There used to be no better feeling than curling up on the couch with a blanket and putting on a classic film, or starting the new season of your favorite show. Boredom could be solved by the click of a remote and our favorite Hollywood comfort stars. But, more and more, it seems that we turn to our phones, rather than our television screens, when searching for entertainment and young adults making TikTok skits rather than Hollywood A-listers for comfort.
According to Statisa, in 2025, over 900 million people use TikTok each day, while Netflix only reached 301.6 million users worldwide in 2024. Social media has taken over as the primary manner of content consumption, and it has become much more convenient to go on TikTok for a good laugh than finding a show to watch.
In order for traditional media companies to keep up with the trends, they must start looking past common media agencies and onto their TikTok “For You Page.” Creators on TikTok spend hours each day coming up with scripts, filming content and editing videos, and they often build strong fan bases, sometimes gaining millions of views for their videos.
Jake Shane, for instance, started gaining attention on TikTok by making silly skits and acting out hypothetical scenarios, such as “the founding fathers after John Hancock signed his name super big.” Now he is signed by United Talent Agency, was featured in a Super Bowl ad for Poppi and has a feature on HBO’s Emmy winning TV series, Hacks.
Personally, as two young girls who are up-to-date on our TikTok mini-celebs, we only started watching Hacks when we found out Shane would have a role in the show. On May 9, he made his acting debut playing the main character’s social media assistant, using his authentic personality and humor in order to enhance the character’s presence in his scenes. His tone and facial expressions allowed him to shine with the few lines he was given.
Another example of a smooth transition from TikTok acting to prime-time television is Sabrina Brier. Gaining her following by creating humorous, relatable bits, Brier’s original target audience of women in their early 20s has expanded to general sitcom viewers. She premiered her comedic skills on the hit television show Abbott Elementary as a quirky, slightly air-headed substitute teacher.
Brier and Shane represent an untapped market for talent: TikTok skit actors. There are so many talented actors who haven’t had luck achieving success in the traditional casting routes. Becoming an actor is a strenuous task, with pressure to get auditions in hopes of booking a “big break.” Most aspiring entertainers cannot afford to keep up with this lifestyle as they are often forced to get second or even third jobs. So, using TikTok as a platform to get their names out there just may be the solution.
This only works though if producers and directors are willing to cast outside of the box. Every time an aspiring actor posts a funny TikTok, it serves as an audition to all who view it. Not only do they practice their skills daily through their content, they also have mass followings and are more relatable to young viewers than any Hollywood superstar.
Take a chance Hollywood, we want to see our favorite TikTokers making it to the big screen.