The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Season 2)
Encyclopedia
The second 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 Monday, June 22, 2009 at 8:00PM. Season two regular cast members include Shailene Woodley
, India Eisley
, Daren Kagasoff
, Francia Raisa, Kenny Baumann
, Molly Ringwald
, Mark Derwin
, Megan Park
, and Greg Finley II
. Following the first season, Jorge Pallo
and Luke Zimmerman
were demoted to recurring guest stars. Jorge returned for a select number of episodes to wrap up his character's storyline and eventually departed the series after its January return.
Following the success of its first season, ABC Family announced on January 31, 2009, plans to renew Secret Life, following the cancellation of its hit sci-fi TV show, Kyle XY
. The official press release was released on February 9 with ABC Family ordering 24 episodes for season two. Season 2 began with 12 episodes broadcast starting June 22, 2009. Though marketed as the season finale, the mid season finale aired on September 7, 2009, with the second half of the season returning on January 4, 2010. The second 12 episodes finished their run on March 22, 2010.
The season premiere of Secret Life brought in the largest audience for the show so far, with a record breaking 4.68 million viewers. It brought in the second largest audience in adults 18-34 with 1.40 million viewers, behind season one's mid-season finale. 2.10 million adults 18-49 watched "The Big One" along with 1.60 million females between the ages 18–34. The season premiere remains the number one scripted original premiere of Summer 2009 in Adults 18-34. Furthermore, the mid-season premiere became ABC Family's
most watched telecast of all time with viewers ages 12–34 with more than three million viewers watching. The mid-season premiere also brought in the show's second largest audience in total viewers, with more than 4.55 million people watching.
This season, Amy Juergens must deal with juggling motherhood and high school, while her family and friends experience relationship challenges of their own.
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announced that she was expecting twins of her own. She told People Magazine that Brenda Hampton
was working on writing her character's pregnancy into the storyline of the show.
Kenny Baumann
, the actor who plays Ben Boykewich, confirmed that someone would die in the second season of Secret Life. The character would be a "significant male character" and the death would be a terrible tragedy. It was later revealed that John Schneider
, who portrayed the role as Grace's dad, Marshall, left the show due to multiple shows and projects he has. Marshall was written out of the series in "The Big One".
was cast as Ashley's new gay sidekick, Griffin, who has a recurring role in the season. Actress Rumer Willis
, appeared in The Secret Life as Heather, a pregnant girl in the episode "Knocked Up Who's There?". She interacted with Ben in a way that got Amy jealous. Actor Austin Stowell
was cast as Lauren's new boyfriend, Jesse, who has a recurring role in the season. Their relationship sparks the discussion of interracial
dating, as Jesse believes that Lauren is not interested in having sex with her because of his race.
Secret Life’s second season debut now stands as cable’s No. 1 scripted original series/season premiere this summer in Adults ages 18–34 and across core female 18-34, 18-49 and 11-34 demos, ahead of such high profile series as USA’s Royal Pains
and Burn Notice
and TNT’s The Closer
.
Some critics praised the new developments of the show, saying they could be "interesting material to build on." Jean Bently of EW Popwatch says that now that the whole "teen going through a pregnancy" plot has played out and the "frustrated young mother" thing is going on, we have room to explore some other topics. She remained hopeful that the writers won't just turn these new problems into issues of the week, instead allowing time for the characters to grieve Marshall's death, deal with Anne's accidental pregnancy, and explore the more emotionally complex aspects of teenage sex.
With more than 4.55 million people watching the season two mid-season premiere, the episode became ABC Family’s most-watched telecast ever in key 12-34 and teen demos. The episode stands as the series’ 2nd-most-watched episode in viewers and is TV’s No. 1 telecast of the season in female teens, cable’s No. 1 telecast in females 12-34 and cable’s No. 1 scripted telecast in viewers 12-34. The season two mid-season premiere remains cable’s No. 1 scripted premiere of the 2009/10 season. It improved nearly one million total viewers over its season two mid-season finale, and was No. 1 in all target demos for the hour.
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 Monday, June 22, 2009 at 8:00PM. Season two 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...
, 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:...
, 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:...
, Francia Raisa, 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,...
, 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...
, 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:...
, 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:...
, and 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:...
. Following the first season, 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:...
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 :...
were demoted to recurring guest stars. Jorge returned for a select number of episodes to wrap up his character's storyline and eventually departed the series after its January return.
Following the success of its first season, ABC Family announced on January 31, 2009, plans to renew Secret Life, following the cancellation of its hit sci-fi TV show, 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...
. The official press release was released on February 9 with ABC Family ordering 24 episodes for season two. Season 2 began with 12 episodes broadcast starting June 22, 2009. Though marketed as the season finale, the mid season finale aired on September 7, 2009, with the second half of the season returning on January 4, 2010. The second 12 episodes finished their run on March 22, 2010.
The season premiere of Secret Life brought in the largest audience for the show so far, with a record breaking 4.68 million viewers. It brought in the second largest audience in adults 18-34 with 1.40 million viewers, behind season one's mid-season finale. 2.10 million adults 18-49 watched "The Big One" along with 1.60 million females between the ages 18–34. The season premiere remains the number one scripted original premiere of Summer 2009 in Adults 18-34. Furthermore, the mid-season premiere became ABC Family's
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...
most watched telecast of all time with viewers ages 12–34 with more than three million viewers watching. The mid-season premiere also brought in the show's second largest audience in total viewers, with more than 4.55 million people watching.
This season, Amy Juergens must deal with juggling motherhood and high school, while her family and friends experience relationship challenges of their own.
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 - 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 - 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 - Francia Raisa as Adrian Lee
- 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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
Episodes
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Writing
Though it came as a surprise, writers of The Secret Life were faced with a challenge when writing began for the second season. In January 2009, Molly RingwaldMolly 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...
announced that she was expecting twins of her own. She told People Magazine that 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:...
was working on writing her character's pregnancy into the storyline of the show.
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,...
, the actor who plays Ben Boykewich, confirmed that someone would die in the second season of Secret Life. The character would be a "significant male character" and the death would be a terrible tragedy. It was later revealed that John Schneider
John Schneider (television actor)
John Richard Schneider III is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his portrayal of Bo Duke in the 1980s American television series The Dukes of Hazzard, and as Jonathan Kent on Smallville, a 2001 television adaptation of Superman.Alongside his acting career, Schneider performed as a...
, who portrayed the role as Grace's dad, Marshall, left the show due to multiple shows and projects he has. Marshall was written out of the series in "The Big One".
New and returning characters
Actor Brando EatonBrando Eaton
Brando Eaton is an American film and television actor. He may be best known for his role as Jonah Mitchell in the fourth, fifth and sixth seasons of Dexter .-Biography:...
was cast as Ashley's new gay sidekick, Griffin, who has a recurring role in the season. Actress Rumer Willis
Rumer Willis
Rumer Glenn Willis is an American actress, the oldest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore and the stepdaughter of Emma Heming and Ashton Kutcher.-Personal life:...
, appeared in The Secret Life as Heather, a pregnant girl in the episode "Knocked Up Who's There?". She interacted with Ben in a way that got Amy jealous. Actor Austin Stowell
Austin Stowell
Austin Miles Stowell is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Jesse in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager and the Alcon Entertainment film Dolphin Tale, distributed by Warner Bros, playing the role of Kyle, a disabled war veteran.- Early life :Austin...
was cast as Lauren's new boyfriend, Jesse, who has a recurring role in the season. Their relationship sparks the discussion of interracial
Interracial
Interracial is an adjective related to a supposed racial group. It can have different connotations in different contexts:* Interracial marriage is marriage between two people of different races....
dating, as Jesse believes that Lauren is not interested in having sex with her because of his race.
Reception
On Monday, June 22, 2009, Secret Life opened its second season with the largest audience so far, posting a series high in Total Viewers with 4.68 million viewers, and second-best numbers ever in Adults 18-34 with 1.4 million viewers, behind season one's mid-season finale, Adults 18-49 with 2.1 million viewers and Viewers 11-34 with 2.9 million viewers. In June 2009, Secret Life ranked as cable’s No. 1 scripted telecast in Females 11-34, and the No. 1 scripted series telecast in Viewers 11-34 and Female Teens. Additionally, Secret Life stood as ad-supported cable’s No. 1 telecast this month in Female Teens. Impressively, the season debut became cable’s No. 1 scripted series premiere of the 2008/2009 season to date in Women 18-34, Women 18-49'and Viewers 11-34, and the No. 1 scripted original premiere of Summer 2009 so far in Adults 18-34.Secret Life’s second season debut now stands as cable’s No. 1 scripted original series/season premiere this summer in Adults ages 18–34 and across core female 18-34, 18-49 and 11-34 demos, ahead of such high profile series as USA’s Royal Pains
Royal Pains
Royal Pains is a USA Network television series that premiered on June 4, 2009, starring Mark Feuerstein, Paulo Costanzo, Jill Flint and Reshma Shetty. The series is based in part on actual concierge medicine practices of independent doctors and companies...
and Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
and TNT’s The Closer
The Closer
The Closer is an American crime drama, starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Georgia police detective who often closes her cases using sometimes-questionable methods...
.
Some critics praised the new developments of the show, saying they could be "interesting material to build on." Jean Bently of EW Popwatch says that now that the whole "teen going through a pregnancy" plot has played out and the "frustrated young mother" thing is going on, we have room to explore some other topics. She remained hopeful that the writers won't just turn these new problems into issues of the week, instead allowing time for the characters to grieve Marshall's death, deal with Anne's accidental pregnancy, and explore the more emotionally complex aspects of teenage sex.
With more than 4.55 million people watching the season two mid-season premiere, the episode became ABC Family’s most-watched telecast ever in key 12-34 and teen demos. The episode stands as the series’ 2nd-most-watched episode in viewers and is TV’s No. 1 telecast of the season in female teens, cable’s No. 1 telecast in females 12-34 and cable’s No. 1 scripted telecast in viewers 12-34. The season two mid-season premiere remains cable’s No. 1 scripted premiere of the 2009/10 season. It improved nearly one million total viewers over its season two mid-season finale, and was No. 1 in all target demos for the hour.