‘Teens Get Real’ Interesting Despite Host

Mon., Dec. 11, 2000

Theresa Carpine, Ferris

A documentary hosted by Jessica Simpson. The thought made me cringe. One of the last things I wanted to see was the real-life story of teens told though the eyes of WB television producers and some pop-queen.

Titled “Teens Get Real,” airing Tuesday at 7 p.m. on the WB network, this program consists of interviews with teens pouring their hearts out, intercut with shots of Simpson offering profoundly dumb anecdotes about teenagers written by adults.

But the purpose of “Teens” was to give real teens time to tell their stories. Some were self-centered and uninteresting, like two young teen girls who claimed their biggest inspiration for going to school was to see boys. One of the most depressing parts was hearing a 15-year-old girl basically say that being truthful with your friends is more important than being truthful with your parents.

There are, however, more interesting stories. Some tales feature teens who have achieved great things, like Amanda, 18, who won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. They interviewed teens who had overcome terrible odds, such as Rick, 18, who was born with the HIV virus and talks to teens about his condition.

Some stories are sad, but thoughtful. One young man, a dropout learning construction though an organization called Youth Build, has been a member of a gang since he was 13. Although he is no longer active with the gang, he still considers himself a member because he made a “life bond.” It was interesting to hear a teen be so adamant about a promise, even if it was one he regretted.

An interview with Eric, 16, also was tragic. He talked about how after his grandmother’s death, he knew only two people who could speak his Native American language. He was a wonderful example of how teenagers should treat their family and culture.

I could have done without the Simpson’s bubble-gum style and some of the less meaningful stories, but between all the flashy cuts and idiotic survey results, there was something here that teenagers might find inspirational.

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