A
teen drama is a type of
dramaticDramatic programming is television content that is scripted and fictional. This excludes, for example, sports, news, reality and game shows, stand-up comedy and variety shows...
television series in which the focus is on
teenageAdolescence Adolescence Adolescence (lat adolescere, (to grow) is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development that occurs between childhood and adulthood. This transition involves biological (i.e. pubertal), social, and psychological changes, though the biological or...
characters. The genre was relatively non-existent for the first 45 years of television; it came into prominence in the early 1990s. Previously, most series with a focus on teens had been
sitcomsA situation comedy, usually referred to as a sitcom, is a genre of comedy programs which originated in radio. Today, sitcoms are found almost exclusively on television as one of its dominant narrative forms...
while teens in drama series were usually part of a larger ensemble that included adults and children.
Teen dramas, more often than not, have
soap operaA soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on television or radio. The name "soap opera" stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble,...
elements, allowing the young adult characters to grow and develop over time while facing an array of realistic teen issues. However, there have been many successful teen-based dramas with major themes of
science fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically-established or scientifically-postulated laws of nature...
,
fantasyFantasy is a genre that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting. Many works within the genre take place on fictional planes or planets where magic is common...
, and action/
adventureThe adventure genre, in the context of a narrative, is typically applied to works in which the protagonist or other major characters are consistently placed in dangerous situations, and a fictional character who lives by their wits and their skills is often called an adventurer...
. Also, most shows have a substantial amount of
comic reliefComic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
.
Types of teen dramas
The most popular teen dramas are set in affluent locales (e.g.
Beverly Hills 90210,
The O.C.The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
,
Gossip GirlGossip Girl is an American drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007. On February 24, 2009 The CW renewed the show for a third season...
), or in fictional town settings (e.g.
Dawson's CreekDawson's Creek is an American primetime television drama which initially aired from January 20, 1998, to May 14, 2003, on The WB Television Network. The lead production company was Sony Pictures Television. The show was set in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts and in Boston,...
,
One Tree HillOne Tree Hill is an American teen, young adult television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003 on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and since September 27, 2006 the network is the official...
). Most teen dramas have a cast of attractive actors, living a privileged and wealthy life. Shows that depict teen life in a more realistic manner tend not to do nearly as well, although there are exceptions, notable ones being the critically acclaimed
My So-Called LifeMy So-Called Life is an American television teen drama created by Winnie Holzman and produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. It originally aired on ABC from August 25, 1994, to January 26, 1995. Set at the fictional Liberty High School, it follows the emotional travails of several...
and
Freaks and GeeksFreaks and Geeks is an American comedy-drama television series, created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, that aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 television season...
, as well as the British teen drama
The InbetweenersThe Inbetweeners is a BAFTA nominated British sitcom about a group of teenage friends struggling through sixth form at school. Written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show was originally produced for the digital terrestrial television channel E4. E4 originally aired the first series in May...
. Another being the Canadian-produced Degrassi series. All three Degrassi series; (
Degrassi Junior HighDegrassi Junior High is a Canadian CBC Television teen drama series that was produced from 1987-1989 as part of the Degrassi series. The show followed the lives of a group of students attending the titular fictional school...
,
Degrassi HighDegrassi High is the third television show in the Degrassi series of teen dramas about the lives of a group of kids living on or near Degrassi Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It first aired from 1989 to 1991 and followed the kids from Kids of Degrassi Street and Degrassi Junior High through...
and
Degrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series, set in the Degrassi fictional universe created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1980. Degrassi: The Next Generation is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, following The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi...
), have been very successful in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Some teen dramas can be sub-categorized into genres such as Science Fiction or Comedy. Sci-Fi series like "
SmallvilleSmallville is the fictional hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang and Pete Ross. Smallville was the setting of many Superboy comics, which depicted Clark as a young man...
", "
RoswellRoswell is an American science fiction television series developed, produced, and co-written by Jason Katims. The series debuted on October 6, 1999 on The WB and moved to UPN for the third season. The last episode aired May 14, 2002...
", and "
Kyle XYKyle XY is an American drama television series filmed in the Vancouver, British Columbia, area. The show revolves around a boy named Kyle , who awakens in a forest outside Seattle, Washington, suffering from amnesia. The series follows Kyle as he tries to understand the mysteries of who he is and...
" show teenagers who are
aliensExtraterrestrial life is defined as life which does not originate from planet Earth. The existence of life outside the planet is theoretical and all assertions of such life remain disputed....
trying to fit into normal high school life.
United States
The most successful teen dramas are often shown on youth-oriented stations such as Fox and
The CWThe 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...
networks. While the least successful shows usually air on the Big Three networks; (
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
,
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices in Burbank,California...
, and
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
). On cable television, most teen dramas can be found on such channels as
Disney XDDisney XD is an American digital cable television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company that mostly airs children's animated television series. The network launched on February 13, 2009 as the successor to Toon Disney...
,
The NThe N was the original name for what is now called TeenNick, a 24-hour television channel in the United States aimed at teenagers and young adults....
,
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs...
,
LifetimeLifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American television network devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles...
,
Comedy CentralComedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries predominantly comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
and
ABC FamilyABC Family is an American cable television network currently owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a division of The Walt Disney Company. ABC Family offers contemporary and inclusive programming, including series, movies, events, and enhanced ABC encore presentations...
. When the shows go into syndication, they usually air on networks like
SOAPNetSOAPnet is an American cable television channel that has been broadcasting current and past soap operas and dramas since January 20, 2000...
, WGN America,
ABC FamilyABC Family is an American cable television network currently owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a division of The Walt Disney Company. ABC Family offers contemporary and inclusive programming, including series, movies, events, and enhanced ABC encore presentations...
, and TVLand.
History
The first teen-oriented shows didn't call themselves by the actual name "teen drama". One of the earliest was the single-season soap opera
Never Too YoungNever Too Young is an American teen soap opera that aired on ABC from September 27, 1965 to June 24, 1966. Never Too Young was the first soap opera geared towards a teen audience.-Synopsis:...
, which aired from 1965 to 1966. As the late 1960s and early 1970s progressed, younger viewers began to find relatable characters on more daytime soaps. In 1967,
Love is a Many Splendored Thing premiered and quickly became a hit with teen audiences. It was soon followed by
All My ChildrenAll My Children is an American soap opera that has been broadcast Monday through Friday on the ABC TV network since January 5, 1970; repeat episodes air weeknights on SOAPnet. Created by Agnes Nixon, the show is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia...
in 1970 and
The Young and the RestlessThe Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional version of Genoa City, Wisconsin. First broadcast on March 26, 1973, The Young and the Restless was originally broadcast as half-hour episodes,...
in 1973.
In primetime, various shows which centered on the whole family focused much of the attention on the adolescent characters. Such examples include
Eight is EnoughEight Is Enough is an American television comedy-drama series which ran on ABC from March 15, 1977 until August 29, 1981. The show was modeled after syndicated newspaper columnist Thomas Braden, a real-life father with eight children, who wrote a book with the same name...
,
FamilyFamily is a television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split between executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols...
,
Little House on the PrairieLittle House on the Prairie is an American one-hour dramatic television program, starring Michael Landon, about a family living on a farm in Minnesota in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was a loose adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s best-selling series of Little House on the Prairie books. It aired...
,
The WaltonsThe Waltons is an American television series created by Earl Hamner, Jr., based on his book Spencer's Mountain, and a 1963 film of the same name, starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara. The show centered on the titular family growing up in a rural Virginia community during the Great Depression and...
, and the short-lived
James at 15James at 15 is an American drama series that aired on NBC in the 1977-1978 season. The series was preceded by the 1977 made-for-TV movie James at 15, intended as a pilot for the series...
. As a result, young stars like
Willie AamesWillie Aames is an American actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter best known for the roles Tommy Bradford on the 1970s’ sitcom Eight Is Enough, and Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge.-Early life:Born Albert William Upton in Orange County,...
, Kristy MacNichol, and
Melissa GilbertMelissa Ellen Gilbert is an American actress, writer, and producer, primarily in movies and television. The naturally red-headed Gilbert is best known as a child actress who co-starred as Charles Ingalls's second daughter, Laura Ingalls, on the dramatic television series Little House on the Prairie...
became youth icons.
One of the original teen dramas,
Degrassi Junior HighDegrassi Junior High is a Canadian CBC Television teen drama series that was produced from 1987-1989 as part of the Degrassi series. The show followed the lives of a group of students attending the titular fictional school...
and later
Degrassi HighDegrassi High is the third television show in the Degrassi series of teen dramas about the lives of a group of kids living on or near Degrassi Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It first aired from 1989 to 1991 and followed the kids from Kids of Degrassi Street and Degrassi Junior High through...
, became very popular in both Canada and the US while airing on PBS in the late 80s and early 90s.
Several years after Degrassi's premiere,
Darren StarDarren Bennett Star is an American television producer and screenwriter. -Career:Star attended the University of California in Los Angeles....
created
Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210 is a prime time television drama series that aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
in 1990, along with famous producer
Aaron SpellingAaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's company holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits.-Early life:...
. The stars of
90210 became instantly popular with young audiences, most notably actress
Shannen DohertyShannen Maria Doherty is an American actress and television director, perhaps best known for her work as Heather Duke in Heathers , as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff series 90210 and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed .-Early life and career beginnings:Doherty was born in Memphis,...
and actor
Luke PerryLuke Perry is an American actor. Perry starred as Dylan McKay in the long-running TV series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role he played from 1990–95, and then from 1998–2000...
. The series became a phenomenon, becoming the #1 show among teen girls in the early 90s. It is often cited as the "King of Teen Drama", because no other series has come close to matching its success. The show remained popular throughout the first half of the 1990s, and remained on the air until 2000, longer than any other teen drama in history.
The next teen drama would be
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
)'s 1994 series
My So-Called LifeMy So-Called Life is an American television teen drama created by Winnie Holzman and produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. It originally aired on ABC from August 25, 1994, to January 26, 1995. Set at the fictional Liberty High School, it follows the emotional travails of several...
, which launched the careers of young actors
Claire DanesClaire Catherine Danes is an American actress, perhaps best known for her role as Angela Chase in the television series My So-Called Life, and for starring in films such as Romeo + Juliet , Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Stardust...
and
Jared LetoJared Leto is an American actor and musician, he has appeared in films such as Fight Club, Panic Room and Lonely Hearts and is lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the American rock band 30 Seconds to Mars...
. Although critically acclaimed, it was not a success in ratings, mainly due to sharing a timeslot with NBC's
FriendsFriends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which premiered on NBC on September 22, 1994. The series revolved around a group of friends in the area of Manhattan, New York City, who occasionally live together and share living expenses. The series was produced by...
, and was canceled after its first season.
Fox's
Party of FiveParty of Five is an American Teen drama television series that aired on Fox for six seasons, from September 12, 1994 until May 3, 2000.Critically acclaimed, the show suffered from low ratings and after its first season was slated for cancellation...
, which also premiered in 1994, became an instant hit with teenage audiences. Stars
Matthew FoxMatthew Chandler Fox is an American actor and former model. His first major role was playing an older brother and patriarch Charlie Salinger on Party of Five in the 1990s, co-starring with both Scott Wolf and Neve Campbell. More recently, he played Jack Shephard on the ABC drama series Lost.-...
and
Scott WolfScott Richard Wolf is an American actor, who may be best known for his roles on Party of Five, Everwood and The Nine.-Career:...
became teen heartthrobs, and it also launched the careers of
Jennifer Love HewittJennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, voice actress, and singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
,
Neve CampbellNeve Adrianne Campbell is a Canadian actress. Beginning her career on stage, she came to fame on the 1990s television series Party of Five, playing the role of the teenager Julia Salinger...
, and
Lacey ChabertLacey Nicole Chabert is an American actress and vocal performer, best known for her roles as Claudia Salinger in the television drama Party of Five and as Gretchen Wieners in the movie Mean Girls...
.
The creation of the teen-targeting The WB network in 1995 helped launch a whole new era for teen-oriented television. Within three years,
Buffy the Vampire Slayer,
FelicityFelicity was an American primetime television drama produced by Touchstone Television and Imagine Television for The WB network. The series revolved around the fictional college experiences of the title character, Felicity Porter , as she attended the "University of New York", based on New York...
, and
Dawson's CreekDawson's Creek is an American primetime television drama which initially aired from January 20, 1998, to May 14, 2003, on The WB Television Network. The lead production company was Sony Pictures Television. The show was set in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts and in Boston,...
premiered, acquiring large teenage fan bases. The family drama
7th Heaven7th Heaven is an American drama television series, created and produced by Brenda Hampton. The series premiered on Monday August 26, 1996, on the WB, the first time that the network aired Monday night programming, and was originally broadcast from 1996-2007...
also became popular among teenagers, and made the careers of
Barry WatsonBarry Watson may refer to:*Barry Watson *Barry Watson , British long-distance athlete*Barry Watson , television producer...
,
Jessica BielJessica Claire Biel is an American actress and former model, who has appeared in several Hollywood films, including Summer Catch, the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Illusionist and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry...
,
Beverley MitchellBeverley Ann Mitchell is an American actress and country music singer. She is best known for her role as Lucy Camden-Kinkirk on the television series 7th Heaven.-Career:...
,
David GallagherDavid Lee Gallagher is an American film and TV actor. He is best known for the role of Simon Camden on the long running television series 7th Heaven.-Personal life:...
,
Adam LaVorgna-Early life:LaVorgna was born near New Haven in North Branford, Connecticut. Raised with his three siblings in North Branford, LaVorgna has been appearing on television and film since the early age of three when he first appeared on the daytime series As the World Turns...
,
Ashlee SimpsonAshlee Simpson-Wentz is an American pop rock singer-songwriter, dancer and actress. Simpson-Wentz, who is the younger sister of pop singer Jessica Simpson, rose to prominence in mid-2004 through the success of her number-one debut album Autobiography and the accompanying reality series The Ashlee...
,
George StultsGeorge Sheehy Stults is an American actor and former male fashion model. Stults grew up in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado but was born in Detroit, Michigan...
,
Haylie DuffHaylie Katherine Duff is an American actress and singer songwriter. She is the older sister of Hilary Duff.-Early life:Duff was born in Houston, Harris County, Texas...
and
Mackenzie RosmanMackenzie Lyn Rosman is an American Actress and Singer. She is best known for her role as Ruthie Camden on The WB's long-running 7th Heaven. Mackenzie showed off her singing skills on "7th Heaven".- Biography :...
blossom.
Over the next few years, The WB's
EverwoodEverwood is a prime time television drama that initially aired in the United States on The WB. The series is set in the fictional small town of Everwood, Colorado...
and
Gilmore GirlsGilmore Girls is an American comedy drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino and starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. The series made its debut on The WB on October 5, 2000, and ended on May 15, 2007, in its seventh season, which aired on The CW. Time magazine named Gilmore Girls to their...
became popular with teenage audiences.
SmallvilleSmallville is an American television series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, based on the DC Comics character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The television series was initially broadcast by The WB, premiering on October 16, 2001...
is another example of a successful WB show, as it focuses on the early teenage and young adult life of
SupermanSuperman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective Comics, Inc...
Clark Kent.
Degrassi: The Next GenerationDegrassi: The Next Generation is a Canadian teen drama television series, set in the Degrassi fictional universe created by Linda Schuyler and Kit Hood in 1980. Degrassi: The Next Generation is the fourth fictional series in the Degrassi franchise, following The Kids of Degrassi Street, Degrassi...
also began to have a growing fan base in the United States.
In the early 2000s, teen dramas began experiencing a decline in popularity. Teenagers were now watching shows that featured adults in their twenty- and thirty-somethings like
FriendsFriends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which premiered on NBC on September 22, 1994. The series revolved around a group of friends in the area of Manhattan, New York City, who occasionally live together and share living expenses. The series was produced by...
, as well as reality shows and cartoons like
American IdolAmerican Idol is a reality competition to find new solo musical talent, created by Simon Fuller. It debuted on June 11, 2002 on the Fox network, and has since become one of the most popular shows on American television...
,
So You Think You Can Dance,
America's Next Top ModelAmerica's Next Top Model is a reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of America's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modeling industry.The show was created and is hosted by talk-show host and former model Tyra Banks, who also serves as the...
,
Family GuyFamily Guy is an American animated television sitcom, created by Seth MacFarlane, for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family which consists of Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, Stewie, and their pet dog Brian...
and
The SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated television sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its eponymous family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie...
.
By 2003 though, a whole new set of teen dramas arrived. That fall,
The O.C.The O.C. is an American teen drama television series that originally aired on the Fox network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, running a total of four seasons...
premiered on Fox while
One Tree HillOne Tree Hill is an American teen, young adult television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003 on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and since September 27, 2006 the network is the official...
premiered on The WB. The former became an instant hit among teens, while the latter started rather slowly, but has outlasted the former, now in its seventh season on the CW.
Life As We Know ItLife As We Know It was an American television drama on the ABC network during the 2004-2005 season. It was created by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah. The series was based on the novel Doing It by British writer Melvin Burgess.-Plot:...
also started around this time.
The O.C.'s avid popularity inspired the
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and 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 show
Laguna Beach: The Real Orange CountyLaguna Beach: The Real Orange County was an MTV reality show documenting the lives of several teenagers living in Laguna Beach, a seaside community located in Orange County, California...
and
The Real Housewives of Orange CountyThe Real Housewives of Orange County is a reality television program on the Bravo network. It is the first installation in the The Real Housewives of... series...
.
Laguna was structured as an "unscripted" serial drama, akin to
The O.C.
In the late 2000s, the genre experienced yet another resurfacing with the appearance of the broadcasting network
ABC FamilyABC Family is an American cable television network currently owned by ABC Family Worldwide Inc., a division of The Walt Disney Company. ABC Family offers contemporary and inclusive programming, including series, movies, events, and enhanced ABC encore presentations...
, which launched a whole new set of shows including
GreekGreek is an American, dramedy television series, which follows students of the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University who partake in the school's Greek system, an organization of single-sex "clubs" identified using Greek letters...
and
The Secret Life of the American TeenagerThe Secret Life of the American Teenager is a television series created by Brenda Hampton. It first premiered on ABC Family on July 1, 2008. The show was renewed for a second season consisting of 24 episodes on February 9, 2009, which began airing on June 22, 2009...
. In addition, The CW contributed to the phenomenon with the creation of
Gossip GirlGossip Girl is an American drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007. On February 24, 2009 The CW renewed the show for a third season...
and a reboot of
9021090210 is a teen drama developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but now produced by CBS Television Studios...
.
United Kingdom
In the
UKGreat Britain is an island lying to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island. With a population of about 59.6 million people, it is the third most populated island on Earth. Great Britain is surrounded by over 1000 smaller...
, teen dramas are usually aimed at more mature audiences. Examples being
SkinsSkins is a teen drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, South West England as they grow up. The controversial plotline explores issues including homosexuality, narcissism, dysfunctional families, absent parents, personality disorders, post traumatic stress, substance abuse, anorexia,...
,
HollyoaksHollyoaks is a long-running television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
,
Sugar RushSugar Rush is a critically acclaimed British television comedy drama series developed by Shine Limited and broadcast by Channel 4, based on the Julie Burchill novel of the same name...
, and
The InbetweenersThe Inbetweeners is a BAFTA nominated British sitcom about a group of teenage friends struggling through sixth form at school. Written by Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the show was originally produced for the digital terrestrial television channel E4. E4 originally aired the first series in May...
. All airing on
Channel 4Channel 4 is a UK public-service television broadcaster which began working on November 2, 1982. Although commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station owned now and operated by the Channel Four Television...
and E4. E4 also airs many US teen drama's, including
One Tree HillOne Tree Hill is an American teen, young adult television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003 on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and since September 27, 2006 the network is the official...
,
Gossip GirlGossip Girl is an American drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007. On February 24, 2009 The CW renewed the show for a third season...
,
9021090210 is a teen drama developed by Rob Thomas, Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, and the fourth series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise created by Darren Star. 90210 is the first series produced by CBS Productions under the company's re-launch, but now produced by CBS Television Studios...
and The OC. Whilst rival channel, Channel Five shows Australian soaps (with teenagers in them)
Home and AwayHome and Away is a Logie Award-winning Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney by the Seven Network since July 1987. It premiered in January 1988 and is the second longest-running drama on Australian television, winning more than 30 Logie Awards.The show initially focused on the...
and
NeighboursNeighbours is a Logie Award-winning Australian soap opera, which began airing in March 1985. The series follows the lives of families who live in the six houses at the end of Ramsay Street, a short cul-de-sac in the fictional middle-class suburb of Erinsborough. Storylines explore the romances,...
.
Soap operas aimed at a wide range of audiences like
EastEndersEastEnders is a long-running, popular and award-winning television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985...
,
EmmerdaleEmmerdale, known as Emmerdale Farm until 1989, is a popular and critically acclaimed British soap opera that has aired on ITV since 1972...
and
Coronation StreetCoronation Street is an award-winning prime time soap opera set and produced in Manchester created by Tony Warren...
, feature families with teenage children often shown leading more "normal" lifestyles.
Australia/New Zealand
In
AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
and
New ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
as well as teen drama's such as
Heartbreak HighHeartbreak High was an Australian television series, dealing with the students of Hartley High, a tough high school in a multi-racial area of Sydney, and proved to be a more gritty and fast-paced show than many of its contemporaries. It was a spin-off of the 1993 Australian feature film The...
, soaps like
NeighboursNeighbours is a Logie Award-winning Australian soap opera, which began airing in March 1985. The series follows the lives of families who live in the six houses at the end of Ramsay Street, a short cul-de-sac in the fictional middle-class suburb of Erinsborough. Storylines explore the romances,...
and
Home and AwayHome and Away is a Logie Award-winning Australian soap opera that has been produced in Sydney by the Seven Network since July 1987. It premiered in January 1988 and is the second longest-running drama on Australian television, winning more than 30 Logie Awards.The show initially focused on the...
are aimed at teenagers just like a majority of the Soaps in the UK.
Japan
Teen dramas are common on
Japanese televisionTelevision broadcasting in Japan started in 1939, making the country one of the first in the world with an experimental television service. In spite of that, because of the beginning of World War II in the Pacific region, this first experimentation lasted only a few months...
. Some of the more popular ones are often adapted from
animeis animation originating in Japan. The world outside Japan regards anime as "Japanese animation". Anime originated about 1917.Anime, like manga , has a large audience in Japan and high recognition throughout the world...
or
mangaManga consist of comics and print cartoons , in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 20th century...
, like
Great Teacher Onizuka, officially abbreviated to GTO, is a Japanese shōnen manga written and illustrated by Tohru Fujisawa. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from May 1997 to April 2002. The story focuses on 22 year-old ex-bōsōzoku member Eikichi Onizuka, who becomes a teacher at private high...
(GTO),
Hana Yori Dangois a Japanese shōjo manga series by Yoko Kamio. It was serialized in the bi-weekly anthology magazine Margaret, which is aimed at high-school-age girls. The manga series ran continuously from October 1992 to September 2003, and was collected into 37 tankōbon volumes...
(Boys Over Flowers),
Nodame Cantabileis an ongoing manga by Tomoko Ninomiya. It was serialized in Japan by Kodansha in the magazine Kiss from July 2001 to October 2009 and collected in 22 tankōbon volumes . It is licensed in North America by Del Rey Manga...
, Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend) and
Honey and Cloveris a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Chika Umino. It is also known as and H&C. It is published by Shueisha, initially serialized from June 2000 to July 2006 in the magazines CUTiEcomic, Young YOU, and Chorus, and collected in ten bound volumes...
. Most teen dramas of Japan are on a high school setting like Proposal Daisakusen (Operation Love) and
Hana Yori Dangois a Japanese shōjo manga series by Yoko Kamio. It was serialized in the bi-weekly anthology magazine Margaret, which is aimed at high-school-age girls. The manga series ran continuously from October 1992 to September 2003, and was collected into 37 tankōbon volumes...
(Boys Over Flowers).
Analysis
According to Art Silverblatt in his book
Genre Studies in Mass Media: A Handbook, teen dramas focus on "the theme of the adolescent's assertion of independence, which is characteristic of the adolescent stage of development."
See also
- List of teen dramas
- Teen sitcom
Teen sitcom, teen show or Teen comedy is a television genre. Like teen dramas, this genre was also generally non-existent in the first 45 years of television....
- (List of Teen sitcoms)
- Teen film
Teen films is a film genre targeted at teenagers and young adults in which the plot is based upon the special interests of teenagers, such as coming of age, first love, rebellion, conflict with parents, teen angst and alienation. Often these normally serious subject matters are presented in a...
- (List of teen films)
- Teen pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented toward young teenagers and preadolescents. Teen pop covers genres and styles such as pop, dance, R&B, hip-hop and rock.- History :...
- Teen magazine
Teen magazines are magazines aimed at younger teenage readers, usually young women. They usually consisted of gossip, news, fashion tips and interviews and may include posters, stickers, small samples of cosmetics or other products and inserts.-History:...
- (List of teen magazines)
- The N
The N was the original name for what is now called TeenNick, a 24-hour television channel in the United States aimed at teenagers and young adults....
- An Amercian Teenage television channel, which will soon be rebranded as TeenNickTeenNick is the name of a cable channel in the United States that was converted from The N on September 28, 2009 at 6:00AM Eastern/5:00AM Central/3:00AM Pacific...
.
- Trouble - A British Teenage television channel.
- Youth culture