The Secret Life of the American Teenager

The average user rating for this TV Show is 6.5 out of 10 (based on 87 Votes).

Cody D. gave it a10:
I just like everything about it iz a hole lot better then 7th heaven.

lisa b gave it a1:
Man oh man. I'm one for cheesy reality tv and teen soaps but holy cow. I never notice acting but in this show, it definitely stands out. I am ten years past my teens but I know clearly, this is not how high school works. Sex wasn't brought up in EVERY conversation. The only way this show is entertaining is to laugh at. None of it is realistic in any sense . The main girl has friends who are so 'cliche' it's sickening. I really don't know how this made it on ABC. It's more of an MTV hour fill in type of show. They could do so much better... Juno, which this show is related to, was much better and would never make it as a show... obviously.

chem gave it a4:
I think that although this show maybe entertaining at times, despite all the terrible actors/actresses, it gets kinda annoying with all the drama. yes, drama really happens in real life, but i just wish that the characters would at least learn their lesson a little better. they all just need to chill out! they also make it seem that sex is ok when really its probably better just to wait. i don't know what i think about the show. all i know is that they probably have a bet to see how many times they can say sex on the show.

Kira H gave it a0:
This is the worst show ever... the characters are either always fighting or talking about sex & nothing really ever happens. I am normally not one that notices bad acting in every show or movie, but this show has the worst acting ever! The characters are all very wooden, and nothing that happens on the show is even remotely believable. Everyone is so annoyingly linked to each other that it becomes ridiculous (for example, this person's mother use to date this other person's father who had an affair with ANOTHER person's mother). It's like, how is this even realistic?? Then there is the main character, the new mother Amy, who acts like a total b--- about everything. Yes, I know she just had a baby & has to deal with all the stress & hardships of being a teen mother, but would it kill her to stop complaining & b---ing about everything & everyone for once? Also, nearly everyone seems to be OBSESSED with sex all the time that it's all anyone ever talks about. Everyone spreads all these rumors around & are always fighting one another about it that the show just becomes extremely boring to watch. And the "good girl" Grace is annoyingly preachy & delusional most of the time, while all the "bad girl" Adrian wants to do is have sex, which she seems only to be around for, in order to enhance the storyline. Amy's best friends Madison & Lauren don't even seem like her best friends, just two immature little girls who don't even know what is going on most of the time. The show focuses on how everyone is sooo involved in everyone else's life that there's little room for other things to happen, which makes it so frustrating to watch. The characters are not even the least bit likeable, nor believable. The girls all seem either very bitchy or annoying, and the guys are either very boring or just interested in sex. All in all, the show is very cliche & filled with bad acting along with shallow characters, so if you're ready to ask "So what even really happened on the show?" after each episode, then by all means watch. Not even satisfying in the least bit.

Shayla gave it a2:
Unrealistic, but still somewhat entertaining. I am an adult and I have a child and to me the most bothersome thing about this show is how mature all the teenagers seem. I've seen adults less mature about sexual issues, yet every 15 year old seems to have a better handle on sex than I do. Obviously written by someone who has a very idealistic view of what teenagers really feel like. Most teenage sex, especially at 15, is not fueled by logical thinking but passion, curiousity, and peer pressure. Writers do not have their finger on the pulse of teenagers.

Morgan F gave it a2:
As a teenager, this show insults me. It is probably the most unrealistic show I have ever seen. Teens talk about sex. Teens have sex. But its not all we talk about. I absolutely cringe everytime some character opnes their mouth.

Yasmine gave it a10:
This is an amazing show i have been watching it ever since the first day it premiered and i fell in love with it in the first five min. it deserves much more then a 47.

Eric B. gave it a2:
This show is absolutely awful. The acting is bad, the story is bad, and this is not what a teenagers life is like. In some episodes they say the word sex so many times it's unbearable. The drama element is awful and this show, overall, is just a big pile of crap.

caroline gave it a0:
The situation is very realistic- its how its portrayed. i mean seriously kids in high school are not quite so stereotyped. bad acting made worse by terriblee writing. the whole show is fake and confused- like how ben falls in love with amy in like 0.00002 seconds and then is all like LETS GET HITCHED. and his dad who's all for it. and the bad boy who's not rlly a bad boy- that is soo overdone. this show is complete crap and if u cant see that u are incredibly stupid and nieve.

Dana A gave it a4:
Somehow I keep coming back to this show. The characterization and acting is terrible. The entire plot is so overused, I could barf. By now, teenagers understand the concept of pregnancy. One character in particular annoys me to all ends, Ben. "I love you Amy, even though you got knocked by some other, not to mention the writers will not give us any other reason than he did it on purpose to get you. Stupid. Stupid. Can we get married now?" Or worse Amy, "I am pregnant, I wish my baby was yours, Ben. But it is Ricky... wait maybe I like Ricky now. Nope, I forgot, I'm married tro you Ben. Oh and did I mention I really and truly love you now? Well, cause I do. I love you now." And their parents trying to force them together through all of this stupid plotholes and crap. "Ben and Amy must be together, because Ricky is the devil. Pure evil. Ben is such a sweet, naive boy. Plus, he's rich and we're in poor times now, I'm the father that lives in my garage and the wife has no job." The actors are terrible. Molly Ringwald sure lost her touch. Or what she had of it anyways. This show makes me want to grind my eyes out with a machete. Grace is annoying, Adrian is annoying, Jack is annoying. Even though Ricky is the only, less-annoying character, he is edging toward toward the annoying line up. If the writers... I shouldn't even call those word deovouring and spitting idiots anything other than failures... think I'm entertain by this mess becaus I so happen to b a teenager, you are mistaken. And if they attempt to put together Ben and Amy for any other idiotic notions. I will puke. They do not love each other, they barely KNOW each other. Ben dated Amy for a couple of weeks and he did NOT know she was pregnant because she hid it from him and he was declaing LOVE since their second date. Not to mention Ben dated Amy over a bet. Good job for that throw back to 80s, cliche crap. Maybe it was an idea of Molly Ringwald.

brittany k. gave it a0:
If only this show was satire then it would be funny and entertaining. the fact that it's attempting to be a real portrayal of teens is misguided and inaccurate. i sometimes wonder if any of the writers and producers ever visit a real high school before acting as if they know the REAL lives of teens.

Emily K gave it a3:
Extremely unrealistic. Teens do get pregnant and do have sex, but this show makes it seem as if that's everything that makes up high school. It makes a mockery out of teenagers. The writers are obviously assuming they know what goes on in high schools, but have no experience.

ellen m. gave it a0:
this show is beyond a joke. as a 15 year old girl in high school i KNOW this is absolute garbage. I'm not saying that that sex isnt something that gets talked about, but in this show they don't ever talk about anything not related to sex. i was watching this episode where that adriean girl was talking to her councelor saying "i like to have alot of sex." omg who would ever say that to a teacher? ;S and why do the kids just talk about sex freely with there parents? not many kids do that, at all. I also can't stand the little 'explainer' things they they throw in. its so obvious and it totally throws the whole show off. im sick of being banged over the head with this stupid message. the religous people are annoying, and i know plently of religous teenagers and none of them feel the need to inform everyone of there beliefs 24/7. the characters are completely unbelievable. adrien and the blonde jesus nut look about 10 years too old for there characters. the parents are all annoying, especially the christian ones, why would they think they have any say in there daughters romantic life? omg. this show is so annoying. this is what the show is like if you have never seen it: teen girl 1: hey, guess what, i love having sex teen girl 2: ahaha your so funny, you trickster! im christian, im christian im christian im christian i love jesus teen boy 1: your all so beautiful lets go talk in a dark lonely corner somewhere teen girl 2: no thanks my mum says im only aloud to talk to people they have met *ignores teen girl 1: OMG i know we have only been out on one date but i love you lets get married!!!!111!!!11```` teen girl 1s friends: but your pregnant! teen girl 1: NOOO IM JUST FAT AHHH.

Lisa B. gave it a10:
I love this show, because this kind of thing actually happens in high school. It may not happen to everyone, but it still happens. People are saying that it's unrealistic and fake, but it's not. It's true, and even though you might not be pregnant at your hiugh school, I gaurantee there is someone.. I'm 16 and know someone that just had a baby at my age.. so yes. it happens. That's what this show portrays. .the life of a teenager who does end up pregnant and it's interesting to see what goes on with them as people find out. i LOVE this show. =]

NoOne AndEveryone gave it an8:
My mom got pregnanat at 16. She could have had a career, a future instead she got me. She had a genuis IQ, and probably could have gone into a great school. This show, admitidly is bad, has some truth in it. I'mnot saying wait till your married, heck i'm not even saying wait till you15, just girls make sure your in charge of the protection because most guys are a little flakey. And if you think getting pregnant will help you keep the guy you love, your dillusional, most guys will probably say the baby's not his, or don't want a baby. Most guys leave even if they do love you. You've got to remeber girls mature faster than guys, and evan though the father of the baby may love you it is not gaurenteed he will love the baby.

Lizzie C. gave it an8:
Though the portrals of the High School kids are not the most belivable I still think the show is a great idea. Right now there are a lot of teenagers getting pregnant right now and I belive some of the teenagers don't really make the connection between sex and having babies(I'm not saying that you don't get it at all you just don't think it'll happen to you).

brooke a. gave it a10:
Its was really good and it has too many twists i cant wait for the n ext season to come up.

adam b gave it a0:
Possibly worst written and poorest acted drama of the new millenium. The school band plays and marches around the pregnant girl between classes. The actress that plays the younger sister makes Michael Phelp's look like Tom Hanks. When guys are alone they have in depth discussions about relationships. The girl doesn't know what to do after making out with the guy that got her friend pregnant turns to her dad for advice. Totally unrealistic writing and overall unfunny ineffectve excuse for a dram.

Danielle T. gave it a10:
As someone who actually relates to the girl in this story I was a teen parent. I belive this show is an amazing example of what girls really do go through in this situation. You do lose your friends and the hardest part is telling your parents. Some may think that he parents were dense well they weren't they just didn't expect that from her because that's not the sterio type of person that gets pregnant in high school I would know I was a straight A student. It happens and it shows that this is what its like when it does happen.

Katie C. gave it a2:
As a fifteen-year-old girl in your average high school, I can honestly say that I'm appalled by the way this show portrays people my age. If the poor, unbelievable acting performances weren't bad enough, the stereotypical characters are so unrealistic that I found myself embarrassed to be watching the show at all. I'll try not to reiterate what many other people have already spoken of, but it's hard not to ramble on about how insulting I find this show when the adult's impression teenage life is so condescending and unrealistic. If that wasn't bad enough, the parents are annoying and would actually improve themselves by reading cheesy parenting books (and if that was done on purpose, I couldn't tell). All in all, this is one of the worst shows on TV. At least shows like Gossip Girl, though unrealistic, ACKNOWLEDGE that they're unrealistic. This show pretends to be what high school is actually like, and I'm disgusted by it.

Joe G. gave it a1:
Waaaaaay too cliche.

Kiersten A. gave it a0:
this show is terrible, and the plotline where the cheerleader defends herself against sexual predators and then somehow becomes the town joke is reprehensible.

Nikki M. gave it a10:
this show is chill it shows what a typical teenager thinks and it may seem a little complicated but come on it is themed drama but i know a Christian who is way better like godly than grace . i love this show and Ben is hot.

Nancy P gave it a10:
I am the mother of two adult children and yet I am hooked on this show! It is terrific and funny at times, like Seventh Heaven, but is definitely for older teens. It's sexual discussions are NOT for younger children, but it would be a great discussion starter for parents to use with their teenagers.

Lloyd E. gave it a3:
This show is only worth watching if you're one of the parents that reads the books on how to... parent... and are over the age of 40. Need to know what goes on in your teenage daughters life? Don't fret! Look no further than this joke of a television show. You see, it's simple. Every single teenage girl, as soon as she hits 15, will: A) Have sex B) Want to have sex C) Have sex and get pregnant Use this handy information to have awkward talks with your daughter about whether or not she's having sex. What's that? You think she isn't? Don't make me laugh. I really think this show would've done better if it made fun of what people think stereotypes are, as opposed to this laugh of a drama.

Molly Y. gave it a1:
The only reason I gave this show a score at all is because I could not stop watching it because of how incredibly stupid it is. The parents of the pregnant girl are so dense and are sorry excuses for a parent. The parenting skills are a disgrace. Each character is such cliche, textbook label that it is disgusting. Nobody is like that in high school. Yes, teens have sex. Get over it! I find the acting to be below par, worse than Seventh Heaven by far. I still cannot believe Molly Ringwald stooped that low to be in this show. Also, there is no way a teen would take off their shirt in school (especially a girl) and not get into any sort of trouble. There are dress codes, you know.

Elizabeth Z. gave it a10:
This is seriously my absolutely favorite show ever! I am a 15 year old girl in 10th grade and even though a very few things are unrealistic, it does show a great deal of what really happens in high school.

Sophie F. gave it a4:
This show is so corny, it's unbelievable. The only one who acts like an actual teenager is Amy. Ben sounds way too superficial, repeatedly saying he loves her, calling her his "woman", asking her to marry him and having his father support this idea? Come on, they are 15! Grace just sounds too overly religious, it's so funny yet irritating. That's not what a typical teenager, even a christian teenager sounds like AT ALL. This is one lame show.

Daniel L. gave it a9:
I've seen more than 300 Teenage shows around, but none ever like this one. Since I'm just about over my teenage years, and have experienced many of what some people so call " Unrealistic situations", and i say to them "Your completely wrong.". The majority of this show represent realistic situations such as young pregnancy, which also happened to a very close friend of mine. Although the indiscreet usage of the word "sex", it has and is being used as a common word in high school lately. I'm just basing myself on the show and other people's non-sense comments. Great show!

Gabby R gave it a10:
I think this show is great i go nuts every tuesday because i love it so much. I'm hooked!

Allyson F gave it a10:
Yes, the show might be way out in the ball park for High School drama but it brings the real views of what is on teenagers minds then the rest of those TV teen drama shows. From Labels to Religion it brings up every topic you can think of that teenagers think through. Other then the drug factor and I do for once hope they don't bring that in, it will do wonders for the plot but drug opinions are crazy and won't help anything. The show brings out new meaning to the word 'Secret' because not only does the main girl act secretive she has a big one of her own and makes you wonder if she has any others. If you hate it just because it's unoriginal or unrealistic then take a look around, it's life at its funniest and TV appropriate. I know I sound like a teacher or something but if you hate it you don't have to watch it or comment it, ruining other peoples good times and favorite things can't be all there is to do in the world; I mean the main character is pregnant at 15 how about you go try getting what she has... A life.

teen mom gave it a10:
I cant wait till the next episode...you can tell the guys watching...I watch with my 15 year old boy and am able to use alot that goes on to get him to understand. I graduated in a small school and it is funny that alot of this actually happened in my school.

jaclynkate gave it a7:
This show gives you a good look at every aspect of high school, everyone is too caught up in their own issues and insecurities to help Amy. I think even if this show ultimately fails, it's achieved it's goal to fill us in on high school life, even if the characters of Ben and the YOUNGER sister are a bit goofy..Didn't we all know people in school that were a bit on the goofier side? OOH, and When i was in high school, almost everyone I know was having sex by 15. I graduated in 2006. I don't know where Mark goes to school. In a tree?

Cupcake Wagner gave it a10:
I love this show! In high school, kids do have sex and they do get pregnant. There is diffidently all that drama and all those problems. Kids have problems at school and at home. They have relationships, break ups, all that. This show is a lot better than all those un-realistic teen shows.

Lee H. gave it a9:
Good show. Being a high school teacher, I see a lot of these characters in my students. The downside is that the show drags things out too long. Things need to move at a more steady pace.

Victoria S gave it a9:
I watched the pilot purely because Molly Ringwald is in the show. I am now thoroughly addicted. It's definitely a guilty pleasure, because no matter how much I enjoy it, certain parts of this show really aren't well-executed. But I find it enormously, ENORMOUSLY entertaining. I think it's definitely worth watching at least once...and I personally will be watching it every week.

ate blank gave it a10:
This show is awesome. anything that has to do with teens and being pregnant is awesome!!!!

Raysa J. gave it a0:
Teenagers, parents, Christians, educators, and medical professionals must be insulted by their portrayal in this wreck. I more than suspect the good user reviews are network interns told to blog up this mess.

Just Jack gave it a2:
Typical fundie-Xtian influenced didacticism on worn out topics that are not borne out but substantiated facts. teen pregnancy is on the decline but this show merely ramps up the hysteria and bludgeons the audience with inane chicanery and ideological claptrap. We stopped watching it after we realized it gives our daughter the narrow, myopic Xtian cult messages about life. No more Xtian fundies in TV please, and enough of the "god network" already. If this is the mainstream of America, there's real reason to be afraid.

victoria c gave it a10:
I love this show!!!!! It has a good moral. It shows the outcome and the punishments for having sex and having a baby at age 15. The scipt is incredible and the actors are amazing! My favorite is Amy's little sister, Ashley. I will be devastated if they cancel this show. I can't wait for more!

Philip G. gave it a0:
This show is amazing! I love all the drama and the storyline is awesome!

Aaliyah C. gave it a10:
I love this show I watch it every Tuesday I even got my mom watching it it helps me feel confident about highschool (freshman)

daslf s. gave it a10:
I love this show! Brenda Hampton did an amazing job with casting. Shailene Woodley is perfect for the part of Amy. I reserve my Tuesday nights just to sit down and watch this very realistic show. Keep up the good work!

Jill D gave it a2:
Not worth wasting your time.

WasaTeen Mom gave it a9:
Of course this isn't every minute of every day in high school. However, these conversations, topics and situations are real high school. Unfortunately, they too are real in the middle schools. I am impressed with the writers. They don't glorify the sex, pregnancy or disobedient behavior as soaps and other shows do. They show real life outcomes the good and the not so great! For those parents who think they should not expose their teenage to this I say "You are wrong!" "You need to make this show a family affair -- and talk about the show!"

Danielle C gave it a10:
I LOVE IT, my favorite show every me and my friends have parties every Tuesday for it we even make t-shirts every week, its nuts WE LOVE IT.

Dave T. gave it a1:
Truly a weak attempt at presenting a fresh perspective on a common theme.

Mark gave it a0:
This show is completely unrealistic. I'm a sophomore now, and there aren't any teenagers I know that say sex that much. And just about evey character is annoying and fake. Especially Ben, and that older sister; They are awful characterization. Worst teenage show I've seen in a long time. Next time don't let the person from a Christian show try to take on teenage pregnancy.

Kim L. gave it a10:
This show is more realistic than most shows on tv today. It sends a serious message but is entertaining at the same time. It doesn't tell kids not to do it, that just makes them want to do it more. It informs kids of the consequences and leaves the choice to them. The cast matches fairly well and most of them are very in character. the settings are very realistic as well. overall it is very good.

Gwen B. gave it a10:
I LOVE this show!I wish they could air it everyday being a new one!It's a good show that teenagers should watch because it shows what will happen if you get pregnant at an early age.

Rachael S. gave it a10:
This is hands down one of the best shows I have ever watched. I can barely wait until Tuesday. You would have to be crazy not to like this show.

Joe Find gave it a4:
Wow, I wish high school had been like this. Either these students don't exist, or I was running in WAAAY the wrong circles. Avoid this show at all costs. Just go watch a PSA about teen pregnancy instead, it'll save you scads of time.

Whoopdee D. gave it a0:
This is the biggest waste of film I've seen in awhile.

Mary gave it a10:
Wow I thought that was pretty good! so do all of my friends!! its a really good show!

Brian A. gave it a1:
I thought nothing could be more preachy then "7th Heaven". I was wrong. This show is not realistic at all. Sure, sex is an issue on the minds of high school students, but they don't talk and think about only sex 24/7. And the religious messages are just absurd. I'm expecting Pat Robertson to pop out and start rambling at any time. Terrible in all ways.

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