The Secret Life of An American Teenager - Page 3

[Baby_Cakes]

I started watching this show and really wanted to get into it just b/c I love cheesy things and I was a HUGE 7th Heaven fan. There were definitely funny and touching moments in the show, but with how bad the acting is I was having trouble taking it seriously. It's so far fetched how these kids are acting - and I think they are all so stereotypical and not very deep characters at all (except for Amy, they're developing her character little by little).

My biggest problem was with the episode where her two best friends start arguing b/c they want Ricky to think they are sexy. Hello?!? He got your best friend pregnant, and you're trying to get him to like you? I just couldn't get past that, and I had to turn it off. If they want these girls to be acting anything like real people, I just don't think they're doing a great job! It really made me mad to think they'd be vying for this stupid kids attention - and even more mad that he was flirting back! Ugh, so gross.

[Jemmind]

Which episode had Grace almost getting attacked? I missed that one....

I like the show, it's cheesy and you just have to watch if for about 2 seconds to tell it's by the 7th Heaven people but I like it none the less. I guess it's one of my 'guilty pleasures'!

[Smalls181]

We were without the internet for a little bit, so I just got to watch last weeks episode. So very stupid that Lauren is making out with Ricky. They didn't really portray as the "desperate for male attention, naive about everything" type until all of a sudden, she and Madison were fighting over him. And then they got over it pretty fast and moved on. Now all of a sudden she is completely clueless and thinks some guy who got her friend pregnant is actually interested in her for her? Not very good character development one bit.

And what in the heck is up with Ashley and "oh no I will die if everyone knows we are poor" thing? Maybe because growing up my family was the type that had money but nobody knew. No fancy house, no designer clothes, no new cars. People just assumed we were poor, and it didnt bother me. Perhaps going from "well-off" to "poor" might be an issue for a materialistic 13 year old. IDK.

That all. I cant wait to see what Amy's new school looks like and what makes her decide to go back to regular school.

[TRIBE]

Smalls!!

Uh nothing to contribute to the topic since I haven't watched in 2 weeks.

[Smalls181]

Originally Posted by TRIBE

Smalls!!

Uh nothing to contribute to the topic since I haven't watched in 2 weeks.

Tribe!!!! Hows life?!

New episode tonight. I will hopefully be able to watch it tomorrow...

[TRIBE]

You know same ol same ol only much busier these days. And I am a lot more worn out and tired these days too.

I need to catch up on the show but I am afraid I might fall asleep watching lol

Hey OT again, I have to go buy the youngest a new car seat, her Britax is too big to rear face in my husband's volvo and that is what I am driving to save on gas. It is driving me nuts to have her FF, any recommendations on a slimmer seat that she can RF in?

[angelpie545]

I'm glad they had Amy return to school! It seems much more realistic that way, but Ben getting beat up isn't really something I see happening in reality and was probably just set up to create more of a storyline. Also..I don't hear many teenage mothers get called "sluts" for having sex and getting pregnant. Maybe it's just because I live in a more liberal area though.

[crazyeight]

i thought it was a really cute episode last night! finally there was a lot of "meat" to the show. lots of little story lines going. and of course next week's the season finale! *cry*

i don't think girls would be calling a SCHOOL a slut school no matter what...but behind backs in circles of friends oh yeah it would happen...even if you AREN"T pregnant. there might be a new name for it these days but its all the same name calling.

ben being beat up: well i gotta say in middle school *I* was beat up and i am SURE its plenty common for other reasons. although it was potrayed differently than any fight scene i've ever seen or heard of. i would think its more of a bully situation with 3 or more on 1.

i'm curious as to why amy didn't consider home schooling at all. leo mentioned tutor. having ben and amy tutor at leo's home seems to be an all around nice middle ground...but that would be a boring show.

so whos taking bets on how many seasons amys pregnant? i'd say the end of next season/season finale is the birth if not season 3 premiere.

[Smalls181]

Well, if the seasons are all going to be 3 months or so, It would be nice if they she didnt deliver until the end of the 3rd season. But, we will see! Anyone know when the next season starts?

My big question is what is the sex of this baby! I would like to see it a girl, but a boy might make it more interesting with Ricky and his horrible past with HIS father. If they want to do more meatier of a storyline, they could really work on that.

It just really irritates me how fake Ricky is, and how naive Grace is. But then again, I was really naive at that age, too. I just hope she doesnt get taken advantage of. That would be so sad.

[bayberry*moon]

I figure it's time to revive this thread again, since the show is coming back January 5! I'm kind of excited to find out what happens in the new season.. the promos are suggesting that Amy and Ben are going to at least try to get married! I'm also curious to see what happens with Grace and Ricky... I'm with you guys, I'm betting she stays pregnant until third season, or maybe goes into labor at the end of second season... that would be a good cliffhanger, right?

[angelpie545]

I can't wait!!! I just hope this season is more realistic. I'd like to see Amy keep her baby and stay in school and have the show focus on the plight of teenage mothers who stay in school and all the challenges they face, both socially and as a mother. The combination of both is unique for teenage mothers and there is a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes about it that are simply false but are still taught as if they were fact (I was a teen mom, but although by the time I got pregnant I was almost eighteen so I didn't return to school).

[boobyjuicex3]

Ok, you've convinced me! I am going to start watching them know!! They keep showing the previews so I am off to watch them

[bayberry*moon]

Wow, angelpie... I guess you can really identify with Amy! I love that the show doesn't make being pregnant all glamorous and wonderful all the time... it can be uncomfortable and hard, too, especially as a teenager. I'm just really anxious to see what does happen with the baby. I bet she will keep it, but whether she does or not it'll make for really great storylines. Like you say if she keeps it we'll get to see her struggle to stay in school and be a mom, and if she doesn't there will be a lot to deal with as she comes to terms with having to give her baby up. Either way I hope she and Ben stay together -- they're so cute!! :

Do you think they will? The promos show them getting married (!!!!) but do you think they will go through with it?

[Smalls181]

I don't think they will actually get married. I think it will be hard enough for her to stay in school and raise a baby and deal with being THAT girl in school. Let alone being THAT girl and be married.

[angelpie545]

Yea, I think that whole marriage scene is probably one of fantasy that Amy is dreaming about or something. I doubt that they would actually have her marry Ben. That seems very off and not realistic at all. I'd imagine that very few teen couples marry in the face of an unexpected pregnancy. I don't personally know any.

[Smalls181]

Originally Posted by angelpie545

Yea, I think that whole marriage scene is probably one of fantasy that Amy is dreaming about or something. I doubt that they would actually have her marry Ben. That seems very off and not realistic at all. I'd imagine that very few teen couples marry in the face of an unexpected pregnancy. I don't personally know any.

Exactly. Being a single pregnant teen isn't quite the taboo today as it was in the 60's. I think most people realize that it doesn't help the situation to get married because of a pregnancy.

[pearl2]

I teach 11th grade in a public high school, and being pregnant does not seem to be a universal shunning experience. Every semester I have at least 2-4 teen parents, both males and females, and at least one pregnant teen a year. Who knows how many students are opting for abortions as well. I am sure that there's stuff that goes on outside of what I see in class and the hallways, but the kids at least are never, ever openly cruel or terrible to those kids.

I definitely think it could and should be a great discussion point with teens, though--I love how Amy says at the end of each episode that the only conversation some parents have with teens is the "I'm pregnant" talk. Lots of parents seem to be in denial at my school that their kid would even miss a homework assignment let alone have sex!

All this being said, a marathon was on today and I CANNOT STOP watching it! Yes, the acting is bad, and yes, some of the character development is terrible, but it was like a trainwreck! I was riveted!

Just in time for tomorrow at 8! Yesssssssssssssssssss

[angelpie545]

Yea, see I thought the whole shunning/teasing thing was pretty unrealistic too. Being a teen/young mom is kind of common over here (at least from what I see) and I've rarely seen anyone put down simply for being a young mom. As a teen mom myself, I never experienced any real shunning from my own friends either; they all supported and encouraged me to be the most mom I could.

[1xmom]

Yeah, I caught the marathon as well and can't wait for tonight.

I love how Amy says at the end of each episode that the only conversation some parents have with teens is the "I'm pregnant" talk. Lots of parents seem to be in denial at my school that their kid would even miss a homework assignment let alone have sex!

Me, too. It really makes you think. Even though my dd is only 8, the line of communication is there.

[bayberry*moon]

The premiere is TONIGHT! I watched the marathon yesterday too, and I am now really pumped for the premiere. The show is really riveting (that was a good word for it) and no matter what else it's certainly entertaining, and you can't stop watching. I'm really anxious to find out what's up with the wedding stuff we keep seeing in the promos, you know? Who is planning on watching it tonight?