428 replies to this topic

[Merve]

This teen comedy about a girl whose freak accident is misconstrued as a suicide attempt (official website here) debuted last night on MTV.

It's actually surprisingly sharp and witty for a teen comedy. What did you all think?

[portiaslegacy]

Thank you for putting this out there. I really enjoyed the pilot last night and was getting worried by the lack of internet buzz.

I really liked it. Jenna seems like a great heroine and I liked the set up of supporting characters especially her friends. And the voice overs have just the right knowing self delusion. She knows crushing on the way Matty sniffs his armpits is stupid, and comes up with the excuse that it is his concern for personal hygiene. Adorable. Thus far he is not at all a really worthy object for a crush, but you could feel happy for Jenna about the message he sent her at the end.

Curious about the letter writer. It is a borderline Pretty Little Liars plot device, and I hope it does not got there.

[bluegray73]

I gave this a fair chance and really had to fight to stick it through the half-hour. It's like My Life as Liz and The Hard Times of RJ Berger were merged into one show. I don't like any of the three.

[Kaoteek]

Kinda like bluegray. It felt like any of those modern Easy A-esque teen movies/teen shows, that appears to be smarter and wittier than your average teen show, but in the end, is just more of the same.

Worse : none of the actors seemed interesting or charismatic enough to grab my interest, which is kinda crucial for that kind of show. (Desi Lydic was fun, though)

And the MTV touch (sex, insults, and so forth) still annoys me to no end.

Edited by Kaoteek, Jul 20, 2011 @ 4:35 PM.

[whyistherumgone]

I had heard nothing about this show until I saw a boatload of previews for it last night while watching my usual Tuesday on Bravo lineup. It looked interesting enough, so I tuned in.

I enjoyed it. The lead is likeable enough, and I definitely identify with her. I'm 7 years removed from the high school experience, but I can still relate to it and recognize similarities. I was totally the awkward girl in HS. I just know that had that exact same accident befallen me in HS, I would have had a hard time convincing everyone that I hadn't tried to kill myself. I had a few close friends, but for the most part I was pretty invisible (which I actually liked, tbh).

However, unlike Jenna, although I wasn't a total uggo I was fat and had some acne. Didn't exactly have a cute boy (let alone 2) paying me any attention. And armpit-sniffer or not, Matty is exactly the kind of boy I crushed on in HS. Cute and popular jock, but with a lot more to him that he can never let his "friends" see, lest he become a social leper. Usually hopelessly clueless which makes them seem totally heartless and insensitive (ex. "No one can know that I like you"), which just makes you like them more. Unfortunately, that sort of ass backwards logic doesn't end in high school.

I'll stick around. There's a good mix of comedy and drama, which I like.

[possibilities]

I know that there are a million shows about the hell of high school and the awkwardness and stupidity of teens (and the cluelessness of adults around them), but I still kind of liked this. Some of it was clearly just for the gag (the position of her cast with her arm raised would never happen-- her raised hand would shrivel up and die for lack of blood flow in that position for weeks!), but I give them a pass because it also shows they're not taking themselves too seriously.

How did the fat girl become an alpha cheerleader? I'd like to see that story. Still, Our Hero's attempt to make peace and show compassion after the clothing switch debacle made me like her.

I despise the "guys are jerks but isn't that adorable" schtick so I hate that whole part of the show. The one who will be openly friendly is much more appealing than the one who hides it.

I think her mom is evil.

[Nilo]

How did the fat girl become an alpha cheerleader?

They said something about her buying her way in.

I really liked the concept of the show - misconstrued suicide attempt.

I could totally do without the anonymous letters/text aspect, though. I mean, I guess that was what was necessary to give the suicide attempt some basis, but the fact that it's continuing just bugs.

But yeah, I'm going to keep watching.

[MsTaken]

I really liked the concept of the show - misconstrued suicide attempt.

Yeah, I really love this premise as well. Add in the fact that I'm pathetically predisposed to love teen-centric stuff despite being a couple of decades past my own adolescence, and I'll give it at least another episode.

I was quite disappointed overall, though. There's this sort of too-cool-for-the-room, "watched Juno too many times and took not quite the right elements from it" feel to the show that irks me.
The dialogue wasn't nearly as clever or witty to me as it was probably supposed to be. And I found the main character oddly difficult to connect with, root for, or even just like, though I'm not sure whether to attribute that to the writing or the actress.

Some of my favorite all-time shows had relatively meh pilots, though, so this one gets to remain on my crowded TiFaux 'to record' list...at least for now!

[Merve]

I actually thought that Juno was far more irritating than this show. Juno didn't understand just how pretentious and too-cool-for-school it was. I get the sense that at least this show is in on its own joke.

[BooBear]

And I found the main character oddly difficult to connect with, root for, or even just like, though I'm not sure whether to attribute that to the writing or the actress.

Me too... she needed to be a slight bit more unsure of herself... but I am going to give it a chance. Stuff I liked:

- that she had sex like her first gyn appointment, nothing special, no Twilight shiny here. Just do it. Good for her.
- that her love interest is not evil, just a messed up kid trying to make it in his world, that is how teens really are.
- that the bitch of the show is the fatty. Didn't see that coming.
- that she went over to the fatty to see how she was doing after the clothing incident.
- that the other guy seems interested too... kind of seems like he has been waiting for an opportunity for a while.

Didn't
- guidance counselor... can we say cliche'?
- her parents, both looked too young and her mom seemed too real housewives for a suburban mom.
- friends... on the annoying side and kind of doubt such a cool laid back girl would be with such an obnoxious tool as her friend seems to be.

Overall I liked the positive *kids are just trying to make it* vibe this show had. And some of it was super funny.

[Fawn Leibowitz]

I liked it, not loved it. I did give it a Season Pass on my Tivo and I'm looking forward to the next episode. I think Jenna's best friend, Valerie (?), was my favorite. She had some of the funniest lines.

[cheesecake134]

I watched out of curiosity and it was pretty decent. My notes:

-The premise is pretty inventive and funny.

-I liked the main character, particularly after she went to check on the bitchy cheerleader after she was embarrassed at the pep rally.

-I like that the most popular girl in school is fat, yet bought her way in by being rich. Didn't we all know that girl in high school?

-Her best friend is a complete tool and entirely too much like Leah, the best friend in Juno.

-I'm sick of shows portraying the school loser as having a crush on the popular jock. It's been done, guys. Can't you make her smitten with some average theater nerd or something?

-I dislike the lead male character. He's a douchebag who they're trying too hard to portray him as "misguided but really a good guy". I also really dislike the fact his name is Matty.


Overall though, it's a pretty cute show. I'll watch a few more episodes to see where it goes.

[Lois Sandborne]

I think her mom is evil.

Yeah. I'm 89% sure her mother is the anonymous adviser.

I too liked this for the teenage fluff it is. No one can really act except the lead girl, but that works in a way. Reminds me of all the innocuous but still entertaining stuff I watched after school in the 90s. Like Fifteen.

[just checking]

I just finished watching it online. It held my interest.

I hope she finds someone more interesting to like than an armpit-sniffing jock who acts like she doesn't exist in public. Very cliché. The other guy seems nice to her.

The parents were completely miscast. I thought they were her older siblings.

[BoobTubeJunkie]

It definitely entertained me enough to check out a few more episodes. Although like others have mentioned, I was thrown by the age of the parents. They made me feel old because they definitely looked younger than me; and while technically I could have a teenage daughter, it would have made me eligible for one of MTV's other shows (if it had been around at the time).

I think her mom is evil.

Yeah. I'm 89% sure her mother is the anonymous adviser.

At the end, when she crossed the first thing off the list, I became convinced Jenna sent the letter to herself. But I didn't have it recorded, so I couldn't go back and rewatch that scene where she opens the letter to check if that theory might make sense. But I did think it was weird that she didn't open it immediately. In this electronic age, I rip into any letter I get with excitement (unless it's obviously a bill), so it almost seemed like she was dreading opening it.

[mishy]

The parents were completely miscast. I thought they were her older siblings.

In some promotional material I read online before the show started, they mentioned that her parents had her when they were 17. Maybe they will say something about how young they look in the coming episodes.

[just checking]

In some promotional material I read online before the show started, they mentioned that her parents had her when they were 17. Maybe they will say something about how young they look in the coming episodes.

That would make a lot more sense. Thanks.

[cheesecake134]

In some promotional material I read online before the show started, they mentioned that her parents had her when they were 17. Maybe they will say something about how young they look in the coming episodes.

When I first saw her mom (and saw the way she was behaving), I just assumed she had been a teenage mother. I thought it was pretty obvious, but I guess not.

[just checking]

...I just assumed she had been a teenage mother. I thought it was pretty obvious, but I guess not.

What's obvious to you may not be obvious to others. I thought she was an older sister until the voiceover about her being the mom.

[ninakix]

Oh no, I'm really pretty and thin but I wear a pony tail so everyone thinks I'm ugly. Wah. Call me when they cast someone fat or with acne. Or both.

[MarmeeNoir]

For some reason i had to check out this show. I kinda like it. I just don't understand why these days the main love interest that is supposed to be OMG yummy aren't, like Finn, Stefen, or pretty much every other teen show.

[Suzako]

They directly address why the parents are so young in this latest episode (teenage parents) so that's good. I'm surprised the parents are still a couple, though.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying the show so far. I like how Jenna doesn't Hate Sadie and just feels bad for her. Jenna's an unusually rational teenage girl (for TV). Matty is exactly the sort of guy I would have obsessed over in high school (and years later thought: what? him?) so I think her obsessing over him (counting the amount of times he looked at her) is realistic.

[AStarling]

I like how Jenna doesn't Hate Sadie and just feels bad for her.

This is the worst part of the show for me! It's probably psychologically healthier to let go of any anger and resentment, but it's not how I like my TV (girl) teenagers. I find it hard to root for someone who is pretty spineless and lets everyone treat her like crap. The threeway Guidance Councillor/Jenna/Sadie scene is case in point.

[cheesecake134]

This is the worst part of the show for me! It's probably psychologically healthier to let go of any anger and resentment, but it's not how I like my TV (girl) teenagers. I find it hard to root for someone who is pretty spineless and lets everyone treat her like crap. The threeway Guidance Councillor/Jenna/Sadie scene is case in point.

Really? I find it pretty refreshing there's a female teenager on TV that isn't a total bitch and actually has sympathy for those around her. Even if they're the ones making her life hell. It shows compassion, and in my opinion, wonderful maturity.

I certainly think she lacks confidence (I believe the letter called her a "pussy"), but she's still a child and the show is about her finding her backbone. I'd like to see what they do with her as the season progresses.

[just checking]

Oh no, I'm really pretty and thin but I wear a pony tail so everyone thinks I'm ugly. Wah. Call me when they cast someone fat or with acne. Or both.

There are a lot of people in real life who are attractive but are unpopular, and a lot of unattractive people who are popular. There's no real formula as to what makes one person popular and another one unpopular.

[Lois Sandborne]

When I first saw her mom (and saw the way she was behaving), I just assumed she had been a teenage mother. I thought it was pretty obvious, but I guess not.

I assumed the same thing. That's partly why I think her mother is behind the letter -- she's not so far removed from high school, and her parenting style would be immature/goofy enough to make her think a letter's the way to go with it.

I do not get the appeal of the guy she's crushing on. I mean I get it, from the context of the show, his character's a stud, but the actor's doing nothing for me.

[portiaslegacy]

Matty is the Jordan Catalano to Jenna's Angela Chase, complete with romanticizing some grooming habits and the whole private physical/nothing public relationship. You don't have to have to understand the appeal of Matty as a person to get that type of fascination. The most recent time that I tried to watch MSCL I had a much harder time identifying with Angela and her love of Jordan. At least Matty looks like fun to be with (not sexually, but in a teenage hang out way). While I am not a fan of his, I am so happy for Jenna in that final scene.

Anyway I still like Jenna for being kind, slightly delusion, and humorous in her delusion. Going with the MSCL metaphor Tamara is a good Rayanne Graff/Sharon Cheski blend. I would like it if Ming had more of a role in the friendship but I will wait for that to come.

Also I want to thank the show for Sadie. Seriously every time critics complain about an actress being "too pretty too be an outcast" I grind my teeth. People are not social or popular because of the way they look innately, it is really about the right mix of standing out/fitting in. Sadie has it, Jenna does not and given their approach to their surroundings I buy it.

As for the adults: it is not an even playing field. The mom and guidance councilor are awful, but funny and none of the adult males are like that. (Although the English teacher singling out Jenna to explain Hamlet's thoughts about ending his life when everyone thought she attempted suicide was a similar kind of awful. And I doubt her earlier, male guidance councilor would be better.)

Still looking forward to episode 3.

(Just realized that Lissa is played by Greer Grammer, daughter of Kelsey and sister of Spencer. I keep end up watching this family)

Edited by portiaslegacy, Jul 27, 2011 @ 10:29 PM.

[just checking]

I would like it if Ming had more of a role in the friendship but I will wait for that to come.

Yeah, I like her and she seems cool, but it seems as if Jenna only cares about her relationship with Tamara.

The mom's really annoying, but at least the dad seems cool. It'd suck if both of Jenna's parents were immature and inept.

[LAgator77]

How did the fat girl become an alpha cheerleader?

We had one at my high school. Never could figure that out. But it is so spot on.

[Nimberlane]

Jenna has waaaay more compassion than I would when dealing with Sadie. I would have to rip into her and let her know the truth. Girl is vile.