Why teen TV is thriving again

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Today with David McCullagh 9 min 2 speakers 8 chapters transcribed 22 days ago

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Why are teen TV shows experiencing a resurgence in popularity?

David McCullagh 0:00

First love, first heartbreak, trying to fit in, trying to stand out. The themes haven't changed, but the way they're being told has. Whether you're sixteen or sixty, everyone remembers first love, trying to fit in and figuring out who they are. Modern television shows aimed at young adults or teens are surfing a wave of popularity by telling those stories in a more authentic and inclusive way than ever before, and they are appealing beyond their target age range. Here to tell us why they're So popular. Fanula Jones, presenter and broadcaster, and Aiden O'Connell freelance journalist. You're both very welcome. Good morning to you. Yeah. Uh Fanula, start with you. Young Adults series. Wha what are we talking about here?

Fionnuala Jones 0:35

I think a young adult series kind of qualifies as a series that focuses on issues that tend to affect young adults. And generally speaking the cast is, you know, we're following like kind of like high schoolers, late high schoolers kind of going into college generally, I would say.

David McCullagh 0:50

Okay. And yes, Aiden, they do Yeah, have a resonance beyond that age range, don't they?

Édaein O' Connell 0:56

They do, yeah, because I think everybody remembers that time in their lives and we love a bit of nostalgia. So I think it does take you back to that period of like first love, first heartbreak. Now a lot of these series like they are very dramatic. Mm. Like there's things happening in some of these series I'm like that would not In real life. But like I think I grew up in like and you probably would too, like the golden era of these, which I would think be like Wuntry Hill and the O C and like Gossip Girl. Yeah. Which were just like when I think back, like they were just great TV shows. And they obviously had all those stories treaded through, but you know, you had the drama and they all like looked really good.

What defines a modern young‑adult series and how does it differ from older teen dramas?

Édaein O' Connell 1:32

The music was brilliant. Oh my god, the music the music was amazing. The settings were class. Yeah.

David McCullagh 1:38

Yeah. But we do have a a number of series that are really uh hitting home and and j enjoying huge popularity. Let's have a listen to one of them. This is Sterling Point.

Fionnuala Jones 1:47

Sorry, are you like Saying that we should break up for the summer?

Unknown 1:53

No. Annie, no what? No. Unless you want to break up for the song.

Fionnuala Jones 2:04

Okay. Okay. Oliver, Oliver, just like let's just like sure. It's all good. Are you what's happening?

Unknown 2:09

I would say You Sup pince? Connor! Uh, grandpa died. What? But not like grandpa grandpa, you know, mom's dad, the one who apparently sucks sorry, suck.

David McCullagh 2:26

I was watching the trailer for this last night.

How does the series Sterling Point illustrate the new formula for teen TV success?

David McCullagh 2:28

It actually looks bloody brilliant.

Fionnuala Jones 2:30

Yeah, it's really good. It's so good. I started it last night because there's been a lot of talk around it. I suppose what they've kind of nailed, because there Aiden mentioned that there is some ridiculousness in it. This isn't a spoiler, it's in the first episode. They inherit an island. Like, how does that happen? But with this show, you don't have the right relatives, obviously. Yeah, literally. Hello, if anyone wants to ring me, um please and let me know about land that I can inherit. Um, but with this, Megan Park is the creator, and I've seen a lot of coverage. of it where basically like the dialogue is way more re way way more realistic. You can hear it in that clip. Oh, they sound

David McCullagh 3:00

like teenagers. Exactly, yeah. And

Fionnuala Jones 3:02

I think that comes down to I think she was letting the cast kind of improv and change the dialogue on the fly and feedback to be like they young people would never say this, teenagers would never say this. Yeah, it was a lot more

Édaein O' Connell 3:12

authentic. Yeah. It was just done really well. Like I watched the whole thing, and in comparison to some of the ones that say would be on Netflix at the minute, which like there's a formula that they all follow. It's so easy now. Like you can watch the trailer. There's one coming out in the next few weeks called Crew Girl. It's this girl again. Like she something happens, her and her mother. And look disaster.

Why is authentic, improvised dialogue crucial for connecting with today’s audience?

Édaein O' Connell 3:30

She ends up in a private school on the East Coast. Oh. And it's like terrible disaster central. And like she becomes part of a rowing team. I mean like there's a love triangle and it's just this formula they follow and I think Sterling Point just got it really did it really, really well.