My So-Called Life

Name: My So-Called Life
Genre: Drama
Released: 1994-08-25
Cast: Claire Danes Bess Armstrong Wilson Cruz Tom Irwin Devon Gummersall

TV-14
1994
1 Season
8.3 (19,158)

My So-Called Life was a ground-breaking drama series on ABC that really captured the pain and angst of the teenage experience. The show is singular in that it felt more "real" than any other show of the time that attempted to show what it is like to be an American teenager. Fifteen year-old Angela Chase (Claire Danes)is a sophomore at the fictional Liberty High School in Three Rivers, Pennsylvania. Like many teenagers, she does not believe her friends and family understand her. Angela has chosen to distance herself from her childhood, more straight-laced friends and befriended the cooler, edgier Rayanne Graff (A.J. Langer) and Rickie Vasquez (Wilson Cruz). She develops a crush on Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto), the best-looking guy in school, who is also troubled. The show follows Angela as she deals with the daily issues that faced teenagers in the 1990s. The series is primarily narrated by Angela. Supporting characters included Angela's parents and younger sister. My So-Called Life dealt with a number of modern issues, including first love, homosexuality in high school, and the pressure to have sex at a young age. The characters were not fashion plates like those in other shows aimed at teenagers. They dressed more or less the way high school students dressed. They didn't have perfect hair and makeup. The narrator expressed his thoughts in a manner that was consistent with the way teenagers thought. The show was also unique in that it was Angela's mother who provided the primary means of support for the family. All of these things made Angela and her problems seem real, creating a bond between her and the viewing audience. My So-Called Life was produced by Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick, Winnie Holzman, and Scott Winant. It aired originally on ABC for one season of nineteen episodes in 1994-1995. After ABC cancelled the series, it re-ran on MTV as part of a fan-initiated effort to revive the show for another season.

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Seasons

19. In Dreams Begin Responsibilities

January 26, 1995

Jordan enlists Brian to help him write a letter to Angela apologizing for his actions and telling her how he feels.

18. Weekend

January 19, 1995

Patty and Graham go away for the weekend with Neil and his girlfriend, Cheryl. Meanwhile, Rayanne pays a visit to the Chase residence and accidentally handcuffs herself to Patty & Graham's bed.

17. Betrayal

January 12, 1995

Rayanne wins the starring role in the school play, but her friendship with Angela reaches a critical point after she and Jordan get drunk and act impulsively.

16. Reservations

January 5, 1995

It's New Year's in Three Rivers, and everyone is making resolutions and having varying amounts of success keeping them. Rickie has nowhere to turn after he stops staying at the Chases' house.

15. So-Called Angels

December 22, 1994

After an encounter with his abusive uncle forces Rickie to leave home and turn to life on the street, Angela tries to help him with the aid of a mysterious homeless girl.

14. On The Wagon

December 8, 1994

Rayanne feels left out of Angela's life so she becomes the new lead singer for Jordan's band, Frozen Embryos. Patty suspects that Rayanne has started drinking again.

13. Pressure

December 1, 1994

Angela considers sleeping with Jordan, while Graham considers starting his own restaurant.

12. Self-Esteem

November 17, 1994

Jordan won't publicly acknowledge his new relationship with Angela although they continue to meet each other covertly. The new English teacher encourages Rickie to join the Drama Club. Graham attends his first cooking class and meets a loud, outspoken woman named Hallie Lowenthal.

11. Life of Brian

November 10, 1994

Told from Brian's point of view. Everyone tries to figure out whether or not they're going to Liberty High's World Happiness Dance...and, more importantly, who they're going with.

10. Other People's Mothers

November 3, 1994

Angela goes to Rayanne's house for the first time and meets Rayanne's mother, Amber. On the weekend, Rayanne decides to throw a party on the spur-of-the-moment, but Patty's party for her parents' 45th anniversary is on the same night, and Angela must decide which party to attend.

9. Halloween

October 27, 1994

Halloween rolls into Three Rivers, blurring the line between facades and realities.

8. Strangers in the House

October 20, 1994

Angela's relationship with Sharon and Graham's job dissatisfaction both hit critical levels when Sharon's father has a heart attack.

7. Why Jordan Can't Read

October 6, 1994

Angela and Jordan get close when she learns of his reading problem, and closer when she hears his new song. Patty and Graham try to cope with a possible pregnancy.

6. The Substitute

September 29, 1994

The new English substitute challenges the way Angela and her classmates think, encourages them to fully express themselves, and gets them to finally wake up, pay attention, and take action.

5. The Zit

September 22, 1994

Patty tries to talk Angela into a mother-daughter charity fashion show. Meanwhile, a list ranking the top 40 sophomore girls at Liberty High is released, and Sharon is voted Best Hooters.

4. Father Figures

September 15, 1994

Angela gives Graham the silent contempt treatment while Patty must deal with her own father when both the Grateful Dead and the IRS come to town.

3. Guns and Gossip

September 8, 1994

Everyone at Liberty High is stunned when a gunshot is heard in one of the school's hallways. Meanwhile, a rumor starts circulating about Angela and Jordan.

2. Dancing in the Dark

September 1, 1994

Rayanne arranges for Jordan to sell Angela a fake ID, while Patty and Graham stumble through ballroom-dancing lessons meant to put some spice back into their marriage.

1. My So-Called Life (Pilot)

August 25, 1994

At the start of her sophomore year at Liberty High, Angela Chase becomes friends with Rayanne Graff and dyes her hair red.

My So-Called Life

Trailer - 58 sec

Description

Fifteen year-old Angela Chase (Claire Danes)is a sophomore at the fictional Liberty High School in Three Rivers, Pennsylvania. Like many teenagers, she does not believe her friends and family understand her. Angela has chosen to distance herself from her childhood, more straight-laced friends and befriended the cooler, edgier Rayanne Graff (A.J. Langer) and Rickie Vasquez (Wilson Cruz). She develops a crush on Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto), the best-looking guy in school, who is also troubled. The show follows Angela as she deals with the daily issues that faced teenagers in the 1990s. The series is primarily narrated by Angela. Supporting characters included Angela's parents and younger sister.

My So-Called Life dealt with a number of modern issues, including first love, homosexuality in high school, and the pressure to have sex at a young age. The characters were not fashion plates like those in other shows aimed at teenagers. They dressed more or less the way high school students dressed. They didn't have perfect hair and makeup. The narrator expressed his thoughts in a manner that was consistent with the way teenagers thought. The show was also unique in that it was Angela's mother who provided the primary means of support for the family. All of these things made Angela and her problems seem real, creating a bond between her and the viewing audience.

My So-Called Life was produced by Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick, Winnie Holzman, and Scott Winant. It aired originally on ABC for one season of nineteen episodes in 1994-1995. After ABC cancelled the series, it re-ran on MTV as part of a fan-initiated effort to revive the show for another season.My So-Called Life is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (19 episodes). The series first aired on August 25, 1994.

My So-Called Life is available for streaming on the ABC website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch My So-Called Life on demand at Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, Google Play, Apple TV, ABC and IMDb TV.