Gossip Teen

The end of 2009 is here today so let’s take a look back at the best TV shows aimed at and about teenagers. Some are more realistic than others and some are just downright guilty pleasures, but here are the Top 10 of 2009.

10. Gossip Girl - CW

Based on the books by Cecily von Ziegesar, the series about spoiled NYC teens on the Upper East Side was launched in 2007 and has been a favorite ever since. While ratings have slipped this year, it is still talked about. The cast (Leighton Meester, Blake Lively, Chace Crawford, Taylor Momsen, Jessica Szohr, Ed Westwick, Penn Badgley) is super hot and garners lots of press. Hopefully the storylines will pick up and get it back on track.

[image: youronlinemovies.net]

9. Make It Or Break It – ABC Family

Chelsea Hobbs, Josie Loren, Ayla Kell and Cassie Scerbo are the gymnastic Olympic hopefuls at “The Rock” in Boulder Colorado, training for their shot at the big time. ABC Family’s hit show (scoring their second best premiere) gives athletic teen girls a chance to see and strive for something more than boys and clothes.

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8. True Jackson, VP - Nickelodeon

Keke Palmer is terrific as the Vice President of a teen clothing line and her navigation in the world of business and all the normal drama that comes from being a teenager. Palmer is funny, charming and talented. Her costars Ashley Argota and Matt Shively play off her well and the premiere set lots of ratings records for the network.

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7. 10 Things I Hate About You - ABC Family

Based on the 1999 film that starred Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Julia Stiles, (which was originally a modern day retelling of Shakespear’s The Taming Of The Shrew,) Meaghan Jette Martin, Ethan Peck and Linsdey Shaw are great in this well written show of high school politics and dating. Welcome back Lindsey – one of my personal favorite actresses from Ned’s Declassified.

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6. Sonny With A Chance - Disney

Teen favorite Demi Lovato got her own series this year and it’s about time. Sonny Monroe (Lovato) and her fellow cast mates of So Random! (the show wihtin a show) work their way though being the new kid in town, rivalries and of course, love. Sterling Knight and Tiffany Thornton costar in this very popular Disney comedy.

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5. The Secret Life Of The American Teenager - ABC Family

The little show that could. ABC Family has quietly been building it’s line-up of teen oriented programming and ‘Secret Life’ is one of it’s corner stones. With Shailene Woodley as 16 year-old Amy Jurgens, struggling with school, pregnancy and teen parenthood, the storylines can be heavy handed and preachy sometimes however the core of the show is families and the ties that can bind or liberate a person. Woodley is growing into her role and the always fabulous Mark Derwin and Molly Ringwald as parents help propel the show forward. Reviews are lousy – ratings are golden. Let’s get the stories away from that ‘after school special’ feel and this show could be truly powerful.

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4. Glee - Fox

What can I say – the show about a group of misfit teens trying to shed the ‘Lima Loser’ tag and get their Glee Club to Nationals with pregnancies (real and hysterical,) rivals, affairs of the heart and budget obstacles thrown in for good measure. The show is fun, heartwarming and a pure pleasure to watch. Does it have flaws? Yes. Do they diminish the enjoyment? Nope. A hugely talented cast: Lea Michele, Dianna Agron, Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Cory Monteith, Mark Salling and Chris Colfer are delightful and I will not be happy until the show returns in April. Do Re Mi GLEE!

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3. The Vampire Diaries – CW

Based on the LJ Smith books written long before Twilight, TVD is sharp, witty and sexy. Kevin Williamson (Dawson’s Creek) is in fine form and with the cast of Nina Dobrev, Candice Accola, Katerina Graham, Zach Roerig, Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder, the show is updated and fun without being stuck in the overwrought world of Twilight land. The vampire brothers: Stefan and Damon Salvatore (Somerhalder and Wesley) vying for Elena’s (Dobrev) affection is dramatic but not heavy. I have been a big supporter of this show from the start and it’s just getting better. Plus, let’s be honest – the duo of Wesley and Somerhalder – they are pure girl kryptontie – it’s just too juicy not to watch.

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2. iCarly – Nickelodeon

From the man who gave us Drake & Josh, Dan Schneider saw the potential for the brothers little sister, played by Miranda Cosgrove, for her own show and teen/tween stardom. The premise: Carly (Cosgrove) creates her web show iCarly, with the help of her two friends Freddie (Nathan Kress) and Sam (Jenette McCurdy)  while living at home with her older brother, Spencer (Jerry Trainor.) The show gets consistently high ratings for Nick and the lighthearted themes, silly sketch comedy and unique episode titles (iQuit iCarly, iFight Shelby Marxs, iKiss) keep it upbeat. Cosgrove is consistently one of our highest searched teens here at GossipTeen. She has a huge fan base.

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1. Wizards Of Waverly Place - Disney Channel

While WOWP skews to younger tweens, the audience and storylines are growing up with Selena Gomez, David Henrie and Jake T. Austin’s characters Alex, Justin and Max as they age. The gifted kids have to hide their abilities from outsiders, figure out spells and move through adolescence while knowing that only one child can keep their magical abilities into adulthood. Talk about sibling rivalry.

The first original movie of the series that aired this August was definetly a smart move on Disney’s part and drew in huge (think High School Musical) viewers. Enjoyed by adults as well as kids, it could signal a slight shift in the upcoming plotlines for the series.

Why number 1 – Selena Gomez, hands down. She is the reason teens and tweens watch the show. She is compelling as Alex – the resentment she has toward brother Justin (Henrie) is down right intense sometimes – but Gomez has the ability to charm the socks off her audience.

So there are my picks for 2009

Discuss what you think I missed or got right. Let’s hear it.

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