Secret Life Scoop: Show Creator Talks Band-Camp Flashback

by Tim Molloy, TV Guide

Shailene Woodley, Secret Life of the American Teenager

Secret Life of the American Teenager is going back to band camp to show us the day Amy got pregnant, series creator Brenda Hampton tells TVGuide.com exclusively.

The episode will air the week before the March 23 season finale, in which Amy (Shailene Woodley) will finally give birth to the baby, Hampton said in an interview Tuesday.

“It’s a really fun episode,” Hampton said. “You see how she got into the trouble she got into.”

The episode will also be the first directed by John Schneider, the Smallville and Dukes of Hazzard star who plays the overprotective father of Grace — the perky cheerleader now getting something started with Ricky, the father of Amy’s baby.

The band camp sequence will take place in a flashback that shows Amy didn’t put much thought into her decision to have sex with Ricky, Hampton said.

“It seems like the smallest of decisions when made,” she said.

Secret Life, which returned for the second half of its first season Monday, has earned ABC Family the highest ratings in the network’s history. Its midseason finale, which aired Sept, 9, earned 4.5 million viewers over 3.2 million for the CW’s 90210.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager – Promotional Photos

THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER – “And Unto Us, A Child is Born” – Amy’s baby is born but Amy has a hard time transitioning into a full time mother, while George and Ashley move out, on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” airing MONDAY, MARCH 23 (8:00 Ã? 9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on ABC Family. (ABC FAMILY/RANDY HOLMES) SHAILENE WOODLEY

Update The First Season Finale!:

And Unto Us, a Child Is Born Friends and family arrive for the birth of Amy’s baby; Amy has a hard time making the transition to motherhood; George and Ashley move out.

I can’t believe Amy is finally having her baby on “Secret Life.” Is she really going to keep it? -Megan
She is. And Ben will continue to support her. And Ricky will stay involved. And next year, we’ll have another pregnancy to watch. As you may have heard, Molly Ringwald‘s real life bun-in-the-oven will be written into the show as Anne Juergens getting knocked up. But Anne isn’t the only nice girl set to get some action. Word is, Grace Bowman’s virginity may be a thing of the past come season two.  Source: Zap2It’s Korbi TV

SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER, THE
Air Date: Monday, March 23, 2009
Time Slot: 8:00 PM-9:00 PM EST on ABC FAMILY
Episode Title: (#123) “And Unto Us, A Child is Born”

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED BIRTH OF AMY’S BABY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED, ON THE FIRST SEASON FINALE OF “THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER,” PREMIERING MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009 ON ABC FAMILY

Burbank, CA (March 3, 2009) In the emotional episode viewers have waited almost nine months to see, Amy finally gives birth to her son as friends and family gather at the hospital to support the Juergens family, in the first season finale of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” premiering on ABC Family on Monday, March 23 (8:00 9:00 PM ET/PT).

In “And Unto Us, A Child is Born,” friends and family are all gathered at the hospital eagerly awaiting the arrival of Amy’s baby. Ben and Ricky discuss their future relationship — Ricky as the father and Ben as the future stepfather to the baby — they agree to forge a friendship. Adrian shows up to support Ricky, while Grace tells Ricky that she’s getting back together with Jack. After hours of labor the baby is finally born, and a deliriously tired Amy and Ashley decide to name him together.

Once at home, Amy has a tough time transitioning to being a new mom. Ricky visits his newborn son and realizes he might enjoy fatherhood. Meanwhile, Ashley and George surprise Anne by packing up a moving truck and moving out of the family home. The second season of the hit series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” will air on ABC Family with all new episodes this summer.

The series cast includes Shailene Woodley, Molly Ringwald, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Ken Baumann, Daren Kagasoff, Francia Raisa, Megan Park, Greg Finley and JorgeLuis Pallo. John Schneider, Josie Bissett, Ernie Hudson and Steve Schirripa also guest star, along with Phillip Anthony-Rodriguez, Michelle Marks, Alex Boling, Larry Sullivan and Ben Weber. The series is created and executive-produced by Brenda Hampton (“7th Heaven”).

Episode Title: (#122) “One Night at Band Camp”

With pregnant teen Amy’s (Shailene Woodley) son just an epidural away from being born, the drama flashes back eight months, when she first encountered her baby-daddy, Ricky (Daren Kagasoff), at band camp. No sex scenes here, and yet Ricky’s smooth-talking ways are nearly as sleazy as a one-night stand. Even so, it’s nice to take a break from the show’s typical saccharine sweetness to get a realistic glimpse at how a smart young girl could wind up in such a life-changing predicament. —Lindsay Soll

You haven’t talked about Secret Life of the American Teenager in a while. Are you watching? Give me some couples dirt. Will Adrian stick with the celibacy thing?
Will Adrian stick with the celibacy thing? Um, no. Not for long. And neither will Anne Juergens. Yes, Amy’s mom is getting some action. Sort of ironic how her new job working at the hot dog counter really put a smile on her face, huh? I think they call that foreshadowing. Source: Zap2It’s Korbi TV

ABC Family Brings Back ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ Tonight

–Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: ABC Family
(Image courtesy of ABC Family)

Amy Juergens and the rest of the gang are finally back with new episodes of The Secret Life of the American Teenager.  The break-out summer hit ended its first run of 11 episodes on September 9, 2008, with the remaining 13 installments slated to air on a new Monday timeslot beginning tonight at 8pm ET/PT.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager, a teen drama that centers on relationships between families and friends dealing with the unexpected pregnancy of character Amy Juergens, portrayed by Shailene Woodley, ranked number one with ABC Family’s key demographic in its debut time slot versus cable television shows, and averaged 4 million total viewers per episode last summer.  The show also earned the Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer TV Show during its premiere season.

• ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’ Star Talks About Her Controversial Role

When we last saw The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Grant High was buzzing with new rumors and gossip as usual.  Adrian disappeared, Madison (Renee Olstead) and Lauren (Camille Winbush) were telling everybody that Ricky’s in therapy, while Ricky set his eyes on Grace.  Ben and Amy, on the other hand, were talking about having sex for the first time.

In tonight’s episode called “The Secret Wedding of the American Teenager,” Amy and Ben (Kenny Baumann) decide to get married in secret with the help of their friends.  Meanwhile, Anne (Molly Ringwald) informs George (Mark Derwin) she wants a divorce, and George moves into their garage to save money.

Moreover, Amy finally learns the gender of her baby while her relationship with Ben is put to the test as she struggles with the decision to keep the baby or give it up for adoption.  At the same time, Ricky (Daren Kagasoff) continues to seek out a relationship with Adrian while still dating Grace (Megan Park), who seems to be falling in love with him as well.  However, things get complicated for Ricky when his abusive father comes to town.

Secret Life of the American Teenager is back! Scoop me!
As I was the first to tell you last September, Ben and Amy will tie the knot tonight and Grace’s brother Tom will introduce his new girlfriend, who I’m now hearing is African American. — Source: Zap2It’s Korbi TV

Sharing Secrets with American Teenager Shailene Woodley
By Troy Rogers

ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager has become one of the most talked about new shows among both teens and parents. The Secret Life centers around 15-year-old Amy Juergens, played by up and comer Shailene Woodley, who loses her virginity at summer band camp and becomes pregnant before she’s had the chance to grow into her own person as an adult. During the first season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Amy struggles with telling her parents (Molly Ringwald and Mark Derwin) and what to do about her secret while her body transforms into a mother-to-be as she attends high school. Although Secret Life reflects the real life issue of teenage pregnancy, tackling it head on, the series has sparked debate over whether TV glories teens and pregnancy or if it helps by opening things up for honest discussion through the life of Amy Juergens.

After a successful freshman season, The Secret Life of the American Teenager makes its sophomore premiere on January 5 at 8pm and there’s even more to talk about as Amy and her new boyfriend Ben (Kenny Baumann) make a hurried decision to get married while Season 2 will see the new mother struggle with whether to keep the baby. With the second season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager about to get underway, we had the opportunity to get a few minutes with young ABC Family star Shailene Woodley to get underneath the controversy behind the show and find out what she thinks about the heated debate and what she’d do if in Amy’s secret predicament.

THE DEADBOLT: I was reading a blog on the official site and most of the responses were positive. But I wanted to know what you thought of the people who were in there basically saying the show promotes and glorifies teenage pregnancy and that it probably shouldn’t be on TV.

SHAILENE WOODLEY: I personally don’t read the blogs. But I feel like people who say that the show glorifies it, I don’t believe that. I don’t feel like this show glorifies pregnancy, because if you see my character, she’s obviously not jumping up and down, she’s in the bathroom crying 24/7. Definitely, there is an emotional spin on everything. Her best friend, they kind of grow apart because her best friend’s mom won’t let her come over and she has a boyfriend and she has the dad of the baby she can’t stand. And she has a mom that she’s dealing with and her dad that’s she’s dealing with, so I don’t feel like it glorifies it at all. If anything I think it makes it seem like a very hard and difficult situation to go through, especially as a teenager.

In season two, for instance, also you’ll see the other aspect of having a baby, like if she should get a job or not. The baby is actually going to cost money and she’s actually going to have to take care of it herself. So I don’t feel like it glorifies it. I feel like it handles it in a very mature and real life way as far as if a teenager got pregnant and how she would react.

THE DEADBOLT: Do you think getting married at 15 is a good idea?

WOODLEY: Personally, I don’t think I would ever get married at 15. I don’t know if I’d ever even tell a guy I loved him at 15. But it works for Amy and Ben, and they’re in a different situation. Who knows? If I was pregnant and I was 15, if I was Amy, if I was the kind of person she is and had the same personality as her, if it was the right time and the right day, who knows? It all depends on situations and it’s all relative.

THE DEADBOLT: You’d probably have to have a lot of family support, too.

WOODLEY: Definitely.

THE DEADBOLT: I was speaking to Jason Priestley a couple of months ago and he mentioned that he was directing a few more episodes. What he’s like to work with?

WOODLEY: He’s great. He’s hysterical. Oh, my God. Every time he’s on-site, he never says, ‘cut’. So it just keeps rolling and rolling and rolling, and you get like great outtakes because we start bursting into laughter. He’s a great guy. He’s super funny and really nice and he gives great tips and tells great stories. He just exudes this positive vibe into the studio and it’s really great. Everybody responds to it.

— Troy Rogers

TV Spotlight

‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’: Season 2 Preview

Pregnancy drama delivered a surprise hit for ABC Family; now season 2 arrives with more tears, life lessons — oh yeah, and a baby!

EW MOLLY RINGWALD AND SHAILENE WOODLEY Bringing moms and their daughters to The Secret Life of the American Teenager PHOTOGRAPH BY DARCY HEMLEY By Jennifer Armstrong

Most of the time, Jennifer Armstrong is indulging her TiVo habit, watching and rewatching ”Alias,” ”The O.C.,” and ”Newlyweds.” The rest of the time, she’s writing about TV for EW

Amy Juergens (Shailene Woodley) has been fighting with her mom, Anne (Molly Ringwald) — and not about stupid teen stuff like cleaning her room or making curfew, either. No, this little spat is over whether to give 15-year-old Amy’s unborn baby up for adoption. To a gay couple. Who work with her father, George (Mark Derwin) — who, by the way, cheated on Anne. And now the warring factions have finally called a truce in a huggy moment on the living-room sofa: ”I know I can be a good mom,” Amy says through tears. ”I have the best one.”

Awwwwwww. The cast and crew of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, who are busy shooting this scene on a soundstage in Burbank, are used to such feel-good moments. And they have reason to feel good themselves: The starkly earnest ABC Family drama about the repercussions of a generally good girl’s accidental pregnancy — think Juno sprinkled with lots of saccharine — became a surprise breakout hit last summer. Secret Life‘s 4 million weekly viewers easily topped the first season of another buzzy teen-centric show, The CW’s Gossip Girl(2.8 million), and when Teen returns Jan. 5 at 8 p.m., it’ll go head-to-head with those Upper East Side troublemakers. Thanks to this little bundle of joy, the cable channel built on youthful hits like Kyle XY (returning Jan. 12) and Greek (back in March) is now a major player. ”Secret Life put us culturally on the map,” ABC Family president Paul Lee says. ”On cable, it takes a Sopranos or a Shield or a Secret Life to really crystallize a network for the audience.”

It’s not just Secret Life‘s unique blend of sex and sap that has drawn in viewers. There are also plenty of familiar faces for the — ahem — postteen crowd. The ensemble includes John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard) and Josie Bissett (Melrose Place) as parents of the school’s resident Christian virgin; Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) as Amy’s baby-daddy’s shrink; and Steve Schirripa (The Sopranos) as Amy’s boyfriend’s dad. But the fledgling show made its biggest splash when it landed former teen icon Ringwald. ”I wasn’t sure I was ready to play the mother of a teenager,” says Ringwald, 40. ”It felt like I skipped a few steps.” Thankfully, she came around: ”She was critical,” says Lee. ”She triggered a huge nostalgia audience.”

The young fans, meanwhile, have found an onscreen friend in 17-year-old Woodley, and are constantly spilling their guts to the actress. ”There are a lot of high schoolers who are going through this every day,” she says. ”What we’re showing is like real life.” Well, maybe a touch more dramatic than that. The January episodes will kick off with a wedding, ”and not one of those weddings where someone rushes in at the last minute and stops it,” promises creator Brenda Hampton (7th Heaven). Anne and George, however, will move toward divorce. Amy and her ridiculously understanding boyfriend, Ben (Ken Baumann), will grow closer while she continues to negotiate how much to involve her baby’s cocky father, Ricky (Daren Kagasoff), in her life. And, of course, there’s that little matter of giving birth, which will happen in the March 23 finale.

Despite all the talk of sex — and the evidence of its results — Hampton envisions Secret Life‘s ultimate trajectory as not too different from that of her squeaky-clean WB hit 7th Heaven. ”I see all my shows as family shows,” she says. ”I grew up on Leave It to Beaver and Father Knows Best, and that’s what I like to compare them to.” A Father Knows Best in which Princess gets knocked up and Bud goes to therapy? No wonder this thing’s a hit.