This week's focus is on…
Teen TV Dramas: Just Like Your Life, Only Way Cooler
First of all, let me say I’m impressed. When I decided to delve into the serious, thought-provoking area of teenage dramas on TV, I have to admit I was skeptical. Maybe it had something to do with my past addiction with the premier teen drama, Beverly Hills, 90210. No, not the wannabe knock-off but the original. You know, where the collective high school cast’s average age was thirty-seven? Well, anyway, I didn’t think anything could come closer to real teen situations and angst than that.
Oh, how wrong I was.
Take Gossip Girl. It’s ‘teen’ cast has a much younger average age of 24 years-old. Much more plausible. And the plot lines? Just look at the first season alone – teenage girls are always sabotaging fashion shows and kissing the wrong guys at masquerade balls. As for boys? We know they open strip clubs ALL THE TIME.
Teen TV Dramas: Just Like Your Life, Only Way Cooler
First of all, let me say I’m impressed. When I decided to delve into the serious, thought-provoking area of teenage dramas on TV, I have to admit I was skeptical. Maybe it had something to do with my past addiction with the premier teen drama, Beverly Hills, 90210. No, not the wannabe knock-off but the original. You know, where the collective high school cast’s average age was thirty-seven? Well, anyway, I didn’t think anything could come closer to real teen situations and angst than that.
Oh, how wrong I was.
Take Gossip Girl. It’s ‘teen’ cast has a much younger average age of 24 years-old. Much more plausible. And the plot lines? Just look at the first season alone – teenage girls are always sabotaging fashion shows and kissing the wrong guys at masquerade balls. As for boys? We know they open strip clubs ALL THE TIME.
Worried about a kidnapping plot or her history final?
Okay, okay. So those people are super-rich. Things like that could happen. Let’s look at a show that’s more ‘of the people,’ instead. Take The Secret Life of the American Teenager. These kids are more like it. Each and every one is obsessed with the only thing that matters in the real world: boinking. School, extra-curriculars, going out to the movies – things like that don’t matter. Just be careful, though. When you boink for the first time, your father will probably die in a plane crash. I mean it. Pregnancy, STDs, self-loathing or social humiliation? Don't worry about those.
HAVE SEX AND YOUR DAD WILL DIE.
Take that as a warning.
Anyway, given this realistic change in programming, you might wonder if you belong in a teenage drama. My answer is a definite ‘maybe.’ With TV mirroring teen life so well, it’s really hard to tell. That is, until now.
Below you’ll find a scene that could take place at any lunch table across America. Just follow along until you have a dialogue choice. If you find your typical conversations lean more toward choice #2 than #1, then I’d start taking theater classes. After all, you’ll be an adult before you know it and, thereby, able to play a teenager on TV.
Here it is:
__________________________
Tina: Lori, you look so tired. You’re not still (texting/conducting satanic rituals) with Sam all night?
Lori: No. I’ve had to start (working at Burger King/pole dancing) after school to pay for my (IPod song/crack cocaine) addiction. It’s wiping me out!
Tina: That sucks. But, hey, I’ve got an idea! Emily’s mom is looking for someone to (mow their lawn/lie for them in a court case). Emily can’t do it because she’s (too busy with cross-country practice/flying to Paris for a fashion photo shoot). I hear the money’s pretty good.
Lori: Jeez. Normally I’d say yes, but last week I went to Emily’s and caught her parents (kissing/conducting animal experiments) in the kitchen. I’m too embarrassed to go back.
Tina: No way. Hey, isn’t her dad (coaching her little brother’s soccer team/a transvestite)?
Lori: He was until (John’s dad took over/his parole officer found out).
Tina: What about Emily’s older brother? He’s only a high-school junior, but I hear he (already applied to two colleges/is dating our science teacher).
Lori: Seriously? I thought he (wants to go to State/is part of a high-tech smuggling ring). Hey, here comes Emily now. Let’s ask. Just make sure not to say anything about (the huge pimple on her forehead/her evil twin’s diabolical plan).
____________________________
So tell me, does one sound more familiar than the other?
Thought so.
You’d better head over to the drama department now. Hollywood is calling.
Photo credit: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Pl2hB7lw-aoAYHmJC7lVsw
HAVE SEX AND YOUR DAD WILL DIE.
Take that as a warning.
Anyway, given this realistic change in programming, you might wonder if you belong in a teenage drama. My answer is a definite ‘maybe.’ With TV mirroring teen life so well, it’s really hard to tell. That is, until now.
Below you’ll find a scene that could take place at any lunch table across America. Just follow along until you have a dialogue choice. If you find your typical conversations lean more toward choice #2 than #1, then I’d start taking theater classes. After all, you’ll be an adult before you know it and, thereby, able to play a teenager on TV.
Here it is:
__________________________
Tina: Lori, you look so tired. You’re not still (texting/conducting satanic rituals) with Sam all night?
Lori: No. I’ve had to start (working at Burger King/pole dancing) after school to pay for my (IPod song/crack cocaine) addiction. It’s wiping me out!
Tina: That sucks. But, hey, I’ve got an idea! Emily’s mom is looking for someone to (mow their lawn/lie for them in a court case). Emily can’t do it because she’s (too busy with cross-country practice/flying to Paris for a fashion photo shoot). I hear the money’s pretty good.
Lori: Jeez. Normally I’d say yes, but last week I went to Emily’s and caught her parents (kissing/conducting animal experiments) in the kitchen. I’m too embarrassed to go back.
Tina: No way. Hey, isn’t her dad (coaching her little brother’s soccer team/a transvestite)?
Lori: He was until (John’s dad took over/his parole officer found out).
Tina: What about Emily’s older brother? He’s only a high-school junior, but I hear he (already applied to two colleges/is dating our science teacher).
Lori: Seriously? I thought he (wants to go to State/is part of a high-tech smuggling ring). Hey, here comes Emily now. Let’s ask. Just make sure not to say anything about (the huge pimple on her forehead/her evil twin’s diabolical plan).
____________________________
So tell me, does one sound more familiar than the other?
Thought so.
You’d better head over to the drama department now. Hollywood is calling.
Photo credit: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Pl2hB7lw-aoAYHmJC7lVsw
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