The Secret Life of the American Teenager

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Season 1
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
48

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 15
  3. Negative: 6 out of 15
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Where To Watch

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Critic Reviews

  1. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    Reviewed by: Rob Owen
    60
    It's far more realistic in scope and situations than "Gossip Girl," but there's such an earnestness and one-dimensionality to the characters that they seem a lot less believable.
  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    60
    Shailene Woodley is terrific as the teen in question. Unfortunately, other parts of the show feel so contrived they border on soap opera parody.
  3. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    50
    A good girl’s surprise pregnancy is a strong premise, but creator Brenda Hampton (7th Heaven) undercuts it by surrounding Amy with an uninspired ensemble of precociously cardboard classmates.
  5. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Lloyd
    40
    It feels thin, mechanical and confused.
  6. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    40
    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.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best TV Season of 2008
9
#9 Most Discussed TV Season of 2008
35
#35 Most Shared TV Season of 2008

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 131 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 131
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 131
  3. Negative: 57 out of 131
  1. CityGirl
    Mar 16, 2011
    2
    I try not to watch this show because I turned it on and counted over 50 times that they said "sex" "abstinence" or made some other blatantI try not to watch this show because I turned it on and counted over 50 times that they said "sex" "abstinence" or made some other blatant sexual reference in one episode "Ashley, are you going to have sex?" "I'm not going to have sex. And if i was going to have sex i wouldn't tell you about sex" "Sex is something you should talk about. sex...." blah blah blah. Oh please, realistic this show isn't… Full Review »
  2. JenniferN
    Jan 4, 2010
    1
    OMG.... i just got out of high school about a year ago... this TV show is the most unrealistic TV show out there...... me and my boyfriend OMG.... i just got out of high school about a year ago... this TV show is the most unrealistic TV show out there...... me and my boyfriend lived together for three years now and we dont talk about sex THAT much... i swear.. in this TV show..... you hear sex in every single scene. =.= LAME!… Full Review »
  3. BiggestTVlover1
    Nov 25, 2016
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I have mix feelings about this show. For the beginning of her pregnancy Amy acted the way I expected a typical teen girl to act if pregnant. However as her pregnancy went on this went away besides the whole adoption thing. After the baby was born I hated Amy because of her territorial attitude over her son. He she needs to get over herself and realize its not only her baby. I hate that she makes most of the decision without Ricky's input. I also really hate what happened to Adrian and Ben's baby in season 3 or 4 and there was no reason for it, plus it was the only girl baby which I was looking forward too since I prefer girls. Also the name John is too old for a child in our time, even in 2008 not many children were named John anymore. Beside that I absolutely love the show, it makes me laugh constantly. I also love how ruined and messed up Amy's family is.… Full Review »
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