Secret No More: ABC Family Orders Second Season Of 'American Teenager'
24-Episode Sophomore Campaign Slated To Begin This Summer
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 2/10/2009 7:18:19 AM
ABC Family has renewed The Secret Life of the American Teenager for a second season.
The network has ordered 24 more episodes of the series, which is produced by ABC Family in association with creator and executive producer Brenda Hampton's Brendavision.
The 23-installment first season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager is slated to conclude March 23, with the new installments tentatively scheduled to debut, beginning this summer, said Kate Juergens, executive vice president, original series programming and development, ABC Family.
The renewal follows ABC Family's recent pick-ups of a trio of series 10 Things I Hate About You, based on the theatrical of the same name; gymnast series Perfect 10; and comedy Ruby and the Rockits. Moreover, the service said that original series Greek and Lincoln Heights will make summer returns, with orders for 20 and 10 installments, respectively.
The network also announced the cancellation of Kyle XY after the three seasons. The supernatural show ends its original run on March 16.
Launched as the highest-rated original series in the network's history this past summer with 2.8 million viewers on July 1, Secret Life helped ABC Family notch its most-watched year ever in 2008, according to network officials.
The series has maintained its momentum in 2009 with the second half of its rookie year. In its new Monday 8 p.m. time period, season, the series, examining the relationships between families and friends and how they deal with an unexpected pregnancy and other teen issues, ranks first in all of television among females 12 to 34 (2.1 million of those watchers) since Jan. 5, when it counted 4.5 million watchers on average. It is also tops in cable with total viewers (3.7 million), adults 18 to 34 (1.1 million), adults 18 to 49 (1.7 million) and viewers 12-34 (2.5 million).
Since its Jan. 5 premiere, Secret Life has surpassed the CW's Gossip Girl head-to-head by 42% in total viewers, 6% among adults 18 to 49 and 67% with 12- to 34-year-olds, according to network officials.
"The Secret Life of the American Teenager has really struck a chord not just with our millennial audience, but with viewers across the board," said Juergens in a statement. "We're delighted to announce the series will return. The success of this show goes directly to creator Brenda Hampton's telling of this heartfelt story and is backed by the standout performances of our talented cast."
LOWDOWN ON THE UPFRONT: ABC Family Grows
05/02/2008ABC Family’s ‘Secret Life’ Is Out Of The Bag
07/02/2008
