The Secret Life of the American Teenager

If you remember 7th Heaven, you probably noticed how the Camdens always suffered the same maladies at the same time. Mom's addicted to coffee, dad is taking too many Advil, son is smoking pot, other son is taking no-doz ... etc. You felt like you were getting hit over the head with the message every week, but at least it was a different message each week. Secret Life runs over you with a steamroller. Then, they back up over you and do it again, and again, and again, and OH Dear yet again. Aside from the flat, stereotypical, unlikable characters (yes, they even made a kid with Downs Syndrome a sex-obsessed total jerk too), they drone on and on about the only thing that is on any of their narrow minds. For fun, I counted the number of times they use the word "sex". It was 17 times just in the scenes from previous shows. For the show itself, the total was around 40 - including references to oral and anal sex as well as a mother recommending masturbation to her daughter. Of course, one must suspend disbelief while watching a fictional program, but how much can you hold back the urge to scream BULLS**T when a teenage boy tells his girlfriend that he wants to "have sex" for the fourteenth time in one episode. No teenage boy EVER got what he wanted by whining "I wanna have sex", yet this clown is climbing off of her in the very next scene. People DO NOT live this way. Although my daughter will not miss this show, I can see how one with no life experience might overlook the bizarre departure from reality. What I can't understand is why she devotes an hour of each week to something so bereft of entertainment value.

I am 15, going on 16 in a few weeks. Being around the same age bracket/grade as most of the characters in this show, I can honestly say it is really, really off. Even the most genuine characters are phony. There are plot holes all over the place, and most things are never explained. Remember Rumer Willis? Who, what, where, when, wtf? Amy's dynamic with everyone just sucks, especially with Ben. According to them, they were in love after like two minutes. (A side note, the world love is tossed around excessively on this show, along with sex, funeral, baby, etc.) If they are so madly in love, why do they seem to hate each other? Another thing that bugs me is how nonchalant the parents are about their young children having "serious' relationships. Just because you are a high schooler does not mean the only thing you think about is sex/omg I need a boyfriend! The whole show is going nowhere, but it has found its place in my TV schedule as comic relief. I'm in too deep now, but if I were you, I would avoid Secret Life at all costs.

I actually watch this show on a regular basis, but am slightly ashamed about it. It is indeed a ridiculous show, but no worse than any other soap opera I suppose. I read some of the other reviews that said that the characters are poorly developed, and I would have to agree. Amy, for being the main character is definitely not a likable character for some reason. She's whiny and fails to make a whole lot of sense. Although a silly show, I find myself watching it week after week. The dialogue is hilarious because it is so unrealistic. My husband detests the show and can't believe that I watch it. We have since made a game out of the ridiculous scripts: we count how many times the word "sex" is uttered in the show. That seems to make it much more entertaining to watch, and typically the count is up to 30 some times per show. Too funny!

Quit it soon. Not recommended, unless you are a 10 year old girl. Though i am not sure if 10 year old girls are at this board.

I absolutely hate this show with a passion and I remember when it was released as i was around 13 years old so i was just learning about sex and everything. But this show just blows the whole experience and how taboo sex is especially when it comes to teenagers having sex. I'm not one to be a hypocrite because I started when i was in high school but I digress; this show just makes sex taboo for teenagers and adults too.

The actors are overly concerned and the parents are too involved with their teenager's intimate relationships. I understand the teens are still kids but it makes it seem really uncomfortable. I also do like watching the show because it's a guilty pleasure. I just can't stand the acting.