Life Lessons Brought to a TV near You

While watching episode after episode of the TV show 7th Heaven, it became clear to me that the family-drama of Lyndsley Parsons III was behind one of my favorite TV show. I began to gather that each episode deals with a moral lesson or controversial theme the family is forced to deal with. Some of these themes range from traumatic to trivial lessons. Despite the moral lesson in each show, there are also longer-running arcs. The interest in Parson’s 7th Heaven, led me to his most recent show The Secret Life of the American Teenager. These episodes also provide moral lessons, mostly regarding premarital sex and real life scenarios. After a brief profile, I will discuss the elements in which the episodes are related back to several moral life lessons; drug addiction, teen pregnancy, and sexual abuse.

I recall in an episode of 7th Heaven when Eric Camden’s (the father and reverend of the church) sister comes to visit and the children found out that she was an alcoholic. The kids, Matt, Mary, Simon and Lucy, were so excited to see their Aunt Julie. A baby sister of Rev. Camden, supposedly a very responsible youngling, physically threatens Simon and her secret about her addiction is revealed. During the episode it was discovered that which every child is dealing with some kind of addiction, even including Ruthie, the youngest little girl. Addictions are very series issue in American society today. A lot of people suffer from the disease of alcoholism, drug abuse, and many others.

A serious lesson seen in The Secret Life of the American Teenager is when 15-year old Amy Juergens (Shailene Woodley) confesses she is pregnant. The first season focuses on relationships between families and friends and how they deal with the unexpected pregnancy of Amy. After losing her virginity to Ricky Underwood at band camp, Amy discovers she is pregnant. She struggles with the news and is unsure how to tell her parents, since they have been dealing with their own marital problems. The second season focuses on Amy juggling motherhood and high school, while her family and friends are also dealing with relationship challenges. Kate Juergens, executive vice president of original-series programming and development for ABC Family, says of the series, “We’re not sugar-coating teenage pregnancy, but dealing with the very real consequences of it.”

Brenda Hampton, creator of the television series of 7th Heaven and The Secret Life of the American Teenager, said in comparing the two that:

“It’s the same show in that hopefully it’s kind of a serious topic with teen pregnancy but at the same time there’s funny things running underneath it and although a lot of people never saw the humor in 7th Heaven I thought there were some pretty funny thing about it. It certainly wasn’t Fat Actress but still I come out of a background of comedy so I hope there’s always something fun about the show but there is the serious and dark side with teen pregnancy.”

I also see a dark side with the example of addictions from the episode of 7th Heaven that was stated above. Larry Novenstern, Executive Vice President of National Electronic Media for Optimedia Intl., calls The Secret Life a cross between 7th Heaven and Juno.

What I enjoy most about these two series is that they relat to real life scenarios today. Teen pregnancy is continuously on the rise. I think it is important to show series of The Secret Life because it can happen to you. At the end of every episode, ABC Family has a public-service announcement delivered by Amy Juergens (Shailene Woodley), generally from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy urging parents and teens to communicate with one another about sex. Another public-service announcement was made about sexual abuse and was delivered by Daren Kagasoff at the end of episodes on January 19th and 26th. This is such an important topic to stress to teens, not only about teen pregnancy, but also about sexual abuse victims.

7th Heaven is reliant on the very attempt to introduce contemporary social issues to lend greater emotional resonance to episodes. Episodes of 7th Heaven lead to high ratings for the show. According to Wikipedia, the January 34, 2005 episode, which featured the birth of Lucy’s daughter Savannah, garnered 7.99 million viewers---highest WB rating since 2003 (Lucy is the daughter of Rev. Eric Camden). Another example included the would-be series finale; now simply know as the Season 10 finale, which scored 7.56 million viewers on May 8, 2006.

Wikipedia has stated that the first season of The Secret Life seemed to have received negative reviews from mainstream critics, but received relatively higher reviews among viewers. The pilot episode ratings were broken by the second series premiere with 2.82 million viewers. The season finale had 4.5 million viewers. The Secret Life has received mostly positive reviews on its second season from critics and highly praised by viewers. The show has also earned the Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer TV Show during its premiere season.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0663764/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_heaven
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_Life_of_the_American_Teenager
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Search&search=lindsley+parsons+III&ns0=1&redirs=0

Who Says Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover...?

Looking at the impact television has on the world today, there are several different perspectives one can take. What struck your interest in my blog? I definitely would not consider myself a TV junkie by any means, but I do find the time to relax on a rainy day, and I do get my fair share. In my first blog, I hope to grasp your attention and broaden your knowledge of understanding and appreciation of television in today's society. I will specifically emphasize my goals for TV criticism, how I foresee the understanding and relationship to society and how it relates to everyday life, finishing by extending the invitation to participate in feedback, hoping to lead to an intense conversation.

Some people in this world may think the purpose of criticizing TV is to tear it to shreds, but in this particular blog this is not the case. I find as much pleasure out of watching CSI on USA as I do from watching The Secret Life of the American Teenager on ABC Family, for various reasons. As one watches episode after episode you start to become a "transformer," in which you are capable of generating a better understanding and awareness in the minds of other television viewers (O'Donnell (2007), 4). Sillars and Gronbeck (2001) state the importance for producing knowledge about what is valued and important to human beings. They also help discover in ways in which human beings can, and should, interpret and judge the world around us (15). As I continue on with this blog, I will expand on what we as viewers know about society, the TV show, and, most importantly, relating it to our everyday lives from within ourselves.

Viewing criticism from a critical and cultural standpoint, I am specifically interested in the subjective matter in which O'Donnell (2007) addresses. One aspect of criticism is that it is subjective. This means we tie in our own beliefs, attitudes, values, and personal life experiences (O'Donnell (2007), 6). Corner (1999) also further categorizes what he sees as a "viewer-centered" approach, emphasizing the ways in which audiences seek to make what they watch fit their own experiences and lives (10). For instance, one of my favorite TV shows that I watch everyone Monday night is The Secret Life of the American Teenager. As a mature, young adult, I see that the producers are trying to address the importance of practicing safe sex to all young teenagers. However, as I watch the news and see statistics of teen pregnancies on the rise, I have developed a better understanding of ways to talk to my parents, siblings, and someday my children about abstinence. I am a Catholic and reflect on my morals daily, especially after relating my life experiences of being born before the marriage of my parents to scenes in various episodes. As I work on becoming a better TV critic, I am curious to know which readings relate best to my audiences and viewers, and which readings are much more beneficial with different interpretations of the text itself.

Corner (1999) states that the overwhelming rationale for most research into television has undoubtedly been anxiety about its influence and still remains the case today (4). Some viewers may see television as a negative impact to society, sensing that it causes stupidity of some people. I don't completely agree with this. I believe as individuals we have the right to voice our own interpretations, since in television the direct influence on various cultures around the world with each viewing. With this being said it is necessary to stress the importance of me expressing what I watch in a more truthful and accurate way than any other readings.

I am very curious about what kind of feedback I will receive from my first blog posting. I would love to hear about the TV shows that strike your interest in your daily life, even if your roommate thinks it's the most unexciting show on the face of the Earth. I assure you that you will get my honesty about the thrill I experience from watching ER and CMT Top 20 Countdown, as well as when I see something that I don't find appealing whatsoever. Please feel free to share any of your thoughts- especially if you feel indifferent about something I have posted- leads to a great conversation.

References

Corner, J. (1999). Critical Ideas in Television Studies. New York: Oxford University Press.

O'Donnell, V. (2007). Television Criticism. New York: Sage.

Sillars, M.O. and Gronbeck, B.E. (2001). Communication Criticism: Rhetoric, Social Codes, Cultural Studies. Prospect Heights, IL; Waveland Press