Secret Life of an American Teenager

The secret life of an American teenager refers to the relationships between Amy, Ricky, Grace, Ben, Madison, Adrian and the other students at Grant High School on the ABC Family television show The Secret Life of the American Teenager. The secretive nature of the interactions of the teenagers and their parents involve pre-marital sex, sexual abuse, pregnancy, marital affairs and the everyday struggle to understand and like themselves.

The cast of The Secret Life of the American Teenager.

Secrets: Secret Life of an American Teenager

Amy Juergens is 15 years old with a bright future in front of her. Her father (Mark Derwin formerly of One Life to Live and Guiding Light) refers to her as a nice girl and emphasizes to her wilder little sister his belief that boys like nice girls. Her mother (Molly Ringwald of Sixteen Candles) is very proud of her daughter and worries that her band teacher pushes her too hard.

Amy’s got a secret, though. She’s pregnant. She thinks she had sex with Ricky when she was at band camp, but "it was over in two seconds," so she isn’t sure until four different home pregnancy tests confirm her worst fears. She shares her secret with her two best friends Madison and Lauren.

Ricky (Daren Kagasoff) is moving on to new conquest Adrian, the local bad girl. He also sees Lauren’s father (Ernie Hudson, formerly of Ghostbusters, Bones, and Desperate Housewives), a psychologist who counsels him about his previous sexual abuse by his father. Ricky’s abused childhood leads him to promiscuous sexual activity to prove he’s a "man". Ricky sets his sights on Grace Bowman (Megan Park) the devout Christian cheerleader who plans to remain a virgin until her wedding night.

The Characters

Ben and Amy

Ben Boykwich (Kenny Baumann) is a freshman at Grant High. Early in the school year, his best friends Alice and Henry, point out Amy to him. They think she’s smart, talented and nice. She’s also a girl more Ben’s speed than his aspirations to Grace Bowman. Ben fumbles his first meeting with Amy, but talks the new school counselor into letting him join band. Ben asks Amy out to the after game party where he and Amy start to connect. Amy struggles with her feelings for Ben, although her friends Lauren and Madison encourage her to sleep with him and tell him that the baby she is carrying is his.

Ricky tries to prove himself by keeping Amy interested in him. Amy dismisses his interest, despite the fact that Ricky fathered her unborn child. Henry and Alice overheard Madison and Lauren talking about Amy and Ricky’s past sexual liaison and worry for their friend. Ben wants to marry Amy when he finds out about the pregnancy. She turns him down, but he reminds her constantly and his father supports his decision. Amy’s younger sister Lauren lies to protect Amy’s secrets frequently.

Grace and Jack

Grace Bowman is a devout Christian. Her parents (Josie Bissett of Melrose Place and John Schneider of Smallville and The Dukes of Hazard) give her a promise ring when she makes a vow of chastity until marriage. Grace is close to her older brother who has Down’s Syndrome. She’s devastated when she catches Jack with Adrian. Jack laments his failure with Adrian and attempts to get back with Grace who struggles with forgiving him.

Grace’s mother advises her to forgive Adrian and to forgive herself, because it is not Grace’s fault that Jack strayed. Dr. Bowman warns Jack off when Jack won’t leave Grace alone. Ricky sets his sights on Grace, but her strong sense of self keeps her off Ricky’s list of conquests.

The Parents

Amy’s father was once married to Grace’s mother. Amy’s father, George, is also having an affair with Cindy, Adrian’s mother, which puts a strain on his relationship with Anne, Amy’s mother. Anne finds comfort with Leo Boykewich when she learns of George’s infidelities. The sober reality of the parents’ interrelationships mirror the teenagers’ problems.

Watch the Secret Life of an American Teenager Online

Fans and new viewers can catch up with the first season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager at ABC Family online. The first season debuted during the summer of 2008. The second season is scheduled for January 2009.

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