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The Secret Life of the American Teenager

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The Secret Life of the American Teenager
File:Secret life of the american teenager.jpg
The Secret Life of the American Teenager title card
Created byBrenda Hampton
StarringShailene Woodley
Molly Ringwald
Mark Derwin
India Eisley
Francia Raisa
Kenny Baumann
Daren Kagasoff
Megan Park
Greg Finley
Country of origin United States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes1
Production
Executive producerBrenda Hampton
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running timeapprox. 46:21 (1 hour with commercials)
Original release
NetworkABC Family
ReleaseJuly 1, 2008 –
present

The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an American television series, from the creator of 7th Heaven that debuted on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. [1] Good-girl band geek Amy is smart, talented...and pregnant. Super-Christian cheerleader Grace wants to wait until she's married and sneaks around behind her parent's back to see her boyfriend, Jack, who is not sure he can wait until she finishes Medical school so he cheats on Grace with Adrian, the wild-child "bad girl," who is really in love with bad-boy Ricky, the troubled drummer who has one night with Amy that leads to the biggest secret of all and ended up fathering Amy’s baby at band camp. Ben wants to win Amy's heart but doesn't know her secret. As their secrets start to spread to the parents and to friends everyone's secrets and stories start to come to the surface.

  • Ben wants to marry Amy.
  • Amy had sex with Ricky and is now pregnant.
  • Ricky wants Grace.
  • Grace is dating Jack.
  • Jack hooked up with Adrian.
  • Adrian loves Ricky
  • Amy's parents are going to split up.

Cast

She is a good-girl and her secret is that she's pregnant. A 15-year-old freshman at Ulysses S. Grant High School and a French horn player in the school marching band (though generally you don't march the french horn). While at band camp, she had sex with Ricky, the drummer, and becomes pregnant. She doesn't want to tell her parents, but knows they will find out eventually. Her best friends Lauren and Madison are the only ones initially told about her pregnancy. After learning she is pregnant with Ricky's child, Amy meets and develops a crush on Ben Boykewick. She's loving, caring, and just a little bit shy. She's easy-going and friendly, and when it comes to dating, she's old-fashioned and just wants to find "the one." As long as she comes out of her protective shell and opens up to others, true love can't be far behind.
Her secret is that she's going to split up with her husband. Amy's mom, who married George Juergens at a young age after finding out she was pregnant with her first child, Amy. She wonders if this was the right move on her part.
His secret is that he's going to split up with his wife. Amy's dad, who married Anne at a young age after finding out she was pregnant with her first child, Amy He tells his daughters that boys like good girls. He has been cheating on his wife with the fiesty Adrian's mother, Cindy. Would George leave the Juergens for love elsewhere?
Amy's 13-year-old sister who acts out and dresses against the dress code by wearing shirts that show midriff. She resents her older sister's good girl attitude. She was the third person, and the first family-member of Amy to find out about Amy's pregnancy.
She is a flirt and her secret us that she loves ricky. The school's resident bad girl and a majorette in the marching band. Her mom is a flight attendant and is rarely home, leaving her daughter with a lot of freedom. She is going out with Ricky but thinks he is using her for sex, even though she wants to have a serious relationship wtih him. She and Jack have sex. No matter how bad she is, she is also doing well in school, but won't admit that to Ricky. She is opinionated, free-spirited, and unafraid to go after what she wants. Some might see her as arrogant, showy, or too tough for their own good, but she has also got a soft side - and she's pretty smart, too. She should not be afraid to let go of that hard-to-crack exterior, because somebody might see through it and realize they like the vulnerable, affectionate her, too.
He is the class clown and his secret is that he wants to marry Amy. A wisecracking freshman at the school who tells his best friends Alice Valko and Henry Miller that he wants to lose his virginity and seeks out Amy. However, he is truly a romantic at heart and quickly falls in love with her, going as far as to join the marching band to spend time with her. But will he want to be with Amy when her secret comes to the surface? He is not a Christian. He's funny, witty, and totally lovable. What he's looking for is somebody who can be the yin to his yang, somebody who laughs at all his jokes and who he can be there for, just like the loyal person he is. But he shouldn't resort to humor to cover up his insecurities - chances are, the person he end's up with just might want to get serious.
He is a rebel and his secret is that he wants Grace. The drummer in the school marching band who was sexually abused by his father as a child and now lives in a foster home. He and his psychiatrist believe this has led to his womanizing and promiscuity with women, because Ricky feels that he must have sex with every girl he meets in a vain effort to prove to himself his own masculinity. But one fateful night might prove more than this resident bad boy can deal with, when he finds out that Amy is going to have their baby. He may also find out that he wants more than a one night stand with Amy. The lone rebel without a cause, he's good-looking and he knows it. But he let's it get to his head. Breaking the rules can be fun - but playing by them might also bring him some unexpected surprises.
She is a cheerleader and her secret is that she's dating Jack. The devoutly Christian head cheerleader who takes her vow of purity very seriously. Her older brother, Tommy, has down syndrome. But when she finds out her boyfriend Jack has been unfaithful, will she forgive him? She is bubbly, spirited, and kind, she's the girl-next-door type who everybody likes. She play's by the rules and works hard to do well in school. Success in academics, extra-curriculars, and love are super-important to her, but she should not be so hard on herself or others when something goes wrong! After all, nobody's perfect, and we can all learn from our mistakes.
He's a football player and his secret is that he hooked up with Adrian. A football player and Grace's boyfriend. He is a devout Christian and loves Grace, but is unsure if he can wait until they are married and she is finished with Medical School. He makes the mistake of sleeping with Adrian and must face the consequence when they are caught making out by Graces brother. He is strong, "loyal," and always the leader of the pack, he feels obliged to do the right thing or take one for the team, even if it might not be what he personally wants. But instead of rushing headlong into every games, he should take some time to think about what her really wants. He should use his heart instead of his head - the results might surprise him.[2] [3]

Recurring

Grace's mom. Her first husband was George Juergens. Kathleen is sure she raised the perfect daughter, but isn't too strict on her as she is to herself.
Grace's dad. He is very over-protective of Grace, but still is a good father. He finds out, before Amy's parents, that she is pregnant which starts him questioning what it means to "make a mistake". He would never allow his daughter to be less than perfect.
Grace's mentally handicapped brother with down syndrome
The new school counselor. Most of the girls in school find him very "hot". He worked in Wall Street before working as a school counselor. He had no idea on how productive the student body is when students start asking him for condoms, but still has many more problems to deal with, with the students he has been counseling.
Madison is one of Amy's best friends. She is always seen with Lauren. She and Lauren accidentally slip out the rumor that Amy had sex with Ricky, which starts to go around the whole school.
She is one of Amy's closest friends. She is very logical and constantly telling Amy to see a doctor about her pregnancy
One of Ben's best friends. Ben tells her and Henry that he wants to lose his virginity, although he is truly a romantic, and seeks out Amy.
One of Ben's best friends. Ben tells him and Alice that he wants to lose his virginity, although he is truly a romantic, and seeks out Amy.

Setting

The show takes place at a real American high school, Ulysses S. Grant High School located in Valley Glen, CA a neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. The uniforms worn by the football team, cheerleaders, and band are the exact ones worn by the real students of Grant High School. Many of the scene designs have not been altered for the filming of the series.

Episodes

# Title Airdate
1"Falling in Love (Pilot)"July 1, 2008
After returning home from summer band camp, 15-year-old Amy Juergens who has just gotten home from band camp discovers that she is pregnant after having sex for the first time with Ricky Underwood, who is known school wide as a player. Afraid to tell her parents, who consider her their "good girl", or even accept the truth herself she turns to her two best friends, Lauren and Madison, for support. Her friends buy her 3 pregnancy tests which confirm that she is indeed pregnant. In fact, her parents are so distracted with their own marital issues, as well as, dealing with Amy's little sister, Ashley, who is the more rebellious of the sisters, they don't even notice what is going on with Amy. To complicate matters, Amy finds herself being pursued by Ben, a sweet guy who joins the band just to be near her and falls for Amy very quickly. Meanwhile, Grace, the school's most popular cheerleader, makes a promise to her Christian parents to uphold her commitment to abstinence. But her boyfriend, Jack, isn't sure he will be able to wait, especially when she tells him she doesn't want to get married until after medical school. Now, Adrian, the majorette, is more than willing to help ease Jack's tension, but Adrian's true intention is to win over Ricky and he, of course, has his own agenda and a troubled past. Adrian tries to smooth things over but is caught making out with her by Thomas, Grace's mentally handicapped brother, who makes a very large scene, and starts screaming. This causes everyone to leave the gym, to see what all the commotion is. As everyone leaves to see Adrian and Jack, Ben and Amy slow dance alone in the gym.
2"You Are My Everything"July 8, 2008
Grace struggles to decide whether she should forgive Jack or move on, and Ricky and Adrian try to figure out their relationship even though Adrian longs for a relationship with Jack . Meanwhile, Amy experiences her first bouts of morning sickness. Amy's friends accidentally slip the rumor that Amy and Ricky had sex and Ben is shaken by it.
3"I Feel Sick"July 15, 2008
Ben continues to fall hard for Amy, and the two share their first kiss. Amy lets her sister, Ashley, in on her secret but keeps her parents in the dark about her pregnancy; Grace uses Ricky as a cover to sneak around with Jack; and a jealous Adrian feels like Ricky is just using her for sex.
4"Caught"July 22, 2008
Amy struggles with her family life. Jack seeks comfort from Adrian when he and Grace's plans fall to pieces.
5"What Have You Done to Me?"July 29, 2008
Amy contemplates adoption for her unborn child, and George skips town.
6"Absent?"August 5, 2008
Ricky faces pressure from his foster parents to do right by Amy.
7"Love For Sale"August 12, 2008
Grace attempts to put a halt to Amy's plans for abortion.
8"Slice of Life"August 19, 2008
9TBAAugust 26, 2008
10TBASeptember 2, 2008

Ratings

The Secret Life of the American Teenager had the highest premiere ever for an ABC Family original program. "American Teenager" brought in 2.82 million viewers and a 0.9/3 in the 18-49 demo. The premiere only ranks behind the first season finale of Kyle XY in terms of viewers. "American Teenager" also scored high in the female demos, registering a 6.5/24 in the female teens demo and a 3.1/11 in the older females. [4] This was shocking due to the fact that it was absolutely terrible.

References

  1. ^ Secret Life of the American Teenager show listings
  2. ^ ABC Family: The Secret Life of the American Teenager – Official TV Show Site
  3. ^ The Futon Critic: The Secret Life of the American Teenager
  4. ^ MediaWeek TV Ratings and Results
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