In 1994, My So-Called Life debuted on television to low ratings, but high critical acclaim. Like many, I wasn't turned on to the show until it debuted on MTV in the spring of 1995. This was around the time ABC had canceled the show because of a combination of low ratings and Claire Danes not wanting to return. Thanks to MTV, My So-Called Life not only turned into a pop culture staple, but turned Claire Danes into a major star. Claire played the major character, Angela Chase, who experiences the usual teenage drama: boyfriends, two-faced friends, coping with school, dealing with death, etc. However, the show was so real that the viewer often forgot they were watching television. Angela's parents dealt with struggling to keep their marriage together with possible infidelity. The neighbor, Brian, came from a very rich household, but dealt with loneliness. Angela's friend, Rayanne, overdosed in one shocking episode.
The most fascinating character was Angela's on-and-off fling, Jordan Catalano, played by Jared Leto. Jordan appeared to be your everyday dumb, rebellious jock, but often showed a thoughtful side to him. It was questionable, at times, whether he liked Angela or not. Though he was one of the least seen characters, his charismatic presence and the aura of mystery surrounding his character made him the most talked about.
Ricky Vasquez, played by Wilson Cruz, was also fascinating. He was a likeable gay character whose extreme "gayness" might have turned off viewers at the beginning of the series, but turned them toward understanding by the end. The "So-Called Angels" episode, in which Ricky runs away after being beaten up by his uncle, is the best written and most touching episode I've seen of any show on television. While Wilson Cruz, in general, is not one of the best actors in the cast, his heartfelt performance in this episode transcends any other single episode performance in the series. Claire Danes also gives an excellent performance when she encounters an area where runaway kids hang out. Angela Chase meets a mysterious runaway girl, who is actually a ghost who helps bring everybody together at the end.
My So-Called Life might have been short-lived, but was a groundbreaking "teen" oriented series that led to other less superior ones such as Dawson's Creek. The aura of darkness and mystery that surrounded each episode also influenced other shows such as Six Feet Under. The only good thing I can say about its ending after one season is that the show didn't have time to self-destruct like so many other great shows.
Article comments
1 - J. Patel
Excellent article and very true. But I think The Cosby Show is just as important as all the shows you mentioned.
2 - TV and Film Guy
I'd never, ever, ever put All in the Family in the same category as a Roseanne or My So-Called Life. The former's goal was to push boundaries adn get people to think in a way that I don't think is true for the latter shows.
Additionally, if you are correct, and My So-Called Life was the last groundbreaking show, and ended in 1995, but the Janet Jackson Superbowl incident didn't occur till 2004, what happened during those 9 years?
Actually, I'd argue that there are just as many shows that fit your critera now as there were then, but maybe you're not watching them. What about: Battlestar Galactica, The West Wing, and Rescue Me just to name the first few that come to mind.
3 - daryl d
I think you have to watch more episodes of Roseanne and My So-Called life to understand what I am talking about. They definitely fit in the same category as All In The Family. Oh...and the show Rescue Me..please. It could be a good show if the actors, especially the one that plays Franco, takes acting lessons. The other shows you mentioned are good, but not close to the quality of the three I talked about.
4 - sandra
Nice job, Daryl. I actually ended up buying the full My So-Called Life dvd set at Amazon. I had been planning to do it for a long time, but your article reminded me how much I loved this show.
5 - Saira Rahman
degrassi
6 - sean Paul Mahoney
Daryl, great article.
I loved My So Called Life! Once and Again by the same creators was a great show too but unfortunately no one watched that either.
To answer TV And Film Guy- HBO and Reality TV happened from 95 to 04. Survivor, Sex and the City, and American Idol were groundbreaking phenomenoms, love them or loathe them. I agree with West Wing and Battlestar. These shows, like My So Called Life, proved there was an audience for dramas that don't involve grumpy cops or horny doctors.
I am suprised The Simpsons didn't get mentioned. This show has changed the face of sitcoms and tv animation.