to set.

"Cait and I spent some time just doing some drama school kind of nerdy stuff, just improvising through the scene to find that stuff that isn't spoken about," Berry recalled.

"Of course, everyone had different ideas about how it should be depicted, and having Vanessa there to arbitrate all that was was really great," he continued. "She had a really tough job because it was not like any other love scene that's been depicted on the show."

Due to its unique, unconventional nature, Berry said he would always look back on the scene and wonder if they could have done it differently.

"It's one of those moments in which I'll always look back and think, 'Could we have done more?' Because there are so many different ways to do it," he said, adding that he thought they "gave it a good crack."

"I was willing to push it as far as needed to go," he continued. "There were ideas about how far we should push it, of course, and questions like 'Do audiences really want to see what John and Claire get on heavy?' and I still don't know the answer."

Read the original article on Business Insider

The 20 worst TV shows your favorite actors starred in this year

Nicole Kidman as Greer Winbury in "The Perfect Couple."
Nicole Kidman as Greer Winbury in "The Perfect Couple."

Seacia Pavao/Netflix

  • 2024 saw the release of shows across a range of streaming platforms, but not all were well-received.
  • Shows like "The New Look," starring Ben Mendelsohn, failed to earn rave reviews across the board.
  • Despite big-name stars, critics roasted animated shows like "Universal Basic Guys" and "Good Times."

It seems 2024 saw the release of countless star-studded TV shows across a range of streaming platforms. However, top talent doesn't always guarantee rave reviews from critics.

Here are 20 of the worst TV shows your favorite actors starred in throughout 2024.

Will Forte is a crime-solving podcaster in the dark comedy "Bodkin." 
Will Forte wearing a gray shirt and black jacket surrounded by trees on "Bodkin"
Will Forte in "Bodkin."

Enda Bowe/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%

Summary: Podcaster Gilbert Power (Will Forte) and his assistant Emmy Sizergh (Robyn Cara) join journalist Dove Maloney (Siobhán Cullen) in solving a cold case in Bodkin, Ireland.

Although many critics enjoyed "Bodkin" and praised Cullen, Cara, and Forte for their infectious chemistry, some viewers had mixed feelings.

"The elements don't quite congeal, but it's intriguing and well-crafted," critic Robert Levin wrote for Newsday.

Nicole Kidman starred in the mystery series "The Perfect Couple."
Nicole Kidman wearing a gray shirt sitting at a desk surrounded by books and papers
Nicole Kidman in "The Perfect Couple."

Seacia Pavao/Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 65%

Summary: Just as Amelia (Eve Hewson) is about to marry into a wealthy family, her wedding weekend in Nantucket takes a deadly turn — and everyone (Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Billy Howle, and more) becomes a suspect.

Critics were split on their consensus of "The Perfect Couple," with some calling it a binge-worthy guilty pleasure and others deeming it an overwritten mess.

"Where 'The Perfect Couple' goes wrong — and where 'White Lotus' succeeded — is assuming its audience is watching," Maxwell Rabb wrote for the Chicago Reader. "Instead, everything of note is spelled out so attention to the characters themselves feels secondary."

"The New Look" boasted a stellar cast with Ben Mendelsohn, John Malkovich, and Maisie Williams.
Ben Mendelsohn wearing a suit and slouching against a building on "The New Look"
Ben Mendelsohn in "The New Look."

Apple TV+

Rotten Tomatoes score: 60%

Summary: This dramatic series follows fashion designers Christian Dior (Ben Mendelsohn) and Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche) as they navigate life in Europe during the Nazi occupation of World War II.

Many critics noted the high production value — and the mesmerizing performances from its stellar cast — but couldn't help feeling like the story was lacking.

"For those enthralled with fashion, there's enough entertaining glitz and melodrama to keep one returning week after week," Brian Bromberger wrote for The Bay Area Reporter. "But for people less enamored by haute couture, the whole enterprise might seem sluggish with few rewards."

After wowing critics in "The Haunting of Hill House," Carla Gugino starred in "The Girls on the Bus."
Actress Carla Gugino wearing a black top standing in a crowd of people on "The Girls on the Bus"
Carla Gugino in "The Girls on the Bus."

Nicole Rivelli/Max

Rotten Tomatoes score: 57%

Summary: Four journalists — Grace (Carla Gugino), Sadie (Melissa Benoist), Kimberlyn (Christina Elmore), and Lola (Natasha Behnam) — follow flawed politicians' presidential campaigns.

"The Girls on the Bus" had the potential to be a biting political satire like "Veep," but some critics thought it played out like a shallow soap opera.

"It's diversion and distraction," Wenlei Ma wrote for The Nightly. "It has no more insight into politics and the media than 'Younger' had into publishing or 'The Bold Type' into journalism."

Former "Doctor Who" star Jenna Coleman played the central lead in the British drama "The Jetty."
Jenna Coleman wearing a black outfit sitting in a car on "The Jetty"
Jenna Coleman in "The Jetty."

BBC

Rotten Tomatoes score: 57%

Summary: This British crime drama follows Ember Manning (Jenna Coleman) as she investigates a fire in Lancashire and connects the dots to a cold case that was just blown wide open.

Though many critics appreciated the female perspective in "The Jetty," many felt like the story and pacing fell apart upon closer examination.

"These challenging issues might have been better served by a straight drama rather than an uneven mystery yarn littered with clichés, contrivances, clunky exposition, and thrillerish flourishes," Dan Einav wrote for the Financial Times.

Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, and Allison Janney soaked up the sun in "Palm Royale."
Kristen Wiig and Ricky Martin in "Palm Royale"
Kristen Wiig and Ricky Martin in "Palm Royale."

Erica Parise/Apple TV+

Rotten Tomatoes score: 56%

Summary: In 1969, Maxine (Kristen Wiig) looks to climb the ladder of high society at an exclusive country club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Overall, critics loved the show's attention to costumes and set design, but thought the glamour distracted from the story, which lacked any real intrigue.

"There are plenty of individual elements that suggest a worthwhile final product," Allyson Johnson wrote for But Why Tho? "However, none of these elements come together to become something more than the small, individual highlights."

Mandy Patinkin sets out to solve a murder in "Death and Other Details."
Mandy Patinkin as Rufus Cotesworth in "Death and Other Details" season one.
Mandy Patinkin in "Death and Other Details."

James Dittiger / Hulu

Rotten Tomatoes score: 55%

Summary: This locked-room murder mystery, set on a cruise ship, follows detective Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin) as he strives to prove passenger Imogene Scott (Violett Beane) is innocent.

Critics largely agreed the show had a few too many twists, which kept the story from being believable or having a truly rewarding ending.

"While there are elements of 'Death And Other Details' that have the potential to be entertaining, the show feels overstuffed and too interested in messing with the viewers to sustain what is a very complex whodunit," Joel Keller wrote for Decider.

Elisabeth Moss played a veteran secret agent in "The Veil."
Elizabeth Moss wearing a black jacket in a scene from "The Veil"
Elisabeth Moss in "The Veil."

FX on Hulu

Rotten Tomatoes score: 54%

Summary: Imogen Salter (Elisabeth Moss) and Adilah El Idrissi (Yumna Marwan) find themselves in a deadly cat-and-mouse game that takes them around the globe.

Critics enjoyed being whisked away to different locations, from Paris to Istanbul. However, they felt some aspects of the show did a disservice to its lead actors.

"…'The Veil' is a lot of style over substance," Liam Mathews wrote for TV Guide. "The show doesn't deeply engage with its characters or the real world around them."

Kate Winslet was a ruthless European leader in "The Regime."
A scene with Kate Winslet holding a bouquet of flowers on "The Regime"
Kate Winslet in "The Regime."

HBO

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

Summary: Chancellor Elena Vernham (Kate Winslet) ineffectually leads a crumbling autocracy as she presides over a Central European government.

Critics generally felt misled by the advertising of "The Regime," which marketed itself as a dark comedy but decidedly underserved on jokes.

"So there are gags; it's just really going to be in the eye of the beholder how funny they are, not just in the context of this muddled story, but also right now," Tara Ariano wrote for Cracked.

Jeff Daniels played a real-estate mogul on the decline in "A Man in Full."
A scene with Jeff Daniels and Diane Lane sitting on outdoors on "A Man in Full"
Jeff Daniels and Diane Lane in "A Man in Full."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%

Summary: Based on Tom Wolfe's book of the same name, this dramatic miniseries follows Charlie Croker's (Jeff Daniels) downfall as his real-estate empire takes a nosedive.

Critics were evenly split on "A Man in Full," with some reviews citing Croker's exaggerated unlikeability as a huge turn-off.

"Over its six episodes, 'A Man in Full' repeats variations on Charlie's plaint that the 'world's gonna make men like me extinct,'" Steve Murray wrote for ArtsATL. "'Man in Full' can't persuade us that that even comes close to being a tragedy."

Anthony Hopkins starred as the emperor of Rome in "Those About to Die."
Anthony Hopkins wearing Roman attire sitting on white throne on "Those About To Die"
Anthony Hopkins in "Those About to Die."

Peacock

Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%

Summary: In 79 AD, Emperor Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins) and his sons rule over Rome as tavern owner Tenax ("Game of Thrones" star Iwan Rheon) tries to raise enough money to compete in a life-changing chariot race.

Although many critics felt the unpolished script did the actors a disservice, a large portion of them were entertained by the spectacle and gore nonetheless.

"It ends up as a fairly satisfying binge, not raucous enough to be a guilty pleasure but not in enough control of its characters to be seriously good," Jack Seale wrote for The Guardian.

Annette Bening and Sam Neill played an imperfect couple in "Apples Never Fall."
apples never fall episode 1 pictured annette bening as joy
Annette Bening in "Apples Never Fall."

Jasin Boland/Peacock

Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%

Summary: Just as successful tennis moguls Joy (Annette Bening) and Stan Delaney (Sam Neill) announce their retirement, Joy abruptly goes missing, sending the couple's children into a tailspin.

The show, which is based on a novel by "Big Little Lies" author Liane Moriarty, didn't mesh well with many critics — despite the best efforts of the cast.

"Annette Bening gives an excellent performance in the new seven-episode Peacock miniseries 'Apples Never Fall,' but she shows up all the lesser acting around her to a distracting degree," Eileen Jones wrote for the Jacobin.

Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny raised infamous sons in "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."
Chloë Sevigny as Kitty Menendez and Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez on "Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story"
Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny in "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 47%

Summary: This drama chronicles the lives of Erik (Cooper Koch) and Lyle Menendez (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and the murders of their parents (Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny).

Critics largely agreed that the show, created by Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy, showed promise but overstayed its welcome.

"Some tonal inconsistency is understandable; how else could a show capture both the ludicrousness of this story and its dire, mortal dimensions?" Richard Lawson wrote for Vanity Fair. "But Brennan and Murphy push past that, into the realm of incoherence."

Seth Rogen, Michael Cera, and more revived their "Sausage Party" roles in "Sausage Party: Foodtopia."
A scene from "Sausage Party: Foodtopia" with hot dogs and a bun standing on a stage
Seth Rogen, Michael Cera, and Kristen Wiig lent their voices to characters in "Sausage Party: Foodtopia."

Amazon Prime

Rotten Tomatoes score: 46%

Summary: The characters of the animated comedy "Sausage Party" (2016) return to defeat the human race and establish their own civilization.

Despite the return of big-name stars like Seth Rogen, Michael Cera, and Kristen Wiig, critics felt the expanded world-building and characterization of "Sausage Party: Foodtopia" was fruitless.

In a review for RogerEbert.com, Clint Worthington wrote that the show was "an eight-episode series for Prime Video that simply regurgitates the same tired material as the film while adding little to the recipe."

Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough fell in and out of love in "Alice & Jack."
Domhnall Gleeson as Jack and Andrea Riseborough as Alice in a scene from "Alice & Jack"
Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough in "Alice & Jack."

Fremantle/PBS

Rotten Tomatoes score: 39%

Summary: Lovers Jack (Domhnall Gleeson) and Alice (Andrea Riseborough) keep coming back to each other, but they never seem to get the timing right.

Overall, the reception for "Alice & Jack" was underwhelming, with critics saying it lacked the nuance and depth of more acclaimed relationship dramas like "Normal People."

"'Alice & Jack' shoots for the vertigo of a star-crossed romance, but does too little work to convince us of the relationship's validity," Angie Han wrote for The Hollywood Reporter.

Giancarlo Esposito seeks revenge for his son's murder in "Parish."
Giancarlo Esposito standing in a doorway with homes in the background on "Parish"
Giancarlo Esposito in "Parish."

AMC

Rotten Tomatoes score: 33%

Summary: Gracián "Gray" Parish (Giancarlo Esposito) thought he had washed his hands of the criminal underworld until his son's horrific murder sends him hurtling back to the life he left.

Critics were delighted to see Esposito in the lead role but wished the script had been better written.

"The six episodes allotted to 'Parish' require a narrative discipline that simply isn't in play, and Esposito's talent demands original writing that rarely presents itself here," Melanie McFarland wrote for Salon.

Shailene Woodley sets out to chronicle different perspectives in "Three Women."
Shailene Woodley as Gia in "Three Women"
Shailene Woodley in "Three Women."

Emily Aragones/Starz

Rotten Tomatoes score: 33%

Summary: Journalist Gia Lombardi (Shailene Woodley) follows the lives of three women — Lina (Betty Gilpin), Sloane (DeWanda Wise), and Maggie (Gabrielle Creevy) — in search of what sex means to contemporary Americans.

Critics agreed that the adaptation of Lisa Taddeo's book failed to capture the magic of the source material.

"Buried under all the plot contortions and surplus extensions of 'Three Women' are many beautiful, moving observations," Ben Travers wrote for IndieWire. "If only it was easier to see them."

Billy Crystal starred as a grieving therapist in "Before."
Billy Crystal wearing a black shirt with a person in a blue and white shirt behind him in a scene from "Before"
Billy Crystal in "Before."

Apple TV+

Rotten Tomatoes score: 32%

Summary: Eli (Billy Crystal) is a child psychologist still reeling from losing his wife when he uncovers a disturbing connection to his next client.

Critics praised Crystal for stepping into a darker genre but didn't think the show was anything to write home about.

"Every comic legend deserves a chance to branch out, the same way Crystal's buddy Robin Williams famously went dark, often," Robert Moran wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald. "But 'Before' is no 'One Hour Photo.' It's barely a blank Polaroid."

Fred Armisen is David, a neurotic neighbor in the animated sitcom "Universal Basic Guys."
Characters sitting on green benches on "Universal Basic Guys"
Fred Armisen voiced David in "Universal Basic Guys."

Fox

Rotten Tomatoes score: 20%

Summary: After brothers Mark and Hank Hoagies (both voiced by Adam Malamut) lose their jobs to automation, a universal basic-income program helps keep them afloat.

Critics said that "Universal Basic Guys" aimed for the familiar comedic stylings of "Family Guy" but fell short.

"While the premise is interesting enough, the show is stuffed with tiresome jokes that fail to pack a punch," Aramide Tinubu wrote for Variety.

Yvette Nicole Brown, JB Smoove, and Wanda Sykes lent their voices to "Good Times."
main family from netflix's animated good times series sitting on a living room couch
Yvette Nicole Brown, JB Smoove, and Wanda Sykes voiced characters in "Good Times."

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes score: 10%

Summary: "Good Times," an animated revival of the 1970s sitcom of the same name, centers on the Evans family as they try to get by in Chicago.

Critics said the animated series seemed fine-tuned to offend viewers, all while banking on the nostalgia for the original "Good Times."

"In a way, it would have been better to just craft this as an original series without all the baggage and expectations of reinventing a TV classic — but then, Netflix wouldn't have gotten all the headlines and attention from the shocked reactions," Eric Deggans wrote for NPR.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Then and Now: The cast of 'School of Rock' 21 years later

The cast of "School of Rock" including Jack Black pose together in 2023
Jack Black and fellow cast members at the premiere of "School of Rock" in 2003.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

  • The hit musical-comedy "School of Rock" (2003) came to theaters over 20 years ago.
  • Jack Black, Joan Cusack, and Sarah Silverman had strong careers before and after the film. 
  • Miranda Cosgrove made a name for herself on TV, but many of the young actors left Hollywood. 

"School of Rock" hit theaters in October 2003. The movie starred Jack Black as a struggling musician who impersonates his friend to get a gig as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school and enlists a class of fourth-graders to perform at a local battle of the bands. 

Richard Linkletter directed the beloved film, which Andrew Lloyd Webber turned into a Broadway musical and which was adapted into a Nickelodeon TV show. Here's what the movie's stars have been up to the past two decades since its debut. 

Jack Black, who starred as Dewey Finn, is still a successful actor and musician.
A side-by-side image of Jack Black in 2004 and 2023
Jack Black in 2004 and 2023.

Dave Hogan/Getty Image 2004 ; Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images 2023

Prior to rocking out and pretending to be Mr. Schneebly in "School of Rock," Jack Black already had an impressive career.

He'd been acting since 1984 and was known for films like "The Cable Guy" (1996), "High Fidelity" (2000), "Orange County" (2002), and "Ice Age" (2002).

The actor also starred on HBO's "Tenacious D," which chronicled a fictionalized version of his rock duo with Kyle Gass.

After "School of Rock," Black went on to star in major films like "King Kong" (2005), "Nacho Libre" (2006), "Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny" (2006), "The Holiday" (2006), "Tropic Thunder" (2008), the "Kung Fu Panda" franchise, and the "Jumanji" reboots.

He's also made several TV appearances on shows like Fox's "The Simpsons," Nickelodeon's "iCarly," and HBO's "The Brink." 

Outside of acting, Black and Gass have released several Tenacious D albums and videos. The duo recently suspended their 2024 tour after Gass joked about an attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

In 2023 alone, Black appeared in Hulu's "History of the World: Part II," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and Disney+'s "The Mandalorian." 

In March, Black told Ireland's JOE he'd love to work on a "School of Rock" sequel but said that the original screenplay's writer, Mike White, might be too busy with his huge hit "The White Lotus."

Miranda Cosgrove has starred in various hit movies and on TV shows since she played Summer.
A side-by-side image of Miranda Cosgrove in 2003 and 2023
Miranda Cosgrove in 2003 and 2023.

George Pimentel/WireImage via Getty Images ; Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Miranda Cosgrove played the precocious band manager Summer Hathaway in "School of Rock."

Her only acting credit before the film was a brief appearance on The WB's "Smallville."

After the movie, Cosgrove landed a leading role on Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh" before starring on the network's "iCarly." 

She's also worked on movies like "Yours, Mine and Ours" (2005), the "Despicable Me" franchise, "3022" (2019), and "North Hollywood" (2021). 

Cosgrove has released albums and singles in between acting roles as well. 

The actor reprised her starring role in the recently canceled Paramount+ "iCarly" revival series and was a lead alongside Brooke Shields and Benjamin Bratt in Netflix's "Mother of the Bride" (2024).

"School of Rock" was Joey Gaydos Jr.'s only acting credit.
A side-by-side image of Joey Gaydos Jr. in 2004 an 2015
Joey Gaydos Jr. in 2004 an 2015.

Jun Sato/WireImage via Getty Images ; Jenny Anderson/Getty Images

Joey Gaydos Jr. played Zack Mooneyham, a shy student who's coaxed out of his shell to play guitar for the band. 

This was his only acting role. He went on to release a self-titled rock album in 2004.

He has also had a few legal troubles over the years. 

In 2009, Gaydos was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence at 17 years old. In 2019, he was arrested after he was accused of stealing several guitars in the state of Florida, authorities said at the time. 

He still makes music and released a few EPs in 2020, including "Dogtopia" and "Calm Weather." He regularly posts videos of himself playing guitar on Instagram.

Robert Tsai left the spotlight to focus on his education and musical talent.
A side-by-side image of Robert Tsai in 2003 and 2015
Robert Tsai in 2003 and 2015

George Pimentel/WireImage via Getty Images ; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Robert Tsai played Lawrence, the band's demure yet talented pianist.

"School of Rock" was Tsai's only acting credit.

After the film, he went on to study at Dartmouth College where he continued performing as a pianist.

Rivkah Reyes is working as a performer, writer, and musician today.
A side-by-side image of Rivkah Reyes in 2004 and 2023
Rivkah Reyes in 2004 and 2023.

Jun Sato/WireImage via Getty Images ; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Rivkah Reyes' first acting role was as bassist Katie in the film. They landed the role after playing classical bass on an episode of NPR's "From the Top."

Since "School of Rock," the actor has been open about experiencing the negative effects of child stardom. In a 2020 Medium article, they wrote about developing an eating disorder; turning to drugs, alcohol, sex, and self-harm; and attempting suicide. 

They said they entered recovery for alcoholism and addiction in 2018. 

After taking a hiatus from acting, Reyes moved to LA and started working for a skincare company while performing gigs. They also traveled as a stand-up comedian and competed on NBC's "Bring the Funny."

The actor went on to appear in several movies, including "Bad Animal" (2021), Lifetime's "A Picture Perfect Holiday" (2021), and "A Holiday I Do" (2023).

In recent years, Reyes hosted a podcast where they interviewed former child stars, gained a following on TikTok, and performed live play readings with Acting for a Cause.

Their latest acting credit was an episode of the OUTtv series "Off Shoot"  (2024). Reyes also continues to perform music and recently released a single titled "another vice."

Kevin Clark, who played Freddy, left Hollywood to pursue music full time.
A side-by-side image of Kevin Clark in 2003 and 2015
Kevin Clark in 2013 and 2015.

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Kevin Clark played Freddy Jones, a rebellious student who played drums for the band. 

"School of Rock" was Clark's only acting credit. 

After filming the movie, he pursued a full-time music career and drummed for Chicago-based bands Dreadwolf and Jess Bess and the Intentions

He also taught students at a local "School of Rock" location, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.

In 2021, Clark died at 32 after a driver hit him while he was riding his bike.

Costar Reyes recalled that Clark suggested the film's ending, with the band losing the contest but winning over the audience and getting to play an encore.  

Aleisha Allen worked on a few more films after "School of Rock" before changing careers.
A side-by-side image of Aleisha Allen in 2003 and 2015
Aleisha Allen in 2003 and 2015.

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images ; Jenny Anderson/Getty Images

Aleisha Allen played Alicia, one of the band's singers.

Before lending her vocals for the film, the actor voiced Sidetable Drawer on Nick Jr.'s "Blue's Clues." She also appeared in "The Best Man" (1999). 

After "School of Rock," Allen starred alongside Ice Cube in the family comedies "Are We There Yet" (2005) and "Are We Done Yet" (2007), and she appeared in "Young Adult" (2011).

Her last acting credit on IMDb is "You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You" (2012).

In a shift from her acting career, Allen attended Pace University and Columbia University, and she's now a speech-language pathologist.

Maryam Hassan, who played Tomika, has been working as an independent singer.
A side-by-side image of Maryam Hassan in 2004 and 2015
Maryam Hassan in 2004 and in 2015.

Dave Benett/Getty Images ; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Maryam Hassan played Tomika, another one of the band's singers who surprised everyone with her powerful voice. 

Like many of the young stars, "School of Rock" was her only acting role. 

Since then, she's been working as a singer under the name Mayhrenate. Her latest song, from 2022, is called "Feel a Way."

In 2021, Hassan told Vulture that over a dozen members of the cast remained close.

"We have a group chat," she said. "We keep in touch pretty frequently and drop in our projects. I drop my music in, Miranda drops her acting projects in, stuff like that. Others have left the industry and talk about their families."

Caitlin Hale, who played Marta, went on to work in the medical field.
A side-by-side image of Caitlin Hale in 2003 and 2015
Caitlin Hale in 2003 and 2015.

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage via Getty Images ; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Caitlin Hale played Marta, the band's third singer. 

Hale voiced a character on two episodes of "Blue's Clues" before joining "School of Rock."

After the film, she left Hollywood and became a registered diagnostic medical sonographer and an OB-GYN ultrasound technologist.

Hale is also currently dating her "School of Rock" costar Angelo Massagli.

Brian Falduto became a singer-songwriter and certified life coach.
A side-by-side of Brian Falduto in 2003 and 2024
Brian Falduto in 2003 and 2024.

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage via Getty Images ; Noam Galai/Getty Images

Brian Falduto played Billy, the fashion-forward costume designer for the band. 

"School of Rock" is one of the young actor's only credits on IMDb. After the role, Falduto said he was in denial about his sexuality. "I didn't come out until my senior year of college," he said on the "Cooper and Anthony Radio Show" in 2021.

He pursued degrees in theatre performance and arts administration at Wagner College before landing a number of off-Broadway and regional theater roles. 

He also launched a career as a country musician, releasing an EP in 2017 and an album in 2018. His most recent single, "Same Old Country Love Song," came out in 2023. Earlier this year, he covered Dolly Parton's "Why'd You Come Here Lookin' Like That." 

Outside of performing, Falduto is a life coach, primarily for LGBTQ+ individuals. He launched a podcast, The Gay Men's Self-Help Book Club, and The Gay Men's Mindfulness Collective.

He was also the first guest on Reyes' "Where Are We Now" podcast in 2021.

Cole Hawkins worked as a child actor but has since left the industry.
A side-by-side image of Cole Hawkins in 2003 and 2015
Cole Hawkins in 2003 and 2015

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images ; Walter McBride/WireImage via Getty Images

Cole Hawkins played Leonard in the movie, one of the students in the class. 

Before "School of Rock," he appeared in "Big Daddy" (1999), "Meet the Parents" (2000), and "Kate and Leopold" (2001).

But he wasn't a musician. "The only thing that they had taught us to play in a New York City public school was a recorder, so I faked it," he told Rolling Stone in 2023.

Hawkins went on to appear in NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie" (2005), and "The Water is Wide" (2006).

His last acting credit on IMDb was in 2006 on NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."

Angelo Massagli stopped acting a few years after "School of Rock."
A side-by-side image of Angelo Massagli in 2003 and 2013
Angelo Massagli in 2003 and 2013

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage via Getty Images ; Rick Kern/Getty Images

Angelo Massagli played Frankie, another student in the class. 

Before "School of Rock," the young actor had a few film and TV credits, including CBS' "Cosby" and "Stuart Little 2" (2002). 

Between 2002 and 2007, he played Bobby Baccalieri Jr. on HBO's "The Sopranos." 

Massagli graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 2019 and works as a music product counsel for TikTok, according to his LinkedIn page. He is dating his "School of Rock" costar, Hale.

Joan Cusack has worked steadily as an actress since playing Principal Mullins.
A side-by-side image of Joan Cusack in 2003 and in 2015
Joan Cusack at the 2003 "School of Rock" premiere and in 2015.

Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage via Getty Images ; Sonia Recchia/Getty Images for Sundance

Before filming "School of Rock," Joan Cusack was well known for blockbusters like  "Addams Family Values" (1993), "Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997), "Runaway Bride" (1999), and "Toy Story 2" (1999).

She also acted in "Working Girl" (1988) and "In and Out" (1997), both of which earned her Academy Award nominations for best supporting actress. 

On TV, Cusack had roles on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and ABC's "What About Joan?" before joining the cast of "School of Rock."

After the movie, she continued to star in family films like "Ice Princess" (2005), "Chicken Little" (2005), "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" (2008), the "Toy Story" sequels, and "Klaus" (2019). 

She also went on to roles in "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009), "My Sister's Keeper" (2009), "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012), "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" (2016), and "Instant Family" (2018).

Cusack also continued her TV career on Showtime's "Shameless," Netflix's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," and, most recently, Amazon Prime's "Homecoming" in 2020.

Mike White, who played Ned, is a successful actor and writer.
A side-by-side image of Mike White in 2003 and 2023
Mike White in 2003 and 2023.

George Pimentel/WireImage via Getty Images ; Don Arnold/Getty Images

Mike White played Ned Schneebly, the friend and teacher that Dewey impersonates throughout the movie. He also wrote the film's screenplay.

Prior to "School of Rock," he wrote and appeared in movies like "Chuck and Buck" (2000) and "Orange County" (2002). 

Since the film, White has been a writer for several movies, including "Nacho Libre" (2006), "Pitch Perfect 3" (2017), and "Despicable Me 4" (2024).

He's also written for several TV series throughout his career, such as The WB's "Dawson's Creek," NBC's "Freaks and Geeks," HBO's "Enlightened" (which he also acted in), and Nickelodeon's "School of Rock" series. 

White recently won several Emmy Awards for his HBO series "The White Lotus."

Sarah Silverman is an accomplished comedian with over 100 performing credits to her name.
A side-by-side image of Sarah Silverman in 2003 and 2024
Sarah Silverman in 2003 and 2024.

George Pimentel/WireImage via Getty Images ; Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Sarah Silverman played Patty Di Marco, Ned's responsible girlfriend. 

The comedic actor got her start writing and performing on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1990s before landing roles in films like "There's Something About Mary" (1998), "The Bachelor" (1999), and "Heartbreakers" (2001).

After "School of Rock," Silverman continued to work on TV, starring on Comedy Central's "The Sarah Silverman Program" and voicing characters on Fox's "Bob's Burgers."

She also worked on "Rent" (2005), "The Muppets" (2011), "Wreck-It Ralph" (2012), "A Million Ways to Die in the West" (2014), "Battle of the Sexes" (2017), "Space Jam: A New Legacy" (2021), and "Marry Me" (2022). 

Most recently, she returned to her cartoon role in "The Bob's Burgers Movie" (2022), starred in "Menorah in the Middle" (2022), and appeared in the 2023 Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro." 

This story was originally published on May 22, 2021, and most recently updated on November 19, 2024.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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