Flashback Friday: Great Teenage Dramas of the Past: My So Called Life

Welcome to Week Sixteen of Flashback Fridays where the old and new collide on everything from books to movies to first loves to favorite vacations. This week on Flashback Friday we're looking at one of the best teen dramas from back in the day. The early 90's was a time before Gossip Girl, Secret Life of the American Teen and Vampire Diaries. Sure there was Beverly Hills 90210, but for those who longed for a more realistic view of teenage life, a show finally came around to fill the void.

My So Called Life
It would be hard to put into mere words how groundbreaking this show was. First of all, it wasn't a show about pretty people with pretty problems. These were your everyday run of the mill teens dealing with serious issues. While most shows of the time period dealt with tough issues through a one time "special episode", My So Called Life barreled on through on a weekly basis with teenage alcoholism and drug use, homophobia, physical abuse, and school violence. You couldn't get any more realistic than how the main character, Angela Chase, perceived herself and the world around her. Angela forever felt like a social outcast, but she found solace in her friendship with wild and rebellious, Rayann Graff, and sweet, openly gay, Rickie Vasquez. Angela's love life was always throwing her curve balls. While nerdy but kind, Brian, crushed on her, she pined for the school heartthrob, Jordan Catalano. Finally, Angela and Jordan became a couple, and she had to deal with the ups and downs of the relationship. With Angela's voice over narration, the audience truly connected with her. Claire Danes was just sixteen herself when she was playing sixteen year old Angela. Even though critics and audiences praised the show, it was canceled after one season.

Even though a decade has passed, the angst and the issues are still the same. I would highly recommend this show to anyone writing Contemporary YA.

I leave you with one of the most popular scenes in the show. This is when Jordan finally makes it known the world, or the Liberty High School population, that he and Angela are an item.




And here's a tribute video of the show

****************ARCS OF AUGUST CONTEST TIME**************

Did you guess what ARC was up for grabs this week? Yep, that's right it's Personal Demons by the very fabulous Lisa Desrochers. I loved, loved, the book, and I know you will too! There's three things you need to do to win.

(1). Be a follower

(2). Tweet the contest

(3). Leave a comment

Pretty easy huh? And don't forget Leah's Awesome Mad Libs Contest or Sarah's Mockingjay Preorder Contest. It's a contestapalooza up in here!