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The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Season 1)
Encyclopedia
The first season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager
, an American television series created by Brenda Hampton
, debuted on the ABC Family
television network on July 1, 2008. The first season comprises 23 episodes, the first eleven of which ended on September 9, 2008. Despite marketing issues, the remaining twelve ended up as part of the first season, which concluded its initial airing on March 23, 2009. Season one regular cast members include Shailene Woodley
, Molly Ringwald
, Daren Kagasoff
, Kenny Baumann
, Francia Raisa, Megan Park
, India Eisley
, Greg Finley II
, Jorge Pallo
, Mark Derwin
, and Luke Zimmerman
.
Kyle XY
was ABC Family
channel’s highest rated original series from June 2006 - July 2008, but lost its reign when the series premiere of The Secret Life of the American Teenager brought in 2.8 million viewers. The season finale brought in 4.50 million viewers, 2.4 million of whom were females. The show was the number one scripted telecast on March 23, 2009 in viewers 12-34 and the number one telecast that night in viewers.
The season focuses on the relationships between families and friends dealing with the unexpected pregnancy
of character Amy Juergens, portrayed by Shailene Woodley
. Probably the last girl anyone would expect to suffer such a scandalous event, Amy's world begins to expand as she discovers that virtually every student at her high school deals with some secret or unexpected problems, from the religious good-girl Grace to the tough-kid Ricky and to clingy loving Ben.
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praised the series for having a set of characters that are "...real and come from families of all stripes — from intact to single-parent households to one boy in foster care..." The pilot episode broke the record for highest rated debut for ABC Family
, beating Kyle XY
, with 2.82 million viewers. The season one finale brought in 4.50 million viewers, beating the night's 90210
which had almost half its usual number of viewers.
The Secret Life of the American Teenager
The Secret Life of the American Teenager is an American teen drama television series created by Brenda Hampton. It first aired on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. The show was renewed for a second season consisting of 24 episodes on February 9, 2009, which began airing on June 22, 2009...
, an American television series created by Brenda Hampton
Brenda Hampton
Brenda Hampton is an American television show creator, writer and producer. She created, wrote and produced 7th Heaven, Fat Actress and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Life and career:...
, debuted on the ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
television network on July 1, 2008. The first season comprises 23 episodes, the first eleven of which ended on September 9, 2008. Despite marketing issues, the remaining twelve ended up as part of the first season, which concluded its initial airing on March 23, 2009. Season one regular cast members include Shailene Woodley
Shailene Woodley
Shailene Diann Woodley is an American actress. Woodley is known for portraying Amy Juergens in the ABC Family series, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and for co-starring with George Clooney in the 2011 drama film The Descendants.-Early life:Woodley was born in Simi Valley, California...
, Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald
Molly Kathleen Ringwald is an American actress, singer and dancer. Having appeared in the John Hughes movies Sixteen Candles , The Breakfast Club , and Pretty in Pink , Ringwald has been frequently named the greatest teen star of all time...
, Daren Kagasoff
Daren Kagasoff
Daren Maxwell Kagasoff is an American actor. He currently stars as Ricky Underwood on the ABC Family teen soap, The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Early life:...
, Kenny Baumann
Kenny Baumann
Ken Baumann is an American actor, writer, and publisher. He currently plays Ben Boykewich on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. His first novel, Solip, will be published by in 2012. He owns and operates , a 501 nonprofit publishing company, and co-publishes No Colony, a literary journal,...
, Francia Raisa, Megan Park
Megan Park
Megan Marie Park is a Canadian actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in Charlie Bartlett and the television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Grace Bowman.-Life and career:...
, India Eisley
India Eisley
India Joy Eisley is an American teen actress best known for playing Ashley Juergens in the ABC Family teen drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Life and career:...
, Greg Finley II
Greg Finley II
Gregory P. Finley II is an American actor best known for his role as Jack Pappas in the teenage drama series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Career:...
, Jorge Pallo
Jorge Pallo
Jorge Luis Pallo is an American actor of Hispanic descent. He is best known for his role as Marc Molina on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and for his appearance on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" as an extra.-Early life:...
, Mark Derwin
Mark Derwin
Mark Derwin is an American television and soap opera actor. Derwin is known for his role as George Juergens on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Biography:...
, and Luke Zimmerman
Luke Zimmerman
Luke Zimmerman is an American actor with Down Syndrome who is best known as the role of Tom Bowman, the adopted older brother of Grace Bowman, on ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager.- Early life :...
.
Kyle XY
Kyle XY
Kyle XY is an American television series with a science fiction premise and mystery-drama style. The central character is a teenage boy who awakens naked in a forest outside Seattle, Washington, with no more knowledge or abilities than a newborn. He is taken in by a family and given the name Kyle...
was ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
channel’s highest rated original series from June 2006 - July 2008, but lost its reign when the series premiere of The Secret Life of the American Teenager brought in 2.8 million viewers. The season finale brought in 4.50 million viewers, 2.4 million of whom were females. The show was the number one scripted telecast on March 23, 2009 in viewers 12-34 and the number one telecast that night in viewers.
The season focuses on the relationships between families and friends dealing with the unexpected pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
of character Amy Juergens, portrayed by Shailene Woodley
Shailene Woodley
Shailene Diann Woodley is an American actress. Woodley is known for portraying Amy Juergens in the ABC Family series, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and for co-starring with George Clooney in the 2011 drama film The Descendants.-Early life:Woodley was born in Simi Valley, California...
. Probably the last girl anyone would expect to suffer such a scandalous event, Amy's world begins to expand as she discovers that virtually every student at her high school deals with some secret or unexpected problems, from the religious good-girl Grace to the tough-kid Ricky and to clingy loving Ben.
Main cast
- Shailene WoodleyShailene WoodleyShailene Diann Woodley is an American actress. Woodley is known for portraying Amy Juergens in the ABC Family series, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and for co-starring with George Clooney in the 2011 drama film The Descendants.-Early life:Woodley was born in Simi Valley, California...
as Amy Juergens - Molly RingwaldMolly RingwaldMolly Kathleen Ringwald is an American actress, singer and dancer. Having appeared in the John Hughes movies Sixteen Candles , The Breakfast Club , and Pretty in Pink , Ringwald has been frequently named the greatest teen star of all time...
as Anne Juergens - Daren KagasoffDaren KagasoffDaren Maxwell Kagasoff is an American actor. He currently stars as Ricky Underwood on the ABC Family teen soap, The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Early life:...
as Richard 'Ricky' Underwood - Kenny BaumannKenny BaumannKen Baumann is an American actor, writer, and publisher. He currently plays Ben Boykewich on The Secret Life of the American Teenager. His first novel, Solip, will be published by in 2012. He owns and operates , a 501 nonprofit publishing company, and co-publishes No Colony, a literary journal,...
as Benjamin 'Ben' Boykewich - Francia Raisa as Adrian Lee
- Megan ParkMegan ParkMegan Marie Park is a Canadian actress and singer. She is best known for her roles in Charlie Bartlett and the television series The Secret Life of the American Teenager as Grace Bowman.-Life and career:...
as Grace Bowman - India EisleyIndia EisleyIndia Joy Eisley is an American teen actress best known for playing Ashley Juergens in the ABC Family teen drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Life and career:...
as Ashley Juergens - Greg Finley IIGreg Finley IIGregory P. Finley II is an American actor best known for his role as Jack Pappas in the teenage drama series The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Career:...
as Jack Pappas - Jorge PalloJorge PalloJorge Luis Pallo is an American actor of Hispanic descent. He is best known for his role as Marc Molina on "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and for his appearance on "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" as an extra.-Early life:...
as Marc Molina - Mark DerwinMark DerwinMark Derwin is an American television and soap opera actor. Derwin is known for his role as George Juergens on The Secret Life of the American Teenager.-Biography:...
as George Juergens - Luke ZimmermanLuke ZimmermanLuke Zimmerman is an American actor with Down Syndrome who is best known as the role of Tom Bowman, the adopted older brother of Grace Bowman, on ABC Family's The Secret Life of the American Teenager.- Early life :...
as Tom Bowman
Episodes
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! style="background:#4682bf; color:#fff;"| Directed by
! style="background:#4682bf; color:#fff;"| Written by
! style="background:#4682bf; color:#fff;"| Original U.S. air date
! style="background:#4682bf; color:#fff;"| U.S. viewers
(million)
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Reception
The series received generally positive reception when it began broadcasting, with many mainstream critics praising the series. New York PostNew York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
praised the series for having a set of characters that are "...real and come from families of all stripes — from intact to single-parent households to one boy in foster care..." The pilot episode broke the record for highest rated debut for ABC Family
ABC Family
ABC Family, stylized as abc family, is an American television network, owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a subsidiary of the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company...
, beating Kyle XY
Kyle XY
Kyle XY is an American television series with a science fiction premise and mystery-drama style. The central character is a teenage boy who awakens naked in a forest outside Seattle, Washington, with no more knowledge or abilities than a newborn. He is taken in by a family and given the name Kyle...
, with 2.82 million viewers. The season one finale brought in 4.50 million viewers, beating the night's 90210
90210 (TV series)
90210 is an American teen drama television series developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but is now produced by CBS...
which had almost half its usual number of viewers.