The Secret Life of the American Teenager

At your first glance of ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager, you may feel like it is 2007 and you are watching an episode of 7th Heaven. The main reason is that Brenda Hampton is the creator of both feel-good dramas, and both shows have the same values and messages. Teenagers will make mistakes on their quest for adulthood, but they will also learn from their mistakes and cherish what they learned in the process. Of course her signature 7th Heaven corniness also shines through on her new show. The look, feel, music and acting are also very reminiscent of her old show. While the cast is fairly large, the show mainly focuses on Amy, a 15-year-old, shy, quiet girl, who finds herself pregnant after having sex over the summer with the school Lothario.

The main character Amy, played by Shailene Woodley, is probably the most realistic portrayal of a high school student. Like many teenagers she seems anxious to grow up, yet not ready to leave her childhood behind. She is looking for acceptance from everyone and when she decided to have sex over the summer with Ricky, a popular boy in her band, she naively thought that having sex would be just as significant for him as it was for her. She of course thought wrong, and Ricky turns out to be a slimy creep who is after every girl at her high school.

When Amy finds out she is pregnant, she is devastated and the viewer's hearts will break for her. Amy's mom is played by 80's teen queen, Molly Ringwald, made popular by movies such as The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles. It is interesting to see her playing an adult character, because the characters she became famous for were not very different than the character of Amy. Amy struggles over what to do with her pregnancy and also whether to confide in her parents.