Primetime TV is full of teens who are too savvy for their own good, 90210 and Gossip Girl, to name a few. The Secret Life of an American Teenager had that opportunity to change this trend by accurately portraying real teens in real situations. Unfortunately, cheesy plots and poor acting are just two of the ailments that plague this surprise summer hit.
The Premise of The Secret Life of an American Teenager
ABC Family’s The Secret Life of an American Teenager focuses on Amy Juergens, stereotypical band geek and good girl, who learns she is pregnant after one sexual encounter at band camp with a boy she doesn’t even like. The rest of the characters are soap-opera stereotypical. An over-the-top, sugary-sweet Christian girl who prays at the lunch table. A beautiful Latina girl from a single parent home who is generally regarded as the school slut. The dumb jock who cheats on his girlfriend. It’s like a John Hughes script with all of the caricatures and none of the depth. It’s ironic that the show stars Molly Ringwald, John Hughes’ teen-angst princess of the 80’s.
How Does Secret Life Stack Up?
The biggest problem facing ABC Family’s The Secret Life of an American Teenager is that it is simply not believable. While some younger teens might appreciate the vacillation between gratuitous sex and ultra-conservative Christian values, most will find the plot lines silly and over-the-top. How many 15-year-olds declare their undying love and lifelong commitment after having known each other for a few weeks? Factor in that one of them is pregnant by another guy and that number dwindles further.
Even if the characters were believable, the acting is generally mechanical. The one exception is Amy’s little sister, played brilliantly by India Eisley. She isn’t given much to work with, but her sarcastic wit belies the vulnerability of a scared little girl. She stands out in stark contrast to Shailene Woodley’s Amy, who rarely shows any emotional depth.
Will Secret Life Survive?
Teen viewers will either be drawn in or repulsed by the string of unlikely and melodramatic plotlines, but parents may balk at the number of scenes with teens having sex. The good news is that none of them seem to be using drugs or alcohol. The bad news is that their parents don’t seem to pay attention to anything they are doing.
The Secret Life of an American Teenager is going to need to up the ante in terms of the writing and the acting in order to gain more wide-stream credibility. The first season finale held a glimmer of hope with some truly emotional scenes. Time will tell if this show takes off, or remains a wisely-kept secret.
Awards
2008 Teen Choice Award “Choice Summer TV Show”
The Secret Life of an American Teenager Cast
- Shailene Woodley as pregnant teen, Amy Juergens
- Molly RIngwald as Amy’s mom, Anne Juergens
- Kenny Baumann as Ben Boykewich
- Mark Derwin as George Juergens
- India Eisley as Ashley Juergens
- Daren Kagasoff as Ricky Underwood
- Allen Evangelista as Henry Miller
- Megan Park as Grace Bowman
- Francia Raisa as Adrian Lee
