Flashback Friday : Secret Life of the American Teenager

Secret Life of the American Teenager first aired on ABC Family. Secret Life of the American Teenager is a "teen drama." It first played on July 1st, 2008, and ended June 3rd, 2013. The creator is Brenda Hampton, who is also the creator of one of my all time favorite shows, 7th Heaven. The Secret Life of the American Teenager showed us behavior from teens in all types of situations. For example, Amy(Shailene Woodley) was the main character who ended up getting pregnant at band camp by a boy who was also in the band, Ricky(Daren Kagasoff). They had a son, Jon, but Ricky and Amy were not together a good portion of the show. Matter of fact, Amy was with Ben Boykewick(Ken Baumann). Ricky was with Adrian(Francia Almendarez). Amy and Adrian never exactly liked eachother, they always had a problem because Adrian loved Ricky, but was uncomfortable about the situation with Amy. Later on, through out the seasons Ricky and Amy get back together, and eventually move into Ricky's apartment, with Jon. Adrian ends up marrying Ben, after a one night stand that resulted in a pregnancy. But, they did not make it. Their daughter ended up being miscarried, and they ended up getting a divorce. The show really showed struggles of pregnant teens, teens with special needs, teens that are dealing with the death of a parent, and high school drama all mixed in one. I ended up really liking the show, even after I swore to never like it because I thought it was stupid. Although, it had a lot of relevance to how high school really was, and how it would be. It was a pretty accurate show. Being in my Senior year of high school, I realize that I to had some of the same problems that were happening in the show. Sure, none of my parents died, and I was fortunate enough not to get pregnant. But, all of the people around me have had something like that happen to them 

. Around high school now, you see pregnant teens, there is drama, and everything else that was expressed in the show itself.

Television stinks!

Today's television programming stinks. I do not watch a bunch of television. It's not that I think it is bad for you, but rather all of the good shows have went off air, or just do not play much anymore. I have a television in my bedroom, and I watch probably five hours of t.v. a week. On average a teenager will watch about 20 hours of television weekly. According to livestrong.com, 70% of children ages 8 to 18 have a television in their bedrooms. I also, have cable hooked up to my television. According to, livestrong.com 35% of children have cable or satellite-television in their rooms. When I was younger, it probably would seem that I watched television a lot. But, it was not as much as it seems. I would watch shows that were 25-30 minutes long and then go play outside for four hours.  That was only because Disney Channel had every television show that I loved playing. But, I did not actually get a television in my room with cable until I was thirteen or fourteen.
By the time a person turns 18 years old they will have seen about  350,000 commercials, and at least 100,000 are advertisements for beer, according to teen health and the media. So I guess the question is, is television bad for you? Yes, television has its down falls. For example, sitting in front of the t.v allows kids to not use their imaginations. But, do I think its terrible? No.

 (http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=medialiteracy&page=fastfacts)


Fun Fact: African-American households, watch two more hours of primetime t.v, and about five more hours of daytime t.v.

Why General Hospital interests me....

When I was younger I might have watched the show here and there, but it never really got my attention. It wasn't until a couple of years ago, I think my freshman year that I really started to watch General Hospital. Even then, I wasn't really into it. My favorite show was OLTL, also known as One Life to Live. One life to live was another soap opera that played right before General Hospital. When they cancelled One life to live, is when General Hospital really caught my attention. I heard that the characters from OLTL would be coming to General Hospital, slowly. This is really what interested me, and ever since then I don't miss a day of General Hospital. General Hospital is a good show to watch because, it really introduces the drama of real life. Too me, it shows: grief, happiness, anger, and most of all drama. So, you really don't have a MOB boss in your every day life. I think it really shows us what other people go through on a day to day basis. Not everyone, would like the show. I guess, it is just about what you're into. Since, I have been watching the show for so long, it's kind of like I can connect to some Characters. Even though, Sonny is a MOB boss he reminds me a lot of my father. Sonny's got a good relationship with his kids, and his kids are his pride and joy. His children are his passion, and if he makes a promise to them he tries his hardest not to let them down, and most of the time, doesn't. Carly, reminds me a lot of my mom because she's the "boss." Carly is the person to add in her two cents about everything, and shes stubborn. When she feels a certain way about a situation she sticks with that, and she doesn't budge. And, she is never tricked by anyone's lies or, schemes. But, she also is very compassionate when it comes to her kids, she would do anything for them. And, with Sonny and Carly's history, she knows Sonny like the back of her hand, and knows when he is lying or, has a plan to do something. But, they come together when they have to and this is really what reminds me of them. Anyways, General Hospital is a good show and I plan on watching it until it goes off of the air. :)

Mr. VanGorp's favorite teleivision show

Modern Family, is Mr. VanGorp's favorite show. The Modern Family cast consists of four people: Jay Pritchett(Ed O'Neill), Gloria Pritchett(Sofia Vergara), Claire Dunphy(Julie Bowen), and Phil Dunphy(Ty Burrell). Modern Family is a show about the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker "clan." They are a large, blended family. The three families show us the warm, twisted, funny, and true things about a modern family. A lot of the clever, adult humor, and a lot of the sarcasm that doesn't really get picked up is the reason this show is his favorite show. Modern Family plays on ABC, on Wednesday nights at nine o'clock. Modern Family has five seasons, it has been around since September 2009.

( abc.go.com/shows/modern-family )

Jeopardy : 50 years old!

From the time it started until now, Jeopardy is working on its fiftieth year. A talk show host and producer started jeopardy. He got the idea of a question-and-answer game show from his wife. This show first premiered on NBC in 1964. History was the first category to be put into play on the trivia show. Even though, all the trivia games were far off of the air this one made it, and it made it a long time. The first jeopardy was ran by Art Fleming, who had never done a quiz show before in his life. The first ever jeopardy ran for about ten years. Jeopardy is a show that has been watched for years by many people in the United States. Below, is the link that you can click to learn more about Jeopardy!

( http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/28/showbiz/tv/jeopardy-50-years-anniversary/index.html?hpt=hp_c3 )

History of television

Many think that television was invented in the late 1940's, but that is wrong. Television was invented in 1927, but was not officially brought to the public until the late 1940's. Television wasn't what you think it might be. Back then, television was black and white. Authorized by the FCC on December 17, 1953 RCA was the first system to have a successful color commercial broadcasting played on it.  (transition.fcc.gov) Even in color the television was still bulky, and it flickered. In June of 1951, there were 10.5 million black ands white televisions already sold and very few color televisions sold. The Korean War put a pause in the color tv industry. Later on, CBS failed.  In 1954, color television was up and running. Colored television has been rolling ever since!

Spring Finale: Pretty Little Liars

With all that has happened in just this short winter season, this last episode is going to wrap it all up. This coming Tuesday at 8:00 P.M. is the spring finale of ABC Family's, Pretty Little Liars. This season we have found out that Ezra has been making a book and, following Alison, along with her friends trying to uncover the mystery of what really happened to Alison. We also found out that Alison has really been alive all this time, meaning that another teenage girl's bones are in her grave. Through out this season, we have learned that Alison's mother is in ties with Spencer's family about the night that Alison Dilarentus died. We have met numerous new faces this season, and coming up this week on Pretty Little Liars we are going to meet another.

What's the deal with Good Luck, Charlie.

The final episode aired on Disney Channel, on February 16, 2014. (Wikipedia.com)
 This show was about a normal family. You have the typical mother, father, and sibling relationships through out the show. Good Luck, Charlie is about an older sister who records, conflicts, lessons, and good times she has. She does this for her infant sister, Charlie so that she can see what it was like to be her sister, and help her through her struggles, all while showing her just how weird her family is. Soon, after the Duncan's have another sibling on the way. This time a brother.
Good Luck, Charlie aired from April 2010 to February 2014. Unfortunately, after four years the show stopped creating more, new shows. There has been rumors that Good Luck, Charlie has been cancelled because there has been reported death threats sent to the main character, five year old, Mia. This occurred after the show introduced a lesbian couple onto the show. Apparently, Mia's been harassed on social networks such as, Instagram and others. (newnownext.com)

Nielsen ratings

Ever wonder what shows are most popular? As of february 17th the top ten most popular shows in the United States mostly have to do with the Olympics. Why is this? Well, probably because the olympics are a big event for the U.S. and many other countries. Dominating in the top eight spots are the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. The viewers varied from about 12,000 to just over 23,000. Coming in ninth place, is Criminal Minds with just over 10,000 viewers. Last but not least, is NCIS. NCIS pulled in almost 10,000 viewers. The nielsen ratings website updates weekly, so if you ever want to know what the most well-known television check out that website. If you want to look up the most popular shows among African Americans you can. Right now, rating number one among the African Americans is CSI, with almost 1,500 viewers. There is also, shows among Hispanics. The Nielsen ratings don't just tell you what show is most popular in the present, but also back to shows that are off air or cancelled now. You'd be suprised with what you find out on the website. Personally, I used the Nielsen ratings website before, and it was very helpful.

Pretty Little Liars (2/25/14)

For the people who keep up with the show Pretty Little Liars here is a recap of last nights show. With only three weeks until the spring finale, the girls are getting closer and closer to figuring out who "A" really is. As of right now, all the heat is on Ezra because he is "bord shorts," and the girls have found evidence. Aria was the most effected by this, because she was in a relationship with Ezra, her high school English teacher. Aria was laying in bed and had a flashback of her and Ezra when they first met. When she is done thinking about it, she gets up. She goes to the school where Ezra Fitz works and sees that there is a substitute teacher taking his spot for the time being because he has "family issues." This totally sets Aria off. She goes to Ezra's apartment but she does not get an answer when she knocks repeatedly on the door, calling out his name. So, Aria let herself into his apartment and looked around for him. She could not find him anywhere, but she finds a card that draws some suspician. But, Aria does not stop there. Since Ezra is away she continues to look through his things, she finds files, books, tape recordings, pictures, papers, and business cards. She opens the file with her initial on it and looks through it. Inside are pictures of her from her freshman year of high school, the year she met Ezra and all the way up until the present time. She continues to look through the file and finds facts, and secrets she's ever told him. Then she continues to a book, this time it is about all four of the girls. This sets off Aria and she begins to destroy all of Ezra's things. She smashed glass, and pictures, ripped his papers, and smashed his Hollis College Degree paper that is in a frame.
Then she sits down around the mess and stares off into space. Her friends had been looking for her all day and Spencer suggests that she is at Ezra's. They go there and they find her, and the mess. She tells them what she found and they get her up to leave.  But, for a couple extra seconds Spencer stays to look through the things and take anything that could help him get to Ali before them. She finds a paper. On the paper it reveals a secret that no one knew of except Mrs. Dilarentus, her father, and someone else. She then remembers her holding a shovel and fighting with her friend, Ali, the night she went missing.Spencer confronts her dad about the memory and he will not give her any information. Toby comes over to see her, and when he gets there walks into the middle of their conversation. Then, to cool off him and Spencer takes a walk. She asks him to get her a coffee at the local coffee shop, so he runs inside to get them both one. When Toby returns Spencer is no where to be found, so Toby goes to her parents. They sit there all night waiting for her to return. But, all along she has been asking Mrs. Dilarentus about the night she seen Spencer and her daughter, Ali get into the argument. But, Spencer did not get any answers. Since Spencer has been off of her pills she feels sick, and breaks down and takes another one. She promised her parents that she would not take them anymore because they were trying to send her away to a Rehab facility. She begged her way out of it. Hanna catches up with her friend, and learns that he is going to court to find out sentencing for killing Detective Wilden. Before, the court case Hanna goes to speak to her new cop friend and convinces him to put in a good word for her friends father. He does, and the father gets off on probation. Meanwhile, Emily is an hour away from home mailing Alison some money so that she can get buy and survive. Caught by her girlfriend Paige, Emily has to tell her what she is up to because Paige threatened to go to the cops, so she does. She allows Emily to send the package to Ali. Emily makes her promise not to tell the cops that Ali is alive. But, Paige doesn't listen and slips a note with all of Alison's information and location on it, into a cop car window and walks away. At the end of the show, it shows "A" in the black jumpsuit with black gloves on sitting next to a stack of papers, with a cup of coffee. "A" gets up and shuffles around the fire he/she is sitting by.

Catching up on First season's Teen Moms!

Last night on MTV, they brought back the first season's teen moms. Maci, Farrah, Catelynn, and Amber each had a show based on them and they showed us some of what their lives are like now.  Being Maci: Maci lives with a couple friends and her son, Bentley. She works, she's is in college, and she is taking care of a four year old. In the show, it showed her and Bentley's father, Ryan talking and hanging out at the club. Ryan's girlfriend Dalis, left town for a while. So Maci and Ryan took their son out to ride dirt bikes together, which if you have seen them on a show before, you know that is not usual.

Being Farrah: Farrah, despite all the poor decisions she has made this year, she is doing good. Her parents, Michael and Deborah got a divorce. Michael(Farrahs dad) is now staying in Farrah's guest house in Texas with Sophia and Farrah, while mother Deborah is still in Iowa. Farrahs mother comes to visit, and talks about maybe moving to Texas to be closer to her daughter and grand daughter, because she has had a couple of job offers. Farrah expresses her feelings toward Sophia's dad dying, Sophia shows emotion also.

Being Catelynn: Catelynn and Tyler were supposed to get married but did not, because Tyler "chickened" out and called it off. They bought their daughter Carly christmas presents and sent them to her, they also talked on the phone with Carly's adoptive parents. Carly told Catelynn and Tyler that she loved them. Carly is now four going on five. Catelynn buys her wedding dress, and her sister Sarah moves in. Catelynn takes a pregnancy test, because she had a scare but it came back negative. Tyler, re-proposed to Catelynn, she says "yes."

Being Amber: Amber is released from prison and is surprised by her father at a diner where they stop to eat. Amber moves in with her grand parents until she is back on her feet, and sees her daughter Leah for the first time in months. She tells MTV that she has only seen her daughter Leah three times in 17 months. Leah and Amber are over joyed to see eachother. Leah tells Amber that Gary has a new girlfriend Kristin. She also tells Amber that Kristin has a daughter Karly. Amber is upset, but ends up talking to Gary about Leah's birthday party where we see her open presents, Leah is five. After the party Amber comes over to talk to Gary, and they settle everything. This time they do not fight!

Thank you MTV for keeping us updated!
                                   

 

 

 

Pretty Little Liars : Black and White (2/?)

The show Pretty Little Liars started off with Spencer in her kitchen watching a black and white movie. She takes a pill and the whole show goes into black and white. She ended up getting tips in her dream from her boyfriend, Toby. The tips were about how to catch "A." In Spencer's dream EzrA tells all the girls that Ali is alive. Something they already knew. The girls also contemplated on telling Aria about Ezra being "the older man" that Ali talks about in her dream. Spencer confronts Ali and asks her if Ezra Fitz is the man that she is scared of and Ali, pretty much says that if she gave her a straight answer that would be no fun. Spencer doesn't want to play games, and then BAM! Spencer wakes up, and suddenly knows everything about how to find Ali.

Winter Premiere : Twisted!

Danny Desai, on the run. After the police department found more evidence on the Regina Crane murder, they went to the Desai house to arrest Danny, but, he isn't anywhere to be found. They've got the whole town on lock down, and police are everywhere. The head police officer, thought he was being tricked with the evidence, that they found but weren't saying anything. The woman who brought in the evidence is linked with Vicram Desai, Danny's dad who earlier that year "died," or as we all know faked his murder! Is he framing his son? Danny sure thinks so. Danny appears in Jo's room, his former friend from elementary school, and she screams for her mother because she is upset with Danny. Why? She recently realized she was in love with Danny, only to find out he was seeing someone else. Not just anyone else but, her former best friend, Lacey. It has now been almost 24 hours and the police still can't find Danny. Little do they know, he is staying with Rico. It won't be long until the police find him.

Catch up on General Hospital!

In the soap opera "General Hospital," there is some secretive activity going on. Victor Casadine is back in town and is now staying at Windemire with his great nephew, Nicholas Casadine. But, Victor is up to no good, working for the W.S.B.  Will Robin leave to help save her close friend Jason? What will she tell Emma and Patrick?  Nicholas is a rich man who owns part of the General Hospital, in Port Charles. He is currently dating an OBGYN from the hospital, Britt Westbourne. Will the secret about her son, Ben, come in the way of her and Nicholas? Will Liz be the one to find out Britt's secret? On other note, Victor, Ben, Britt, Spencer, and Nicholas are not the only people staying at Windemire. Underneath the house, in the catacombs is where the missing women, Carly Jax, is now being held captive by the psycho, Heather Weber. Heather is safely locked away in the mental insitution, so everyone thinks. But, somehow there is a loop hole and she is able to escape, leaving behind a man, Luke Spencer in her place. Luke is Carly's uncle who found her coincidentally while looking for "raccoons" in the boat house of Quartermaine's mansion. Will Carly live or die? Down in the catacombs, the foundation starts falling and knocks out her kidnapper, Heather. However, there is no word about Carly yet!


On the far left is Dante. Next to Dante, Is Carly. Then Sonny, in the middle. Sam is next to sonny on the right. Then there is Jason, on the far right.

Every tuesday at 8 p.m. Pretty Little Liars plays on ABC Family. For the past four seasons "the liars" have been trying to figure out who has been tormenting them, and who "killed" their friend Alison.  Last night on Pretty Little Liars, the girls, Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily find themselves once again trying to find out who "A" is. From Hanna reading criminal mind books, to Spencer trying to unravel one of Alison's mystery stories, "Hart and the Huntsman," concerning an older man that they think may have been involved in their friends disappearance. Hart and the Huntsman is the Hollis College bar that the "older man" used to bring Alison to.  The older man is who they think "A" could be. Not all of the girls know about this story, and who Spencer thinks it is yet, accept for Hanna who found out by mistake. Spencer unravels the story completely, and begins to dig deeper into it. She starts to sneak around to places hoping to run into the older man. She does. In Ali's story she goes into detail about what the older man was eating, and what he though about about her writing. So Spencer visits the bar and what do ya know? Her english teacher, Ezra Fitz was there. Eating the exact pie and drinking the same beer that Ali pointed out in her story. That was when Spencer finally put the pieces together. Her english teacher, and best friends boyfriend is the one that has been stalking them for years.

You can watch tv where ever you go. Hospitals, home, school, anywhere! Television is a form of entertainment. Not everyone has time to sit down and watch their favorite shows, this is what makes my blog important. On here, you will be able to find out stuff that you missed from last weeks show. So what's your favorite show? Mine, would definitely be Pretty Little Liars, otherwise known as PLL. Catch up on some of your favorite shows!