Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. For this week's edition of Pop Shots I'm going to be taking a look at an addiction that is sweeping the nation, and by the nation I mean my living room, but I know if it's in my living room it's probably in many of yours, as well. That addiction is teen TV. It started innocently enough in the 90's with Saved By The Bell, where we learned the dangers of caffeine pills and that school dances should be held a minimum of 50 times a semester. In 2010, however, with Nickelodeon having it's own teen oriented channel, and Disney making teen oriented programs, as well, the airwaves are loaded with teen TV. With that in mind, this week I'm taking a look at three teen TV shows that are actually pretty good, and qualify as reasons I don't have a DVR, because I did, and I was recording these programs, I'm fairly sure I'd be put on a list of some kind.
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi is the teen show to end all teen shows. I started watching it a handful of years ago, not telling anyone. Apparently I wasn't alone, because not only was the Canadian drama whose original version was immortalized in Chasing Amy a personal addiction, within a few years what was my, and apparently everyone else's, guilty pleasure became Teen Nick's biggest hit and flagship program. Degrassi has dealt with teen pregnancy, school shootings, STDs, crystal meth, cocaine, cancer, child abuse, and coming to terms with one's sexuality, and it's done it all REALLY well. As an added bonus, we've been able to watch quite a few actors and actresses graduate (pun intended) to much bigger things, like Nina Dobrov (Mia) landing starring role on Vampire Diaries, Shenae Grimes (Darcy) changing her TV zip code to 90210, and Drake (Jimmy Brooks) inexplicably going from wheelchair bound do-gooder to one of hip-hop's rising young stars. Of course, the real reason to watch is that the show is just so dang enjoyable, but shh, it's still everyone's dirty little secret.
Victorious
Mix one part Fame with one part Saved By The Bell and you have Nickelodeon's latest teen offering, Victorious. Starring Victoria Justice as Tori Vega, the new kid at a Hollywood performing arts school, the show is also a vehicle for Justice's singing career. With a large cast of characters, and a unique setting for a teen comedy, Victorious is a show I came across thanks to Nick's insane amount of advertising and my love of pretty girls. Once I found out Justice is significantly younger than I originally thought, I took a cold shower, but then went back to watching the show because it's one of the few that doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence. There's also a slightly overused laugh track, which makes Victorious feel a little bit like a 90's sitcom. Because of all of these qualities, Victorious is a teen comedy that works for more than just teens.
Wizards of Waverly Place
OK, I have no idea why I ever stopped on this show, but apparently I've seen a fair number of episodes since the last few times I've flipped by it on Disney they were showing reruns I'd already seen. Starring Disney's next big "it" girl, Selena Gomez, who is doomed/blessed to always look younger than she actually is, the show about the family of wizards is, at times, highly enjoyable (side note - I usually catch it after exhausting days at work, which may, or may not, add to the enjoyability factor). I like the fact that Gomez's character isn't the most popular girl in school, in fact, she's a cast off. She's a real life version of Daria (from Beavis and Butthead, and Daria) as she's always quick with a sarcastic remark and would rather not deal with most people. Where she differs from Daria, however, is in her enjoyment of cutting corners and breaking the rules. Somehow, Gomez and the writing team pull all of these qualities together and make her character an extremely likable one, which is why, despite its sometimes overly kid friendly moments (I know, it's supposed to be for kids), Wizards of Waverly Place is an extremely likable show.
And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.
Degrassi: The Next Generation
Degrassi is the teen show to end all teen shows. I started watching it a handful of years ago, not telling anyone. Apparently I wasn't alone, because not only was the Canadian drama whose original version was immortalized in Chasing Amy a personal addiction, within a few years what was my, and apparently everyone else's, guilty pleasure became Teen Nick's biggest hit and flagship program. Degrassi has dealt with teen pregnancy, school shootings, STDs, crystal meth, cocaine, cancer, child abuse, and coming to terms with one's sexuality, and it's done it all REALLY well. As an added bonus, we've been able to watch quite a few actors and actresses graduate (pun intended) to much bigger things, like Nina Dobrov (Mia) landing starring role on Vampire Diaries, Shenae Grimes (Darcy) changing her TV zip code to 90210, and Drake (Jimmy Brooks) inexplicably going from wheelchair bound do-gooder to one of hip-hop's rising young stars. Of course, the real reason to watch is that the show is just so dang enjoyable, but shh, it's still everyone's dirty little secret.
Victorious
Mix one part Fame with one part Saved By The Bell and you have Nickelodeon's latest teen offering, Victorious. Starring Victoria Justice as Tori Vega, the new kid at a Hollywood performing arts school, the show is also a vehicle for Justice's singing career. With a large cast of characters, and a unique setting for a teen comedy, Victorious is a show I came across thanks to Nick's insane amount of advertising and my love of pretty girls. Once I found out Justice is significantly younger than I originally thought, I took a cold shower, but then went back to watching the show because it's one of the few that doesn't insult the viewer's intelligence. There's also a slightly overused laugh track, which makes Victorious feel a little bit like a 90's sitcom. Because of all of these qualities, Victorious is a teen comedy that works for more than just teens.
Wizards of Waverly Place
OK, I have no idea why I ever stopped on this show, but apparently I've seen a fair number of episodes since the last few times I've flipped by it on Disney they were showing reruns I'd already seen. Starring Disney's next big "it" girl, Selena Gomez, who is doomed/blessed to always look younger than she actually is, the show about the family of wizards is, at times, highly enjoyable (side note - I usually catch it after exhausting days at work, which may, or may not, add to the enjoyability factor). I like the fact that Gomez's character isn't the most popular girl in school, in fact, she's a cast off. She's a real life version of Daria (from Beavis and Butthead, and Daria) as she's always quick with a sarcastic remark and would rather not deal with most people. Where she differs from Daria, however, is in her enjoyment of cutting corners and breaking the rules. Somehow, Gomez and the writing team pull all of these qualities together and make her character an extremely likable one, which is why, despite its sometimes overly kid friendly moments (I know, it's supposed to be for kids), Wizards of Waverly Place is an extremely likable show.
And with that, my time is up for the week, but I'll be back next week with more shots on all things pop.
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Adam BernardWelcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from why Miley Cyrus shouldn't be anywhere near your mouth, to why Justin Bieber might be at the BET awards, to why two 80's icons have been spending a lot of time in hospital beds, and since it's Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude. * Read More ...
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