When young girls get in a family way

TV This Week
When young girls get in a family way
By Diego Vasquez
Jul 1, 2008 - 1:00:56 AM

Teen pregnancy is suddenly a hot issue. It was de-mystified by the Oscar-winning movie “Juno” last year, and it’s received endless attention following the revelation two weeks ago that 17 girls at a Massachusetts high school became pregnant as part of what the principal termed a pact.

Now comes ABC Family’s new drama “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” the first basic cable series centered on a pregnant teenager. It premieres tonight at 8 p.m.

“Teenager,” from “7th Heaven” creator Brenda Hampton, focuses on 15-year-old Amy, who becomes pregnant after losing her virginity to Ricky, the biggest stud at summer band camp.

The twist in this case is that Amy’s probably not what most people envision when they ponder teen pregnancy. She’s a somewhat geeky good girl, whose parents, played by Mark Derwin and ‘80s teen movie icon Molly Ringwald, have no clue that their daughter is expecting.

The network has partnered with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy for online content designed to open a dialogue between parents and teens based on the show.

But whether viewers of either age will want to tune in to the potentially sobering drama remains to be seen. Certainly “Juno” fans, of which there are many, could try it out hoping for a similarly engaging program, though “Teenager” doesn’t have the movie’s light heartedness.

Probably ABC Family’s best hope is that “Teenager” connects with fans of “Greek,” its frothy and hugely successful college dramedy that ended season two a few weeks ago. The two shows at least target the same age group, those 12-34.

A look at this week’s top TV draws
TUESDAY, JULY 1
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 a.m.	NBC	“Today” (N)	Adam West and Burt Ward from the original “Batman” series guest.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Wipeout” (G)	Performed well in its premiere, how will it hold up?
8 p.m.	NBC	“Celebrity Family Feud” (G)	Vincent Pastore and “family” take on the “Girls Next Door” crew.
8 p.m.	ESPN	“ESPY Nomination Special” (A, S)	Nominations for the July 16 event are announced.
9 p.m.	Fox	“Hell’s Kitchen” (R)	The two finalists visit Ramsay’s New York City restaurant.
9 p.m.	Discovery	“Deadliest Catch” (R)	Captain Phil is forced to go to the hospital.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Shot at Love Reunion: Happy Hour” (R)	Season finale. Tila chooses this season’s winner, who will likely be single again in a few weeks.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 p.m.	ESPN	“Major League Baseball” (S)	Important AL East game between the Red Sox and Rays.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Baby Borrowers” (R)	Two of the girls decide to become working mothers.
8 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	The final 14 dancers perform.
9 p.m.	History	“MonsterQuest” (N)	A look at reports of cat-sized rats. Eww.
10 p.m.	ABC	“Primetime” (N)	Investigating the 1998 poisoning death of a Wisconsin woman.
10 p.m.	MTV	“The Real World” (R)	The roomies take a vacation in Cancun, Mexico.
10 p.m.	TV Land	“She’s Got the Look” (R)	The final five appear in a commercial with a special guest.
THURSDAY, JULY 3
Time	Network	Program	Description
Noon	NBC	“Tennis” (S)	Coverage of the women’s semifinals at Wimbledon.
8 p.m.	National Geographic Channel	“Man-Made” (N)	A look at real-life spies who use high-tech gadgets in their work.
8 p.m.	NBC	“Last Comic Standing” (R)	Week two of the semifinal round in Las Vegas.
9 p.m.	Fox	“So You Think You Can Dance” (R)	The final 14 will be trimmed to 12.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Swingtown” (D)	Susan attends a fundraiser even though Bruce doesn’t want her to.
10 p.m.	ABC	“Hopkins” (N)	A woman who needs a lung transplant awaits a donor.
10 p.m.	TLC	“Miami Ink” (R)	The guys decide to go golfing but run into trouble with the course’s dress code.
FRIDAY, JULY 4
Time	Network	Program	Description
Noon	NBC	“Tennis” (S)	More Wimbledon semifinals coverage, this time on the men’s side.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Dance Machine” (R)	Tonight a 70-year-old grandmother shows the youngsters how to move.
9 p.m.	NBC	“Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” (A)	Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber anchor.
9 p.m.	Travel Channel	“4th of July Live!” (A)	More fireworks coverage, this in Washington, D.C.
10 p.m.	CBS	“Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” (A)	Not feeling New York or D.C.? Give Boston a try.
10 p.m.	CMT	“Trick My Truck” (R)	Season finale. The crew upgrades a honey-maker’s flatbed truck.
SATURDAY, JULY 5
Time	Network	Program	Description
9 a.m.	NBC	“Tennis” (S)	The women’s final at Wimbledon.
3:30 p.m.	Fox	“Major League Baseball” (S)	Pick your division rivalry: either Yankees-Red Sox or Cubs-Cardinals.
5 p.m.	NBC	“Track and Field” (S)	Day seven coverage of the U.S. Olympic trials, from Eugene, Ore.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Portland and Palm Beach stop cars with expired tags, but that’s just where it starts.
11 p.m.	Fox	“Mad TV” (C)	A re-airing of the show’s 300th episode, featuring former cast members.
11:30 p.m.	NBC	“Saturday Night Live” (C)	Jon Bon Jovi hosts and Foo Fighters perform.
SUNDAY, JULY 6
Time	Network	Program	Description
9 a.m.	NBC	“Tennis” (S)	Wimbledon men’s final, live from the All England Club in London.
1 p.m.	Fox	“Formula One Racing” (S)	The British Grand Prix, won last year by Kimi Raikkonen.
3 p.m.	CBS	“PGA Golf” (S)	Final round of the AT&T National, won last year by K.J. Choi.
7 p.m.	NBC	“U.S. Olympic Trials” (S)	Coverage from both track and field and swimming.
9 p.m.	USA	“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” (D)	Parents of three students at an elite preschool are all murdered.
9 p.m.	WE tv	“Bridezillas” (R)	A bride tries to charge her sister for a typo that makes it onto the wedding invitations.
10 p.m.	USA	“In Plain Sight” (D)	A college basketball star starts to gamble obsessively.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.