Wednesday, 2 Jul 2008
I really debated whether or not I was going to share my thoughts on THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER. To be honest, I was afraid that the issues I had with the show were going to be misconstrued and the debate would turn to issues of religion and morality which really had nothing to do with why I didn’t care for the show. But I had quite a few emails asking me about this one so I thought I would just go for it and hope for the best.Before I go any further let me first say this: to each his own. This is just my personal opinion on the show, and let face it…I’m not the demographic for this show to begin with. So that’s that.
THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER premiered last night on ABC Family but I got to check it out last week via an advanced screener. I was actually excited about this one. Hello, I love me some Molly Ringwald. But to say I was disappointed is a bit too easy. I was borderline angry.
I found the premiere episode to be incredibly cliched and so predictable that as a connoisseur of fine television (and ok, a lot of tasteless reality TV) I was almost offended. Offended not by the subject matter or what the creator’s were trying to convey, but offended in the obvious and unimaginative way that it was done. I felt like I was watching an after school special with funding provided jointly by Planned Parenthood and the Catholic Church. The writers worked tirelessly to provide every single angle on the subject of teen sexuality that it came off as obvious, bland and almost preachy.
Had the creator taken a stand and had the guts to tell the story from one perspective - that of the pregnant, Amy - then there might be something there. Own her world. Explore it fully. And when you have that established then go ahead and introduce other points of view or belief systems, as represented by other characters. But by giving equal weight to all points of view the story seemed like a really long PSA.
In the premiere episode, we watched as Amy found out she got pregnant after having sex for the first time at band camp. (Classic Brenda Hampton - in her world, every premarital sex act has a consequence.) Poor Amy was so virginal she didn’t even know if she had sex. But the stick turned pink so I guess she did. Just as I was becoming interested in watching Amy deal with this life changing news, I was forced to watch a long scene in which Grace - the super hot, super peppy, super devote Christian - once again reminded her boyfriend of virtues of holding off sex until marriage. She even had a promise ring (from her parents) as a reminder. Really? It just felt all a little too neat and clean for me.
I think there is an audience out there for this show. I know there is. I mean look how long 7th HEAVEN stayed on the air. Perhaps the same audience that enjoyed 7th HEAVEN will find this show appealing. . Or maybe the audience are parents with tweens who want to share the valuable life lessons the show tries to offer. Maybe a middle school health class? Who knows.
I have no problem with a show that deals with teen pregnancy. I think there is a place for it, and probably a need for it. As I said before, this show was never meant to be for me. And for a younger crowd maybe it will resonate better. And just so we’re not confused, I don’t take any issue with any of the messages they are trying to convey (I mean who doesn’t agree that abstinence is the only way to avoid pregnancy, right?) I’m just saying that as professional television creators, producers, and writers I thought the team behind THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER could have brought more to the table in terms of storytelling.
July 2nd, 2008 at 9:27 am
THANK YOU!!! I thought I was the only one. I posted a scathing review on Raked (raked.wordpress.com) last night. I thought Reverend Camden was going to turn the corner and enter a scene any moment. Way too preachy, way to reminiscent of 7th Heaven: The Bad Years. Very disjointed and the characters were just unlikable!
I definitely get your preachy point, too. There are ways to make your religious and political views come across and there are ways to make them unoriginal and obvious. Look at Army Wives–a show all about the war, one of our most debated topics of today! And yet, multiple viewpoints are shown and one opinion’s not pushed down your throat. This show, though, was just painful. Ignoring the religious side, it was just bad writing and not thought through.
I wanted fresh. I’m willing to see maybe another episode or so to see if it might get there, but who knows. Maybe next week I’ll end up watching Family Guy reruns.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
I agree with both of you. I actually thought last night, “Wow, that was a really long PSA.” !!
Like you, I’m not in the age demographic - married 30-year-old mom here - but I am a conservative Christian, so you’d think I’d like this. But it was so clunky and awkwardly written! And the characters were so NOT real! It’s like they were caricatures!
I think this was just baaaad. Because you know, they (whoever decided to produce this hour-long sermon) do have a good message. But by doing it so poorly, they really did themselves a disservice.
On another - though similar note - I thought the Ricky character was a poorly copied version of Logan Echols. And it just made me miss Veronica Mars.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:33 am
I didn’t actually watch this because after month of fast forwarding through the previews to get to Gilmore Girls, I was sick of seeing that pregnant girl. The commercials looked like a PSA and although I love the actors playing the adults here, I couldn’t get past the title of the show. It screamed “I have nothing new to say” - at least to me.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:39 am
I liked the show in some ways. I thought the character of Amy was well played. And I liked her little friends. And of course I was super excited about Molly Ringwald… But I totally agree that the plot was otherwise very preachy — using one-dimensional stereotypes to convey religion, abstinence, and even promiscuity. I thought it was interesting that they are trying to play the baby-daddy as a “sex addict” — having him in therapy and everything… We all know he will learn some valuable “life-lesson” from the virginal Grace. But who really cares? The only character worth caring about is Amy. And hopefully they will develop her character more fully…
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
Looking at the promo for the season, it looks like the show will take a different route. I liked the Amy story line and therefore will continue to watch the show, but i could have done without the Grace story line. I watched 7th Heaven, and loved it. What I like about this show is as soon as it starts, we find out shes pregnant, it could have started with her awful experience. It was only a pilot so the characters will be more developed. The first time I saw the promo while watching gilmore girls, I was like this is a show to watch. I could do without some of the story lines, and I hope the show will be more about Amy and her struggle with teen pregnancy.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:49 am
I was really hopeful when I turned it on that it would at least be entertaining summer filler. However, I hated how all the characters were all cliches, especially the religious girl and her boyfriend. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the acting was just horrible.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
The thing is I think that this show had the potential to be some what interesting…. I really liked the pregnant girl and the boy that liked her (kid playing the cymbals?). I thought if the show focused more on those two, it would be quite good.
Because the rest of the high schoolers were AWFUL. Let me tell you - there is no way the preachy message is going to work with those obnoxious kids.
(I was kind of hoping the religious girl would end up being like Mandy Moore is ‘Saved’. - now that would be fun to watch)
Funnily enough, my BF was watching with me and said I want to know what kind of H.S. these kids go too - b/c it certainly wasn’t like mine. And I agreed, I don’t remember any kids running around preaching about abstinence and religion. Let me tell you they would have been the biggest social outcasts at my school. Maybe the show should consider consulting with a few teenagers before writing a show about them.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I thought it looked interesting from the commercials, however, once I heard Brenda Hampton was involved I got disgusted because I was afraid of another 7th Heaven. I didn’t even watch it, I figured it was going to be way to preachy and condescending.
I think I made the right choice.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Could everyone be more sex obsessed on the show? I’d like to think not everyone in high school things like that. Makes me really worry for my 11 year old daughter. And she didn’t know?!? That’s the best they could come up with?!? One time, at band camp…
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
You know I thought the show last night was not so bad, in fact I enjoyed it. I don’t think the show was preachy at all I think they showed that there are negative consequences to some actions. While that might turn some folks off I do think it is something that young kids need to hear these days, especially with all the teen pregnancies going on these days. I don’t think they are getting the facts and maybe this show will be something kids and their parents can use as a starting point to open up dialogue. Also the girl Grace was just like a girl in my high school! She was all about Jesus so for me it did not seem to far fetched but actually dead on. I think the show is worth another try it has good bones and I think they are trying to do something good here.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
[If you are going to submit a comment please make sure it is the form of a sentence. Proper capitalization and some punctuation would be great.]
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I don’t know what I was more offended by: the bad writing or the bad acting. Is it Brenda Hampton’s mission in life to find the worst young adult actors? Ten years of “7th Heaven,” and aside from Barry Watson (who thankfully got out unscathed), not one of the young cast members improved in their acting ability.
Then there’s naive stupidity of these characters. She’s pregnant, but doesn’t know if she had sex? Have they had a sex education class? The parents didn’t come off any better, imo.
July 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Vlada - don’t you now? They only teach abstinence in school now. If you have “sex” you will get pregnant. But nobody explains what sex is. It still kills me every time I read one of those stories about the girl that had a baby in a bathroom but didn’t know she was pregnant.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 pm
See, now I’m intrigued. Between this and the baby switching show you mention in another post, I think I’ve got an article on my hands here! (I’m an academic that does work on popular culture and pregnancy.)
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 am
Ugh. This show sounds utterly sickening, and I’m so glad I didn’t give it a shot. But I laughed at the idea of Planned Parenthood and the Catholic church jointly agreeing on ANYTHING!
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Thank you for pointing this out, I thought I was the only one having 7th Heaven, crazy religious episode flashbacks. The show was dry and I am disappointed in the fact that “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” is really “The Open, let’s hear every side/opinion of the life of the American Teenager.”
I wanted a show that just examined the AMERICAN TEENAGER, not the crazy Christian chick, the debating best friends, and the naive (no offense Molly) parents.
July 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Patty - I guess I’ve been out of school too long because my health class didn’t just teach abstinence. But I think it also depends on the school district.
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I was excited to see the show, I loved Molly in her movies as a teenager and I enjoyed the series 7th Heaven, my children are busy watching the re-runs this summer and it is a nice clean show. I was curious about the series and sat down to watch it without my 15 year old daughter, and thankfully I did, I did not see it as a family show whatsoever and I don’t believe that all teenagers are that sex crazed, I know my daughter and her friends are not. I am a Christian and I thought they portrayed the Christian point of view, but did it in a way that was definately poking fun at it and everytime they had the Christians on they played that hokey music. I was very insulted and saw no value in this show and definately not for my daughter.
July 3rd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I’m in the age demographic and still thought it was crazy. The way the Christian girl was written was such a sad, little cliche, it wasn’t even funny. No one wanders around their high school preaching at people about abstinence and faith. I can vouch for that, as a Christian highschooler. No one at my school is that sex-obsessed, either. Whoever wrote that needs to talk to some teens or something. The stereotypes were obvious and the bits with the mentally challenged brother were just insulting. *Everyone* was a caricature. And did anyone else hear the 7th Heaven background music, or was that just me?
Anyway, it did get me curious and the previews look like maybe it will get better. I think they were just trying to hammer the message home, maybe because it was the first episode.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
I saw the advertisements and I thought it would be an interesting show. One thing fascinates me: ABC decided to make a television show about the secret life of a White American teenager. I’m curious if the response would be different if the main character was an American Hispanic or an American Black girl? I believe the discourse is inherently different when girls of color get pregnant at a young age. Many may say that teenage pregnancy is teenage pregnancy–race does not matter. I just believe that all pregnancies are not “equal.” As a result, if the viewers had the chance to watch an ABC show that juxtaposes a black/hispanic teenage pregnancy and a white teenage pregnancy, their perceptions of each pregnancy would not be the same.
July 7th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I actually thought the show was good, and educational for young teens who are going through some of the same things. Let’s be real, when you step into a highschool, the topic of most of the convesations is sex. That’s what teens are interested in and what they’re trying, so we need a show to let kids know that some people do intertake in sexual acts, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. The “preaching” is also showing other ways to stay pure . . which is through Jesus. I personally believe it has good objectives, and I can’t wait for next weeks episode!
July 7th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Chloe, yes! I heard the music too!!! Totally 7th Heaven!!!!
July 7th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
i think the show was great. no, i didn’t care too much for 7th heaven but as a new graduate out of high school, i know what its like. yes it was all predictable, but it shows other teens whats really going on. that’s how high school is now. i have 3 friends whom are in high school who are pregnant, one of which got an abortion, and another friend who couldn’t graduate with us cause she had her baby boy on mother’s day. with all these teens getting pregnant, im happy they can show others what its like before they follow in those footsteps. watching my friends get pregnant at an early age, i now cherish my youth and am glad i take personal percautions. this show is only trying to do the same. it’s also not so bad cause again, thats how high school is now, all about sex. i think its a hit and im going to keep watching
July 8th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
you guys obviously don’t live in the south, christians preaching about abstinence and faith EVERYWHERE. it really is a somewhat accurate portrayal of a christian teen
July 8th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I really liked the show…it kept me going and everytime I look at the clock it is almost over. The only thing that annoyed me in these last two episodes was Amy’s redheaded friend. All she said was sex sex sex in like every sentence and its like she never used the word before. Gosh, it least have some class.
Oh, and I think Ben and Amy are totally cute together, except I know that things are gonna get a little bumpy between them, it’s what every show has.
As for Ricky and Adrienne, I think that they are kind of getting somewhere,as for the fact Ricky is a little lieing machine and Adrienne is leaning on the slutty side.
Grace and Jack - Puhhleaassee! Jack=Gag! She is wayyy too pretty for him, and I think she is a litle overboard with her whole preomise ring and such, if your making a promise just remember in your head and heart-you don’t need a ring.
As for the show, so far I love it, and I can’t wait till it gets going more…
July 8th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
When I first saw the previews of ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’, I thought it was going to be the newest craze or something. Honestly, I thought it was going to be an amazing show. When I saw the first episode, I thought it was pretty decent. I mean besides the fact that they said the word sex in about every sentence. When I watched the second episode, I thought, ‘okay this show has potential, now they just need to get it set into the right direction.’ I think the show itself is a pretty interesting idea, but the storyline just needs to take the time to farther progress. I think they need to focus less on preppy, super Christian Grace & her boyfriend issues, and shine the spotlight more on Amy and her pregnancy issues. After that is all said and done, they’ll have an amazing show on their hands. But hey, that’s just my opinion
July 8th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I saw atleast 50 commercails in one week fro this show and i agree that it got a bit annoying after 5 of them. I was intrested to see what the show was actually going to be like so i decided to watch the first episode. The show has a good consept but at times it seemed a bit pointless. I dint like how they started and ended the show, it left you wondering what actually happened at Band Camp. I didnt like how they they ended the second episode it just didnt seem like the scene should have ended. I went on Wikipedia and read some of the next episodes and i would still watch the next few episodes…it couldnt hurt..
July 8th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I really enjoyed the show. I am a little older than the character Amy and it’ll be interesting to see how the creators will show someone my age pregnant and how that person in this case Amy is going to deal with. But some of the stuff was a bit too peachy as most of you have said and I totally could have done without the Grace storyline. I am a devoted Christian but her whole cookie-cutter I’m a saint retelling how sex is for marriage that I’ve heard a million times before was very annoying. I loved the parents especially Molly and John. Being a huge Smallville fan it was lovely seeing him again. But I think the multi-character storyline was boring I just wanted to get to the Amy story in all of this. I’ll keep watching this show cause I really enjoy the Amy storyline, I guess I’ll just ignore Grace and her Gagtastic boyfriend Jack who is too ugly for her and Ricky and Adrienne whose borerline slut, no shes just all slut. I love Ben and Amy I can’t wait for their relationship to develope and see how he reacts to the news of the pregnancy.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I feel as though this show would be a good show to bring up in health class. From what I’ve seen it concentrates on the sex lives of very different teenagers. I was more curious than entertained. I’m just scared that if I get attached I won’t stop watching it and honestly the show makes me depressed. I’m not saying it was a bad show, it is a good show, I’m sure a lot of people liked it. I want to keep watching Amy go through the five steps of acceptence if she does go through them. I also like the other stories that are going around her, they aren’t as severe as Amy’s but they are still entertaining.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
The show was lacking in a lot of areas, but will probably satisfy a great deal of pre-teens who don’t know what good television is these days. The premise was a bit intriguing, I wanted to see how the producers would execute a show like this—and they didn’t impress me. The stereotypes that abound are awful to start with. The asian girl who spits out sex statistics? The awkward freshman straight of Sixteen Candles? And who speaks to their guidance counselor with that much candor? The proselytizing Christian couple pissed me off the most–I’ve heard a lot of commentors say they think that the portrayal of these characters were pretty good. Personally, watching them is embarrassing. I waited, and I never put on the kind of spectacle that they seem to be. It’s so over the top it’s kind of mocking those kids who want to wait. The producers need to make these kids seem more real–just because you are good Christian girl doesn’t mean you speak in passive angelic tones.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I really love the show!! I thought it was great. From the first commercial I saw about it I couldn’t wait to see it. First off I am a teen in high school and that IS how it is at my school. There are people that are sex obsessed and people do constantly talk about it. I do agree that the whole grace and jack thing just shouldnt be played on so much, but I love the whole adrienne and ricky thing. I think its pretty necessary for the story plot. Last Monday I couldn’t wait for his week and now I can’t wait until next tuesday!!
I do have to say though that sitting there I just want to yell at her to tell ricky!! I mean seriously girl. Its not only your kid its his too. And I think he should at least know about it! And I really hope she doesn’t go through with the plan her friends cooked up for her. Blaming ben for the baby, I think, is the worst thing she can do. Well I guess we will just have to see! I love it!
July 15th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
i was wonder what the theme song to this show was???
because i really like the song and i LOVE the show!!
if u could just give me the name of my song to my e-mail.
its tay_121@netins.net
thanks!!
July 16th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
one: i’ve been to band camp several times, and believe it or not, what you heard can be quite true. So the idea of her getting prego at camp isn’t exactly as outrageous as you might think.
two: maybe where you’re from, its cliche’ for girls to believe in abstinance and to wear promise rings, but i know several girls just like that. I, once, was one of them.
three (simple question, think about it): if Amy was buddhist, and she chose not to have an abortion for her own moral reasons, would people be making such a big deal about her choice?
four: yeah, the show is a little cliche’ in many areas, but it seems to be more directed at pre-teens. That’s the kind of stuff they like to see. Drama, drama, drama…
If you’re over 16, the writers probably don’t care a whole lot about what you think anyway.
five: i don’t know why i’m posting this anyway, because i’m sure most of you have your minds made up already…
if you don’t like it, don’t watch it.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
i have every right to call you a scaresrow!!! if only you had a brain!!!!!!!! (wisard of oz)get a brain lady! this show is off the hook!
July 20th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
i like ur comments maryjane!!!!!!! u go girl
July 21st, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I thought the movie depicted healthy christian views on teen pregnancy. and you can’t tell me that it was too neat and clean for one of the teens to have a promise ring. i know a good handful of people at my school who have promise rings. i don’t know what school you went too, but not everyone has sex. just because some people chose abstinence doesn’t mean they are too “neat & clean”. i think maybe some one needs to see the newsflash and realize there are still a few of us teens out there who do have morals.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
ok well this show does make sense its a great shows to shows teens about what can happen when you do have sex and this show might not be for evreyone but it still a great show
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:48 pm
First the show was awful. As far as TV shows go it was unbearable.
Second, as christian propaganda… atleast they’re trying. Trying to spin their morals into a likeable teen tv show is brilliant. You don’t get teens to listen by reading bible versus in church you get them by making the really pretty popular girl being crazy christian (the minority being the evil temptest was a nice touch I thought), and of course the normal girl who you relate with got pregnant (perhaps by sex but maybe holding hands cause she doesn’t know what happened). The message was clear: Be christian and you’ll be popular and good looking, don’t go to far with boys because you never know how you could get pregnant. The best way to make sure you don’t get pregnant is to never look at a boy.
Instead, I think the country actually needs a real discussion of sex. Someone needs to go into a junior high class and tell the children, you are awkward you’re supposed to be you’re in junior high in no way are you prepared to have sex. sex isn’t porn stars its awkward and its messy. You can’t even walk straight in front of the other sex but you are going to twist your body in new ways naked on top of the other one? no. By allowing sex to be an enigma everyone wants to try it. if we were all more open about it then the porn industry couldn’t make it out to be something that it isn’t and overtly religious couldn’t scare people with it.
I enjoyed Martin Luther’s (founder of protestant movement and former catholic priest) writings on marriage/sex. He says that God has made you a sexual being. You can take a vow of abstinance as well as you can take a vow to not breathe. He encourages everyone to be sexual and do what is in all of our nature (albeit in marriage; he even tells monks and nuns to go get married and have sex). He claims (way before the time of catholic priest incident.) that when you try to act against nature and God’s will nothing good can happen. Thus by not having sex (or being truthful about it) all that happens is that those urges come out in unnatural and sinful ways. This is of course why hotels make the most money off of their pay per veiw porn when christian conventions are filling the rooms.
To step off my soap box i’d like to point out that I despise the use of TV shows to spread moral propaganda and more doing so in such low quality tv.
July 24th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I thought this show was really good.
but im also a teenager which makes it interesting to see how Amy handles her pregnancy. it is a good way to show teenagers what can happen and i think that brenda hampton does a really good job of “keeping you on the cliff” as far as looking forward to the next episode to see what happens next. I could see how people over the age of like 18 wouldnt find it as appealing as people under the age of 18. I do believe that for some of you that think you hate this show if you just watched it a few times, you might begin to enjoy it. I think that Shailene Woodley (Amy) does a really good job of acting and has a pretty good idea of what she is doing. For those of you who didnt even watch an episode yet, you never know… you might like it. I wasnt sure if it was a show that i would really like at first when i saw the previews but once i saw the first 3 episodes i havent been able to miss one because they are so good. I love watching a show that keeps you thinking all week about whats going to happen next. I also think that they picked out a really good cast and as much as alot of you people are saying there are “bad actors” and that this show is “horrible” i think that you need to give it a chance and possibly realize that it is created for teenagers and that they picked out a group of teenagers that are really good actors. No matter what anyone else says, i will continue to watch this show because it keeps me “on a cliff” and keeps me thinking and excited to see the next show. So, good job Brenda Hampton and cast of The Secret Life of the American Teenager!!!
July 26th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Well I pretty much agree with you and I am in the age bracket (17 yr. high school girl, and also christian). I was immeadiately turned off by the pilot because it seems like all anyone could talk about was sex. I mean…really..teenagers do have other things to talk about. I can understand Amy talking about it, but past that, sex really isn’t an everyday subject in normal teenage convorsation. Or perhaps I’m just weird.
I was also upset with the way Amy handles the whole thing. I can understand her not wanting to tell her parents and being a bit apprehensive, but she spends the first two or three or four episodes just acting like she can go a whole pregnancy and not tell her parents. I mean seriously, I was hoping you could give a 15 year old more credit than thinking a baby can just go away or be somthing one can forever hide from their parents.
I will say that I like it better than 7th heaven where both bad acting (in most cases) was paired with bad writing. In this show, the problem seems like it mostly lies in the writing. I think the concepts are good but the actual lines are…well just stupid.The acting though, in particular Molly Ringwald and Shailene Woodly, I thought was pretty good, and even amy’s boyfriend wasn’t bad at his part either. Most of the other actors were a bit over the top and akward, much like most of the actors in 7th heaven. So maybe it’s not the other actors as much as it is the writing, being that it is the only common denomenator.
I will continue to watch the show though in hopes that the storyline gets more interesting. However if the whole season goes by and shes not showing and still agonizing whether or not to tell her parents, then you can count me out.
July 26th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
i think the show was good just because alot of shows these days never shows the negitive side of having sex as a teenager. I am a deeply Chritian woman. But even though being one, i think showing the chrstianalty was good. but they didnt really do a good job about it. but i did like how they showed the negitive side of what REALLY happens when you sex at a young age. but no offense i think they should have made her like 17 rather then 15.
July 26th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Hi.
I’m a 15 year old Christian, and I have to say that I LOVED the show, but I AM 15. This show to us 15 year olds is like the best thing ever, but at the same time. Like…no matter how Christian a girl is…sadly these days she’s gonna give in to some kind of sexual temptation. and I really hated how they made Grace so much of a goodie goodie. Like I AM a goodie two shoes, but girls at the age of 15 are NOT good to THAT extreme.
I feel like the show completely exagerated every character.
Grace-should not be that good
Ricky-ok I understand his past, but come one, he’s such a sterotype!
Amy-she was so0o0o innocent she didnt even know if she had sex! like that really cracked me up! like come on!
the boy who likes her-I really like him but they overly exagerate how nerdy and clingy he is.
Like. I hate how this show protrays characters in such a bad way, because go to a high school…KIDS ARE NOT LIKE THAT! Yes, we have our Christian Clubs at school…yes we do share the Gospel, but a girl is not going to randomly take off her top and walk down the middle of the hallway. I’m sorry!
I think this show will continue to get better, and I mean it IS a great show…but of course I’m only 15, older wiser people as I can see have different opinions that I can COMPLETELY agree with.
July 27th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I thought the show was pretty good. At this point, I’ve watched the first four episodes. The acting is totally over the top. I think it’s done to take the sting out of the preachiness as well as showing it from a teens point of view. Seriously, what teen takes their parents seriously?. But, it’s acurately depicting the reactions of a 15 year old child. Youhad sex, you got pregnant, get married and you’ll live happy ever after. They falk in love on the first date. One girl sleeps with everyone around. Jack is totally sex obsessed. That IS the way they think. My entire high school was like that in 1992. My sister’s wss worse 13 years later. I’m interested to see how it unfolds. I don’t see it having a future beyond Amy’s pregnancy, however.
I was a pregnant teen. I did everything that Amy did. I took 7 pregnancy tests. I freaked over telling my parents. And I ignored the issue until I saw the sonagram. I waited for my bf to ask me to marry. Was shocked when he dumped me instead. I fretted over choices. Questioned my choices and changed my mind over and over. I see where the story is coming from, and I think it’s being handled well. -then again, I liked 7th Heaven…LOL
July 28th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I only read a couple of these comment things. But the ones I did read were super retarded!!!! This show is awesome. Its just helping to show teenagers not to have premarridal sex. Amy’s character is at least worth watching the whole episode.sure the rest of them just need to grow up. But otherwise its an awesome show and teenagers should totally watch it.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I LOVE THIS SHOW IVE RECORDED EVERY ONE ON DVR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if you h8 the show dont bother with it if your like me and love the show try and see every one or go on youtube and they have it on there
July 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
After reading all these comments I was shocked about the negative feedback this show has gotten. I am a Christian and have been a very devout Christian most of my life, and to read that people are no longer expressing their Virginity in a positive light and not preaching at school is very alarming to me. I was a “Grace” and I didn’t care what people thought of me. I also had friends that were “Adrian’s ” and while our values were different, they enjoyed being around me. To me the show was very real and portrayed an accurate picture of MY high school days. I hate that people aren’t as respectful of their body as they used to be. Hollywood gives people a false image of how they should act and how they should be. I think this show hit the nail on the head. (for me)
July 29th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I am also surpirsed at all the negative ratings this show has gotten. I know that everyone has their own opions but my friends and I love it. I love the suspense and drama that this show brings to the table…every epiosode brings me back for more and is so different. Finally there is a show that talks about an important subject while creating obstacles that make it even more interesting to watch!
July 29th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I think that the idea of the show has potential (though I think it could have done with a shorter name) but after Amy has her baby, I’m not really sure where it is going to go. There are only so many directions the writers can take the storyline, especially because if they are going to be realistic about it, a young single mother is going to be basically chained to her baby and the other characters haven’t been developed enough to really take them anywhere.
I agree with the people who say that the show is too preachy… high school is not like that.. at all, but I also agree with the fact that it would be appealing to a specific audience.
I liked 7th Heaven when I watched it, and I like Brenda Hampton, but this show just isn’t for me.
July 29th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I see all these people saying the show is “preachy.” That’s life. Different families have different concepts, and some communities are very “preachy.” This show is an accurate portrayal of life, and I for one prefer the real acting being done than the over-the-top stuff you see in Lost, CSI, and Smallville.
July 29th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
wow this show is awesome! Theres not a thing i dislike about it. Its so totally differernt from other shows. Its great. I hope it goes on for a really love time. i love all the characters!!
July 29th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
wow this show is awesome! Theres not a thing i dislike about it. Its so totally differernt from other shows. Its great. I hope it goes on for a really long time. i love all the characters!!
July 30th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I don’t know what everyones problem is because i thought the show was excellent. Amy’s two friends had very cheesy acting. I believe that was the only ‘bad’ thing in the show. Otherwise, I loved it, and i’m painstakingly counting down the days to the next new episode!
July 30th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
I personally am a mother of a 14 year old teenager. I love the fact that this show is hitting on the consequences of bad decisions, including teenage pregnancy. But as a Christian mother of a Christian daughter, it is my opinion that Hollywood has no idea about the average teenage Christian and how they talk at school, or struggle with being a Christian at school or even how they talk about it and I agree with a previous poster that said this gives disservice to the show. Makes people think weird things of how Christians act. My teenage daughter has a GREAT perspective on her Christian walk, but I doubt she would have a cheesy conversation with her boyfriend like Grace did…not because she doesn’t believe it or have the same views, but it just sounded hokey and Hollywood’s version of what a Christian teen is like. You can have convictions and stand up for them and witness to others through your actions without all the verbage that pushes people away from Christ instead of toward him. I think this is just a nother example of how Christians are viewed from Hollywood. As the show has progressed, I have seen that get better…I’m hoping that trend continues. Kids talk to kids in kid language and teens do too. My daughter will have similar conversations as she is approached for premarital sex, but I believe she’ll handle it in a genuine personal relationship approach…a decision she made and why. I think they just need to maybe actually SPEAK to some actual teenagers who are strong Christians and see if I’m right on this and then proceed accordingly. I am watching this show as well as my teenager, sometimes together, some times not, but it is providing great teaching opportunities regardless. These are REAL issues our teens are dealing with and we as parents can’t just stay ignorant to that fact, but should welcome opportunities such as these to approach our teens and open some doors that are naturally closed due to lack of knowledge or guilt. My two cents! with some tinkering and tweeking, this can be a very useful show to teens and their parents.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I think that the show is good.I can understand however people’s disagreements with it.If I was a premenopausal woman who has no idea how school is like now you might see this show as stupid or preachy. I being in high school see the show differently.I don’t care what you say Grace is my favorite I was so sad to see people commenting and saying that they are Christians but then saying that no one is like her. There are people like her in high school, my cousin was a cheerleader very popular a Christian and a virgin.Sex always has consequences.They might not always be pregnancy,they could be stds emotional consequences etc.
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Okay, let me just start off with I love this show. I thought it was exactly like high school in this time. So, like all you old people who are like that’s not how my high school was like (you know about all those kids crazed about sex) well let me remind you this is the present time. And how the characters act on this show are how all us teenagers in high school act its true. I would know cause I am in high school and everyone i know talks and lives sex.
August 3rd, 2008 at 4:38 pm
My first time was so bad I wasn’t sure it REALLY counted as sex, so I kinda feel Amy on that one. When your hymen doesn’t even get broken in the process, I mean, c’mon… a girl can doubt a little. And a girl certainly doesn’t have to be fully penetrated to get pregnant.
The show overall was certainly cliche and sometimes clumsy, but I think it was still good. It would have been better for it to have started maybe a few weeks earlier–establish Amy’s character pre-pregnancy and such–but I think the kids in the show are cute. It’s certainly better than 7th Heaven, which makes me gag to watch.
I think a lot of people who don’t like it are out-of-touch with teenagers today. Not as a rule, but overall. As a middle school teachers, even these kids are pretty sex-obsessed. All the drama in the show so far is pretty realistic (though not always fabulously acted), it’s just that it’s all crammed together that makes it seem over-blown. But excessive angst doth a teen drama make.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
i wass soo maddd! i meann seriously can it get any more unrealistic??!
high skool is deffently not liek thatt? i should kno! plus the characters are wayy to done upp like seriously , espeacially grace and ben! its almost annoying! but i duno ill just continue to watch it in hopes it gets better!:(
August 5th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
I think the show is amazing ! but kids under 11 should not watch this show . It talks to much about sex and kids under 11 should not know that much about sex. but the christian girl is just the right fit. I may think that because I go to christian schools.
August 6th, 2008 at 6:36 am
I am 18 and I am absolutely hooked on this show. I like how it shows things that actually happen to real teens. It may not be everyones cup of tea but I deffinately like it. Also I am dieing to know the name of the song that always plays in the commercial does anyone know what it is? If so please email me at nicoleknrd@yahoo.com
August 6th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
This show is horrid.
This show produces a stero type of women that is false.
Makes me ashamed to be a girl and I cry whenever I see a comercial for it.
August 6th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
They are copying of Juno, and I did not much care for that movie either.
August 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
i love this show
August 13th, 2008 at 2:56 am
You guys are kinda being stupid!
These kind of things happen ALL the time. It may be kinda cheezy but i know lots of girls who have ended up in the same situation and they only had sex once. It can happen, and it does more then a zillion times a day! And mothers and fathers need to talk to there kids cuz they dnt they think the school giving them the talk will work but it doesnt! And this show is a good one and so was 7th heaven!
August 20th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I personally disagree…I love the secret life!
If you agree, please visit and join my website!
http://secretlifefans.wetpaint.com
August 21st, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I disagree. I love it!
August 25th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Oh my god…you complain about the show, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve read the blogs that ABC Family posts on their website (don’t even get me started on the Facebook group). One was called ‘Pregnancy is the leading cause of parenthood’ (not lying). My response? No shit, Sherlock! I honestly only watch the show to A) Make fun of it and B) Oogle the guy who plays Ricky if he should take his shirt off again. Let’s be honest, it’s hardly ‘Juno’ or even Lifetime…it’s semi-ridiculous at best, absurd at worst.
August 27th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
I don’t know if this was ansered yet but the theme song was called (Courage is).
I also think that the show roked. I love the drama in it and you can’t talk me out of watching it.
I am yonger than 20 so please exuse any typing mistakes.
August 31st, 2008 at 12:27 pm
What I can honestly say is that this show is reminiscent of a work written by an uncreative, delusional, unobservant fourteen-year-old for her storywriting assignment in English class. I am in the target age group, and every tuesday has become an event for my twelve-year-old brother and I (I am sixteen) to laugh and scoff at it’s plot lines, the so-called serious undertones, and the cardboard-cut-out steriotypical characters. I agree with whoever said that ideals are being shoved down the viewer’s throat. I personally think that the character of Amy is played horribly. The show would have far more depth if it came from her point of view, and rather, it stifles whenever she is on screen. You want to know what it’s like to be a teenager? Put some real fear into the characters, some real decisions, pain and heartache, some impulsive decisions that don’t end up with bad consequences, and some that do. I hope that any idiot can see that this show has an air of already wacko adults examining already examined examinations of steriotypes that hardly exist in high school, let alone in life.
September 13th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
I don’t need to be told by some little snot nosed teenagers on here how “conversations in high school are nowadays.” It’s presumptuous and rude as an ADULT to read comments by teenagers who think they know it all about sex. I’m sure some of you haven’t even had your period yet.
That is all.
October 1st, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I thought that it was a wonderful show.I has hooked just from seeing the commercials. I think of you all actually watched more than one episode then you would like it better. I know the premiere show had some faults but you have to actually see the other episodes. Cause Grace(christain cheerleader) actually ends up wanting to have sex with ricky(Amy’s Baby Daddy) So yeah she isn’t as goody goody and cliched as you all predicted. You can’t judge a show on just the first episode.