Living vicariously through 'Greek'
Posted: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:00 AM by Paige Newman
Filed Under:
TV
Sometimes I think I’m stuck in adolescence. But then it occurs to me: I hated high school and the way every decision I made (even down to picking out clothes for school) turned into Oscar-worthy high drama. So yes, for me, high school sucked. But then why do I love TV shows that focused on troubled (and not so troubled) teens making their way through beautiful candy-colored worlds?
ABC Family |
Rusty (Jacob Zachar) and Cappie (Scott M. Foster) prove that college is even more fun that you remember in "Greek."
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“Greek,” which I admitted was a guilty pleasure a while back, is one of my favorites. And nope, I was never in a sorority (heck, the college I attended didn’t even have a Greek system). But there’s some kind of fantasy fulfillment here. Maybe it’s the same way cooking shows always make me think that I could actually cook (um, yeah, not so much – just toast). But watching Cappie, the president of the slacker fraternity on campus, who’s perfected the “I just rolled out of bed look” plan his next party or long for ex-girlfriend Casey gives me some kind of weird vicarious thrill. I’m locked in and reminded of the way I used to talk on the phone with my junior high school friends for hours (these days, I prefer a short text).
And that’s not the only fabulous teen show. There’s also “Gossip Girl” (returning Sept. 1 on the CW) in which the evil Chuck Bass truly fascinates as he answers the question: Why do women date jerks? Well, they’re kind of intriguing – especially when you’re 17 and always trying to be so darn “nice” all the time. And I love that “Gossip” doesn’t go so heavy on the “moral of the story” part of the equation, which as an adult (who’s far too old to watch these shows to begin with), I really don’t need.
And there’s a long tradition of these great shows: From “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” to “The O.C.” to “My So-Called Life.” And yes, I watched all those, too. Plus, many, many more, which maybe I still have enough shame not to mention. I will give the new “90210” a try, primarily because it features the talented Tristan Wilds (last seen shooting someone in the head on HBO’s “The Wire”).
But still, when I admit to friends that I watch these shows, their response is usually an eyebrow-raised “You watch that?” Is it weird to be drawn into the world of pretty teens when those days are far behind you? Do you watch teen shows? If so what are some of your favorites and why?
