a dying genre?

[pep_singer]

Once particular TV genre that I have always found fascinating is the teen drama genre. I don't know if I am being overly nostalgic since I'm closing in on the end of my high school years, but does anyone else miss the hugely popular teen shows such as Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson's Creek, Felicity, and The O.C.? I know there is One Tree Hill, but

Comments

[super_robyn]

I absolutely miss The OC. I think it went out on a great note, perhaps at the perfect time before it overstayed its welcome and became rundown, but I still wish it was on.

And despite what a LOT of people think, I actually thought it had a great message. No, it wasn't a show about spoiled rich kids living in Newport. It was about a group of misfits, some who should have fit in but didn't (Marissa, Summer) and some who didn't fit in but wanted to (Ryan, Seth). It was about looking past the money and glamour and seeing the heart that these kids had. Not to mention, it's the only show that I can really remember watching where I really cared about the adults/parents' storylines too.

Okay, that got a little long-winded, lol. What I'm trying to say is that I agree with you. I've always hated how it was seen as stupid to like the OC, simply because it was a teen drama (or a "soap opera"). I thought it had brilliant writing, great characters (with the exception of Marissa, who I just can't stand), and the series finale was just perfect. It

[pep_singer]

//I absolutely miss The OC. I think it went out on a great note, perhaps at the perfect time before it overstayed its welcome and became rundown, but I still wish it was on

[super_robyn]

100 episodes would have been amazing. But I found the 4th seasons was great regardless of it being shy of a complete season, simply because it got rid of all that intense angst every week. Episode 4 and on was full of happy!

"The End's Not Near, It's Here" never fails to make me cry, seriously. Seth/Summer having their happy ending (well, everyone having a happy ending, really), Julie choosing herself over a relationship, a hint at Ryan/Taylor, and Ryan helping out a kid just like himself. Those writers knew what they were doing with that finale.

There are no words for how perfect most of the songs fit with the scenes on the show. I went through the music list for the 4 seasons (found it somewhere online) and downloaded all the songs I liked (which was a LOT).

Thanks! I found a bunch of animated OC icons one day, and I love em too! I wanna say sorry too, if it seems like I'm blabbering on endlessly, lol! It's just not very often someone brings up the OC and I can talk about it! Everyone's nearly forgotten all about it by now. :(

[pep_singer]

Man, I love season 4. I really, really do. It's on par with s1, IMO.

I love all of those moments that you mentioned, especially when Summer gives Julie the locket with Marissa's picture inside.

I need to go and download more songs. Man, I loved that music.

//Thanks! I found a bunch of animated OC icons one day, and I love em too! I wanna say sorry too, if it seems like I'm blabbering on endlessly, lol! It's just not very often someone brings up the OC and I can talk about it! Everyone's nearly forgotten all about it by now. :(//

You're welcome. And don't apologize. I'm in the same boat as you. Hardly anyone brings up The O.C. anymore, so I really don't have a chance to talk about it anymore. :( Me? I am always up for discussion :)

[pep_singer]

Yes, it seems like the CW is so preoccupied with finding "the next big thing" that they have lost the risky chances the WB was willing to take on shows. I love Gilmore Girls, and I don't think moving it to The CW was for the best.

[frelling_tralk]

I always thought that Dawson's Creek and other shows didn't have particularly strong ratings either when they were on the WB, but it was about the demo's and what got people talking? Gossip Girl is to me the equivalent of what DC was to the WB, the CW is just such a terrible network that it looks a lot worse ratings-wise, plus a lot of people are downloading GG nowadadys which was much less of an issue at the time DC first caught on. I'd still call it the same sort of pop culture phenomenon that DC was in its heyday though

Really I don't get why they ever messed with the WB for *sighs* The CW won't last much longer, and then I think that's going to be a sad time for shows like Buffy, Roswell, and DC that would never have survived for long on networks like FOX

[pep_singer]

//I always thought that Dawson's Creek and other shows didn't have particularly strong ratings either when they were on the WB, but it was about the demo's and what got people talking?//

Yes. I remember reading multiple press releases about how well they were doing in their target demos. And even though their ratings wouldn't really hold up on "the big three networks", they were good for the WB. I think maybe the only show that was never a ratings bonanza was "Felicity".

Honestly, I wish that the WB had done "Gossip Girl". It's a great show that deserves to be on a better network. But you do have a valid point about it being the DC of today, just through downloading instead of watching it live. I wonder would DC be the big hit it was if it debuted today?

I'm not sure what's going to happen to The CW. The fact that they launched the wb online really doesn't bode well. I've read several places that if the website was successful, then they were going to launch a WB cable network.

[eeyore1017]

but does anyone else miss the hugely popular teen shows such as Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson's Creek, Felicity, and The O.C.?
I definitely miss BH 90210 (the new 90210 isn't the same), Party of Five, Felicity, and Charmed (not exactly a teen show but sort of).
I never watched Dawsons Creek or The O.C.

I guess One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, and the new 90210 are supposed to fill our teen show quota, but they just don't quite cut it for me. I've never watched OTH. And I watch them, but GG and 90210 are just so ridiculous sometimes.

I think that teen shows CAN and DO have good actors on them. Of course, not everyone is good- I can't stand Shenae Grimes on 90210, but for the most part I don't think the acting is any worse on the teen shows.

Now the writing...I think that most of the time, that's the problem- not the acting.

Veronica Mars was another "teen" show that was too smart for its own good and never quite caught on.
I do think that The WB going away has had something to do with the decline in GOOD teen shows. :-(

[tasabian]

Even though I haven't been a teenager for over 15 years, I still think teen shows can be awesome. Buffy, Veronica Mars and yes, Smallville have all rocked my world!