My Super Sweet 16
Encyclopedia
My Super Sweet 16 is an MTV
reality
series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States
, Canada
and UK, who usually have wealthy parents that throw huge coming of age
celebrations. Parties include the quinceañera
(a sweet 15), the sweet 16
, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 (which was broadcast during MTV's Spring Break party) and My Super Swag 18. The show premiered on January 18, 2005. The opening theme is "Sweet Sixteen" sung by Hilary Duff
.
The show has also covered a number of celebrity coming of age parties. Bow Wow, Sean Kingston
, Aly and AJ, Chris Brown and Soulja Boy Tell Em have all had their parties featured on the show.
A UK
version of the program was also produced, and also a Spanish version entitled "Quiero mis quinces" or "Super Dulces 16" produced by MTV.
In 2008, MTV launched a spinoff titled Exiled. On the show, a number of parents of participants on My Super Sweet 16 banish their teens to remote countries in order to see if their "sweet sixteener" will survive the harsh conditions. In 2009, MTV announced their newest addition to the franchise, My Super Psycho Sweet 16
, a horror movie based on the concept of the show which aired on October 23, 2009, featuring Julianna Guill
.
In March 2010, MTV International commissioned Maverick TV in the UK to make a new, international version of the Super Sweet franchise. Casting has begun globally on a series of 10 episodes, and interested parties are encouraged to go to the casting website. The brand has been extended to include people having birthdays aged 13–24.
’s Mysupersweet16.com is the online component of MTV
’s eponymous show which focuses on extravagant coming outs, sweet 16s, quinceaneras and more.
Created as a place for girls and guys to memorialize their parties and share them with the world, the social networking site has experienced continued growth due to networking features, profile creation tools, and a newly implemented Facebook
widget.
Party hosts create and customize their profiles by uploading pictures and videos of their parties, or by “snagging” the planning, style, or thematic choices of other users. Users are then awarded with distinct rating-style “badges” based on their level of profile completion – those with more profile content get better ratings than those with less.
Parties can be browsed by most-anticipated, upcoming, and recently wrapped parties, or through the “party finder” map which allows users to locate parties anywhere in the US.
One Party of the Week is chosen each week to commemorate a particularly noteworthy party, but this distinction is not necessarily reserved solely for the most lavish and ostentatious.
Stefanie White (NY), one of five semi-finalists of a late June on-air contest, was selected by site voters to have her party filmed by MTV
which aired during a later episode of the titular program.
The site is one of MTV
's newly launched vertical sites.
The Daily Mail
said: "In an age of celebrity, where anyone desperate and rich enough can get their 15 minutes of fame
, the series is a depressing indictment of our next generation's goals and aspirations" displaying "the crippling excesses of fame and capitalism that have come to symbolise our society."
British satirist Charlie Brooker
discussed the show on BBC4's Screenwipe
, calling it a "stonehearted exposé of everything that's wrong with our faltering, so-called civilization" and calling the protagonists "unbelievably spoiled rich and tiny sod[s]" who throw "despicably opulent coming-of-age part[ies] for themselves and their squealing shitcake friends." He also described the show as "an Al-Qaeda recruitment film."
One teen (Audrey Reyes) is seen screaming at her mother and saying she "hates" her after having received a new Lexus
, costing US$67,000, before, instead of after, her party. However, after the episode aired, she apologized for the tantrum.
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
reality
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and UK, who usually have wealthy parents that throw huge coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
celebrations. Parties include the quinceañera
Quinceañera
Quinceañera , sometimes called "Fiesta de quince años", "Fiesta de Quinceañera", "Quince años" or simply "quince", is the celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday in parts of Latin America and elsewhere in communities of immigrants from Latin America...
(a sweet 15), the sweet 16
Sweet sixteen (birthday)
A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States celebrating a sixteenth birthday, Sweet sixteen parties mark a coming of age.- Types of sweet sixteen party :...
, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 (which was broadcast during MTV's Spring Break party) and My Super Swag 18. The show premiered on January 18, 2005. The opening theme is "Sweet Sixteen" sung by Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
.
The show has also covered a number of celebrity coming of age parties. Bow Wow, Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston
Sean Kingston is a Jamaican-American singer. He pursued a music career and debuted in 2007 with the album Sean Kingston.-Early life:...
, Aly and AJ, Chris Brown and Soulja Boy Tell Em have all had their parties featured on the show.
A UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
version of the program was also produced, and also a Spanish version entitled "Quiero mis quinces" or "Super Dulces 16" produced by MTV.
In 2008, MTV launched a spinoff titled Exiled. On the show, a number of parents of participants on My Super Sweet 16 banish their teens to remote countries in order to see if their "sweet sixteener" will survive the harsh conditions. In 2009, MTV announced their newest addition to the franchise, My Super Psycho Sweet 16
My Super Psycho Sweet 16
My Super Psycho Sweet 16 is an American teen horror slasher film, based on the popular MTV show, My Super Sweet Sixteen. Directed by Jacob Gentry, the film follows two girls: an outcast named Skye Rotter , and Madison Penrose , a girl who has been spoiled throughout her life...
, a horror movie based on the concept of the show which aired on October 23, 2009, featuring Julianna Guill
Julianna Guill
Julianna Guill is an American actress. She best known for role as Bree in Friday the 13th and Scarlet Haukkson in the webisode series My Alibi. She also co-starred in the TBS series Glory Daze as Christie.-Early life:...
.
In March 2010, MTV International commissioned Maverick TV in the UK to make a new, international version of the Super Sweet franchise. Casting has begun globally on a series of 10 episodes, and interested parties are encouraged to go to the casting website. The brand has been extended to include people having birthdays aged 13–24.
Mysupersweet16.com
MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
’s Mysupersweet16.com is the online component of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
’s eponymous show which focuses on extravagant coming outs, sweet 16s, quinceaneras and more.
Created as a place for girls and guys to memorialize their parties and share them with the world, the social networking site has experienced continued growth due to networking features, profile creation tools, and a newly implemented Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
widget.
Party hosts create and customize their profiles by uploading pictures and videos of their parties, or by “snagging” the planning, style, or thematic choices of other users. Users are then awarded with distinct rating-style “badges” based on their level of profile completion – those with more profile content get better ratings than those with less.
Parties can be browsed by most-anticipated, upcoming, and recently wrapped parties, or through the “party finder” map which allows users to locate parties anywhere in the US.
One Party of the Week is chosen each week to commemorate a particularly noteworthy party, but this distinction is not necessarily reserved solely for the most lavish and ostentatious.
Stefanie White (NY), one of five semi-finalists of a late June on-air contest, was selected by site voters to have her party filmed by MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
which aired during a later episode of the titular program.
The site is one of MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's newly launched vertical sites.
Criticism
The show has been criticised for its excesses and the effects of presenting such over the top parties as an aspirational norm to impressionable young people.The Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
said: "In an age of celebrity, where anyone desperate and rich enough can get their 15 minutes of fame
15 minutes of fame
15 minutes of fame is short-lived, often ephemeral, media publicity or celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. The expression was coined by Andy Warhol, who said in 1968 that "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." The phenomenon is often used in reference to...
, the series is a depressing indictment of our next generation's goals and aspirations" displaying "the crippling excesses of fame and capitalism that have come to symbolise our society."
British satirist Charlie Brooker
Charlie Brooker
Charlton "Charlie" Brooker is a British journalist, comic writer and broadcaster. His style of humour is savage and profane, with surreal elements and a consistent satirical pessimism...
discussed the show on BBC4's Screenwipe
Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe
Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe is a British television review programme broadcast on BBC Four by Charlie Brooker. The programme contains reviews of current shows, as well as stories and commentary on how television is produced.-Format:...
, calling it a "stonehearted exposé of everything that's wrong with our faltering, so-called civilization" and calling the protagonists "unbelievably spoiled rich and tiny sod[s]" who throw "despicably opulent coming-of-age part[ies] for themselves and their squealing shitcake friends." He also described the show as "an Al-Qaeda recruitment film."
One teen (Audrey Reyes) is seen screaming at her mother and saying she "hates" her after having received a new Lexus
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, Lexus is now sold globally and has become Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. The Lexus marque is marketed in over 70 countries and territories worldwide, and has...
, costing US$67,000, before, instead of after, her party. However, after the episode aired, she apologized for the tantrum.
In pop culture
- The show was mentioned on an episode of NickelodeonNickelodeon (TV channel)Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
's Drake & JoshDrake & JoshDrake & Josh is an American sitcom that premiered on the Nickelodeon television network on January 11, 2004, which follows the lives of two stepbrothers. It stars Drake Bell and Josh Peck as stepbrothers Drake Parker and Josh Nichols, respectively. Both actors had played roles in The Amanda Show,...
("Battle of Panthatar") was broadcast on April 15, 2007. Both Drake and Josh were intent on crashing a sweet sixteen in their area that is to be featured on the fictional MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
program Dude, I'm Sixteen! - The show was mentioned on an episode of CWThe CW Television NetworkThe CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
's Veronica MarsVeronica MarsVeronica Mars is an American television series created by Rob Thomas. The series premiered on September 22, 2004, during television network UPN's final two years, and ended on May 22, 2007, after a season on UPN's successor, The CW Television Network. Veronica Mars was produced by Warner Bros...
("Un-American Graffiti"), broadcast on May 1, 2007. Both Logan and Parker are such fans of the program that Logan even throws Parker a somewhat high-profile sweet sixteen. - Hip-Hop artist Common made reference to the show as well as Exiled in a line from his single "The GameThe Game (Common song)"The Game" is the second single from rapper Common's 2007 album Finding Forever. It was released to iTunes as a digital download on May 22, 2007. It is produced by Kanye West, who samples "Tezeta" by Ethiopian jazz musician Seyfu Yohannes for the track's beat. It utilizes O.C.'s "Half Good, Half...
", 'Watching Sweet Sixteen, Bitchin-ass rich kids Who don't know in life you gotta go the distance'. - The Comedy sketch show Pretty Thingsss, parodied the show in a sketch that was intended, but never appeared on MTV's website, it is available on YouTube.
- In the film BratzBratz: The MovieBratz: The Movie is a live-action feature film based on the Bratz line of cartoon characters and dolls. It was released to American theaters on August 3, 2007. It was co-produced by MGA Entertainment, Avi Arad Productions, and Crystal Sky Pictures teamed up. Crystal Sky Pictures financed the film,...
, a character named Meredith throws a Super Sweet 16 Party, and has MTV film it. - The show was parodied on the January 14, 2006 episode of NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
hosted by Scarlett JohanssonScarlett JohanssonScarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
. In the sketch, My Super Sweet 16, Crystal, reflected that of the usual sweet 16 in which she longs for perfection and gets frustrated when things don't go her way. In the end, even when her own father takes drastic measures in order to pay for all the costs, Crystal gets neither her choice car nor choice performer. - The show was parodied on the September 16, 2006 episode of Fox's MADtvMADtvMADtv is an American sketch comedy television series. It licensed the name and logo of Mad, but otherwise had no connection with the humor magazine outside the animated Spy vs. Spy and Don Martin cartoon shorts and images of Alfred E. Neuman that the show featured during the late 1990s. Its first...
hosted by Dwayne Johnson. In the sketch, cast member Ike BarinholtzIke BarinholtzIsaac "Ike" Barinholtz is an American actor, comedian and screenwriter. Barinholtz is most notable for his membership in the recurring cast of comedians on sketch comedy series MADtv from 2002-2007.-Early life:...
threw a super sweet 30th for fellow cast member Bobby Lee. However, Lee's parents refused to fund more than $300, and the party turned into a disaster. - The show was parodied on an episode of Comedy CentralComedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
's South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
("Hell on Earth 2006Hell on Earth 2006"Hell on Earth 2006" is the 150th episode of Comedy Central's animated series South Park. It originally aired on October 25, 2006 and marked the series' fourth Halloween episode....
"), broadcast on October 25, 2006. Satan was intent on throwing an over-the-top HalloweenHalloweenHallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
bash. His behavior reflected that of the sweet 16ers preparing for their coming-of-age birthdays. In the end, when Satan realizes his folly, the audience considers the sweet 16ers to be "worse than Satan." This is a reflection of the creators' disdain for the show, which they claim is just as offensive as South Park except that, where South Park satirizes offensive behavior, My Super Sweet 16 celebrates it, stating, "that is probably the most disgusting, foul show ever made." He went on to say that "where we would be ripping on the people acting like that, on My Super Sweet 16 the girls act that horrible and they're celebrated for it at the end, teaching little girls around the country that that's how you should act." Trey ParkerTrey ParkerTrey Parker is an American animator, screenwriter, director, producer, voice artist, musician and actor, best known for being the co-creator of the television series South Park along with his creative partner and best friend Matt Stone.Parker started his film career in 1992, making a holiday short...
further commented, "I can say.....every single girl that has been on that show, My Super Sweet 16, is evil. Is an evil horrible person. It's just that simple." - Janet JacksonJanet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
also parodied the program in early 2008, during MTV's Artist of the week. Parodying Audrey Reyes, Jackson was seen wearing a tiara and complaining and crying about receiving her car too early, but rather than receiving it one day too early, it was 4 hours too early. - The Disney ChannelDisney ChannelDisney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
television series The Suite Life of Zack and CodyThe Suite Life of Zack and CodyThe Suite Life of Zack & Cody is an American sitcom created by Danny Kallis and Jim Geoghan. The series premiered on Disney Channel on March 18, 2005 with 4 million viewers, making it the most successful premiere for Disney Channel in 2005. It was one of their first five shows available on the...
has an episode parodying My Super Sweet 16 in an episode where London and Maddie compete to see who will have the better party. - The Disney ChannelDisney ChannelDisney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
television series Cory in the HouseCory in the HouseCory in the House is an American television sitcom, which aired on the Disney Channel from January 12, 2007 to September 12, 2008 and was a spin-off from the Disney show That's So Raven. The show focuses on Cory Baxter, who moved from San Francisco, California to Washington, D.C., after Victor...
has an episode parodying My Super Sweet 16, called "My Party Is Better Than Yours" in an episode where Meena has her own Sweet Sixteen party, and begins acting like a brat. - Parodied as "My Super Duper Sweet 16" in the 2008 spoof film Disaster MovieDisaster MovieDisaster Movie is a 2008 parody film. It is written and directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, and stars Carmen Electra, Kim Kardashian, Matt Lanter, Nicole Parker, Crista Flanagan, Vanessa Minnillo, and Ike Barinholtz...
. - The TeletoonTélétoon (Canadian TV channel)Télétoon is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel that specializes in animation programming. Télétoon is owned by Teletoon Canada Inc; a 50/50 partnership between Astral Media and Corus Entertainment...
/ Cartoon NetworkCartoon NetworkCartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
television series 6teen6teen6teen is a Canadian animated sitcom, which premiered in Canada in 2004 on Teletoon. In the USA, 6teen first premiered on Nickelodeon on December 18, 2005 and was removed from the schedule on May 13, 2006 before being removed completely in 2007 before the series' run could be completed. 6teen was...
had an episode parody for one of the characters, Caitlin, on her birthday. - The episode of Robot Chicken "Maurice Was Caught" features Annie Warbucks on the show and getting the planet Mars as a present for her birthday.
See also
- List of My Super Sweet 16 episodes
- Super Sweet 16: The MovieSuper Sweet 16: The MovieSuper Sweet 16: The Movie is an MTV television film, based on the series My Super Sweet 16. It stars teen pop stars Aly & AJ and features performances by Hellogoodbye and Pretty Ricky...
- List of programs broadcast by MTV
- My Super Psycho Sweet 16My Super Psycho Sweet 16My Super Psycho Sweet 16 is an American teen horror slasher film, based on the popular MTV show, My Super Sweet Sixteen. Directed by Jacob Gentry, the film follows two girls: an outcast named Skye Rotter , and Madison Penrose , a girl who has been spoiled throughout her life...