Black People Love Paramore

Episode: "High School Musical: 20 Years Later"

Hosts: Sequoia Holmes & Ryan Graham
Date: January 22, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively, nostalgia-infused episode, Sequoia and Ryan celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original High School Musical (HSM), exploring its plot, legacy, characters, cultural impact, and how it fits within the unexpected Black experience. The duo dish out hot takes on the franchise’s rankings, speculate on character futures, dissect its music and style choices, and, true to the podcast’s motif, unearth what makes the HSM phenomenon so resonant (and divisive) in the Black community. Throughout, there’s plenty of laughter, playful shade, and irreverent trivia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

HSM vs. Cheetah Girls: The Great Disney Channel Debate (00:56–01:35)

• Engagement Prompt:
  • Listeners are asked to pick sides (HSM vs. Cheetah Girls) and use respective emojis: 🏀 (basketball) for HSM, 🐆 (cheetah) for Cheetah Girls, 🍋 (lemon) for Lemonade Mouth.
• Quote:
  "If you're wrong, put a basketball emoji. And if you're correct and like me, then you put the Cheetah emoji because Cheetah is your life." – Sequoia (01:13)

Plot & Themes Breakdown (01:38–04:46)

• Sequoia humorously attempts to summarize HSM’s plot, focusing on "outsiders infiltrating a theater group" and the social fallout.

• Unpacks themes:

  • Love (and unrequited love)
  • Racism/microaggressions, illustrated by how Chad and Zeke (the few Black characters) are boxed into stereotypes.
  • Quote:
    "They said, shut up and play basketball, you Black. That's what they said." – Sequoia (03:15)

• Ryan reframes the film’s bigger takeaway as “going out of your comfort zone and trying new things.”

Character Breakdown & Favorites (04:47–07:29)

• Ryan: Sharpay Evans: “Sharpay is so fun. She is, like, technically, the antagonist. She is not a villain.” (05:00)
• Sequoia: None stand out strongly; maybe “Ryan, because he was gay, but not gay.” Appreciates the twins-as-phenomenon angle.

Crystal Ball: Where Are They Now? (08:52–20:59)

A tongue-in-cheek superlatives game imagining the main characters at their 20th high school reunion:

• Troy & Gabriella – Divorced:
  "Troy's joining a fraternity, Trey might develop a low key drinking problem… Gabriella, she's there… but she's gotta work, focus on school. Ultimately… 'I gotta go my own way.'" – (14:31–14:54)

• Chad & Taylor (Monique) – Stay married, but messy:

  • Chad cheats with Ryan, but they stay together for public image. Monique is now a city councilwoman. (15:19–16:36)

• Sharpay – Moves to NYC, bit roles on Broadway, stays fabulous:

  • "Cast in Ryan Murphy productions constantly. Small roles, never leading." (17:03)
  • Still has her pink boa and self-confidence. (17:35–17:40)

• Ryan – Comes home, teaches theater, may have an unexplored relationship with Chad.

• Zeke – Owns a top NYC restaurant; reunites at the high school to flex. (18:45–19:11)

• Martha – Assistant choreographer & Cameo celeb, happiest of them all:

  • “Martha flies high, and I love that.” (20:54)

Franchise Legacy, Cultural Impact, & Disney Channel Comparisons (09:10–11:21)

• HSM is described as having legs across generations, with Disney’s constant remakes (e.g., HSM: The Musical: The Series) giving it persistence akin to Breakfast Club for Gen Z.
• Discuss how 80s movies were “one-offs” while Disney built universes and megastars (e.g. Olivia Rodrigo) off HSM.

Ranking the High School Musical Films (22:57–26:38)

Ryan's Ranking:

1. HSM 3: “Leaps, bounds, beyond. So much better. I saw it in theaters four times.” (23:39–23:50)
2. HSM 2: “Two is by far, it is so much better than one.” (25:41)
3. HSM 1: “One is actively bad.” (25:55)

Sequoia's Ranking:

1. HSM 2 (favorite, for its summer nostalgia)
2. HSM 3 (objectively best made)
3. HSM 1 (worst, “the styling is bad. The vocal mix of the music is bad.” 26:01)

Notable Rant:

• On Taylor’s wigs/headbands and the lack of Black hairstylists on set:
  "Let me tell you something, stylist of High School Musical, you will pay for your sins." – Sequoia (26:29)

Behind the Scenes & Pop Culture Trivia (29:13–32:35)

• Drew Seeley: The “real” Troy vocals, not Zac Efron. Co-wrote "Get Your Head in the Game."

  • Delve into why Drew Seeley wasn’t cast as Troy (too much “swag”? Keke Palmer weighs in). (30:40–31:18)

• Jesse McCartney tidbits and early-2000s kids TV crossover politics.

Zodiac Signs as HSM Characters (39:15–43:34)

• Each main character is assigned a zodiac sign based on their personality traits:
  • Chad: Aries
  • Taylor: Virgo or Capricorn
  • Troy: Cancer or Pisces (sensitive, prone to potential college vices)
  • Gabriella: Cancer or Scorpio
  • Sharpay: Leo (“She is pink top to bottom” – 42:01)
  • Ryan: Virgo (despite being Sharpay’s twin, distinctly different vibe)
  • Kelsey: Aquarius (the ultimate free spirit)
• Fun, intuitive discussion with astrological stereotyping. (39:15–43:34)

“Would Sharpay Be a MAGA Supporter?” (43:47–44:41)

• Rapid analysis of which Disney Channel characters would be MAGA-adjacent in adulthood:
  • Ryan: “That goes without saying.”
  • Sequoia: “London Tipton, unforged maga... Montana, yes and no. She doesn't care about politics. She performs at the inauguration. You know what I mean?" (44:32)

Lightning Round: HSM Film Trivia (44:51–48:06)

• Fun rapid-fire questions to test knowledge:
  • When Troy & Gabriella meet: New Year's Eve (45:06–45:13)
  • School location: Albuquerque, NM (46:23–46:38)
  • Troy’s jersey: #14 (47:03–47:05)
  • Zeke’s passion: Baking (47:19–47:22)
  • How many hats does Ryan wear? (47:36–47:58; answer: 15)
• Fans encouraged to play along and share scores.

HSM vs. Cheetah Girls: The Final Word (48:04–49:14)

• Ryan argues HSM's superiority based on cultural legacy; Sequoia counters that “bigness” ≠ “better.”
  • "There is no world where High School Musical is smaller than Cheetah Girls. I'm sorry." – Ryan (48:28)
  • The debate continues in paid bonus content.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "She is not a villain. If anybody's a villain, it is Gabriella." – Sequoia (05:00)
• "You LeBron James dribble, fair." – Sequoia mocking how the movie treats Black characters (03:49)
• "The phenomenon of twins is interesting. So the genetics of Ryan and Sharpay..." – Sequoia (08:13)
• "Let me tell you something, stylist of High School Musical, you will pay for your sins." – Sequoia (26:29)
• "Sharpe did. Never knew Martha's name. Never knew her name. Didn't with her at all." – Sequoia, shading HSM clique politics (20:15)
• "Why do you have Spongebob pajamas as a 40 year old man? Please let it go." – Sequoia (38:47–38:52)
• "Kenny Ortega's entire foot was in that dish." – Ryan, on the franchise’s choreography (33:19)

Timestamps: Major Segments

• 00:56 – 01:35 – Intro to the team debate: HSM vs. Cheetah Girls
• 01:38 – 04:46 – Attempted plot summary & theme analysis
• 04:47 – 07:29 – Character favorites (Sharpay, twins), plus hair mishaps
• 08:52 – 20:59 – 20th reunion: Superlatives/game (“Where are they now?”)
• 22:57 – 26:38 – Film rankings & defense (HSM3 vs. HSM2)
• 29:13 – 32:35 – Drew Seeley vocals drama & 2000s pop trivia
• 39:15 – 43:34 – Matching HSM characters with zodiac signs
• 43:47 – 44:41 – Would Sharpay or London Tipton be MAGA?
• 44:51 – 48:06 – Lightning round: HSM trivia
• 48:04 – 49:14 – HSM vs. Cheetah Girls: Who reigns?

Tone & Style

True to the Black People Love Paramore voice: irreverent, playful, reflective, and at times shaded with biting wit. There’s a genuine affection for the subject, plus a signature willingness to lovingly roast, digress, and bring in cultural sidebars (from Black hair politics to zodiac signs, 2000s TV, and the absurdities of Disney Channel styling).

Takeaway

This episode brings a funny, highly relatable Black millennial take on a pop culture juggernaut, mixing insightful nostalgia, real talk about representation, and no-holds-barred fandom debates. By the end, listeners are left both entertained and invited to weigh in—on rankings, HSM’s legacy, and which Disney Channel classic really deserves the crown.