The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 131 Ratings

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5.4

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5.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 131 Ratings

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The Secret Life of the American Teenager

Season Details & Credits

ABC Family | Season Premiere Date: July 1, 2008

Starring: Mark Derwin, Camille Winbush, Molly Ringwald

Summary: Molly Ringwald stars as a mom to a pregnant teenager in the ABC Family series by the creator of "7th Heaven" and "Blossom."

Creator: Brenda Hampton

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E23. And Unto Us, a Child Is Born
Air Date: March 23, 2009
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S1:E22. One Night at Band Camp
Air Date: March 16, 2009
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S1:E21. Whoomp! (There It Is)
Air Date: March 9, 2009

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Hal Boedeker

Secret Life feels a lot more authentic than many teen dramas. Read full review

Linda Stasi

The show, like the old "90210" and "The O.C.," looks to be--from its premiere, at any rate--a top-flight series about a group of high school students, most of whom I liked immediately. Read full review

David Zurawik

As entertainment, the pilot is a most impressive work of economic and focused storytelling. Read full review

Brian Lowry

From the tramp to the Christians, everyone but Amy feels more like a type than a genuine character. Although a degree of shorthand is to be forgiven, these characters are caricatures at best as the series careens all over the place. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

It feels thin, mechanical and confused. Read full review

James Poniewozik

Campily depicting high school as a den of sluts and predators, Secret achieves the noble goal of making sex thoroughly unsexy. Read full review

Joanna Weiss

Nothing about it feels original or even especially timely, and it certainly doesn't reveal any great secrets about society. Read full review

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User Score

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5.4

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User Reviews

daslfs.

Jul 18, 2008

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!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

NancyP

Aug 19, 2008

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 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.… Expand

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fade

May 6, 2012

Love this show from the start. It is very very funny. Love the adult actors and the surprise guest stars. Cool to see upcoming new young actors getting there start on this show. Lots of twist and turns. Lots of talent.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

chem

Aug 11, 2009

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 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Shayla

Aug 6, 2009

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 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.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

LauraM

Dec 26, 2009

although i somehow find it somewhat interesting to watch about how they unrealistically deal with it, this show is a huge load of sh*t that im ashamed america got so low that they had to make a show about a teenager getting pregnant, and of course it's not her boyfriend's baby. although i somehow find it somewhat interesting to watch about how they unrealistically deal with it, this show is a huge load of sh*t that im ashamed america got so low that they had to make a show about a teenager getting pregnant, and of course it's not her boyfriend's baby. and as said previously, i am insulted since i am a teenager, because we dont always talk about sex! and her best friend Maddison seems very unsupportive and pessimistic, and not in her own right. Lauren isn't so bad, but could improve on the acting skills, for that matter, they can ALL improve on the acting skills! shocking. other characters seem to have such boring, dragged out, self absorbed storylines that it makes you wonder if they were just put in to pass the time. just an all-time shocking show that is extremely unrealistic and boring.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

WhoopdeeD.

Jul 1, 2008

This is the biggest waste of film I've seen in awhile.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 75 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

48

Series Overview
Season 5

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- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: June 11, 2012
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: June 13, 2011
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: June 7, 2010
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 22, 2009
Season 1

48
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 1, 2008
- tbd
  S1:E23. And Unto Us, a Child Is Born
  Air Date: March 23, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E22. One Night at Band Camp
  Air Date: March 16, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E21. Whoomp! (There It Is)
  Air Date: March 9, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E20. Maybe Baby
  Air Date: March 2, 2009
- tbd
  S1:E19. Money For Nothing, Chicks For Free
  Air Date: February 23, 2009
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  S1:E18. Making Up Is Hard to Do
  Air Date: February 16, 2009
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  S1:E17. Unforgiven
  Air Date: February 9, 2009
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  S1:E16. Chocolate Cake
  Air Date: February 2, 2009
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  S1:E15. That's Enough of That
  Air Date: January 26, 2009
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  S1:E14. The Father and the Son
  Air Date: January 19, 2009
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  S1:E13. Baked Nevada
  Air Date: January 12, 2009
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  S1:E12. The Secret Wedding of the American Teenager
  Air Date: January 5, 2009
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  S1:E11. Just Say No
  Air Date: September 9, 2008
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  S1:E10. Back to School Special
  Air Date: September 2, 2008
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  S1:E9. Slice of Life
  Air Date: August 26, 2008
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  S1:E8. Your Cheatin' Heart
  Air Date: August 19, 2008
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  S1:E7. Absent
  Air Date: August 12, 2008
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  S1:E6. Love For Sale
  Air Date: August 5, 2008
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  S1:E5. What Have You Done to Me?
  Air Date: July 29, 2008
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  S1:E4. Caught
  Air Date: July 22, 2008
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  S1:E3. I Feel Sick
  Air Date: July 15, 2008
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  S1:E2. You Are My Everything
  Air Date: July 8, 2008
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  S1:E1. Falling in Love
  Air Date: July 1, 2008