My Love/Hate Relationship With ABC Family

August 30, 2011 1:00 pm     Posted in Entertainment, HaHa  Jenn Inzetta g+ page

The first time I tuned into ABC Family was years and years ago. Other channels had been showing previews for an ABC Family drama about a girl and a horse. Still heartbroken over the loss of my beloved Caitlin’s Way (they totally stole the plotline!), I decided to give Wildfire a try.


By Jenn Inzetta

The premise was sketchy. The plotline was ill conceived, and the acting was terrible. But there was a snarky heroine and the beginnings of a love triangle…and lots of unnecessary drama. Needless to say, I was hooked.

Ever since, I have been a loyal — albeit, skeptical — ABC Family viewer. Sure there were some shows I skipped. (I mean did anyone actually watch Kyle XY? ) Somehow I never did get the Secret Life bug, and I never watched that one about gymnastics. But for the most part I’ve reveled not only in their oh-so-cheesy, made-for-TV movies (Mario Lopez Holiday in Handcuffs was cute okay?), but their hour long dramas, too. Greek will forever be one of my favorite ABC family shows. And yes, I did watch Wildfire all the way through. I was a loyal viewer of the TV version of 10 Things I Hate About You, despite the horrific pilot and now I DVR Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game every week without fail.

I love the drama and suspense that The Lying Game now brings to my Monday nights. I love the clothes and the cute boys and the never ending questions (Who is A? Someone please tell me!) that the little liars bring on Tuesdays. I loved the quirky cuteness of Greek and 10 Things. And I love that they continue to make really horrible Bring It On sequels.

But do you want to know something else?

I hate that I love these shows. Hate it. Because, as I’ve mentioned, they’re really pretty terrible. The acting, with a few exceptions, is subpar, the plotlines make no sense (How can A really be everywhere?), and the lines can get pretty cheesy. So why can’t I stop tuning in? What makes me want to watch these shows? Is it the same thing that forces me to find Jersey Shore fascinating or is it the morbid fascination that draws me into really horrible Lifetime movies? (Yes. I did watch William & Kate and I’m only a little ashamed to admit it.) Maybe. Or maybe it’s just that it’s good TV. Not intelligent TV, or well made TV, but fun, entertaining, lighthearted, time killing, suspense building TV.

I’ll leave you gals to ponder that. Because, if you’ll excuse me, last week’s episode of The Lying Game, is calling my name.

19 Comments on "My Love/Hate Relationship With ABC Family"

  1. wendynotlucky says:
    Tue, 30th Aug 20111:54 pm 

    Kyle XY was actually a good show.

  2. Marisa says:
    Tue, 30th Aug 20113:46 pm 

    My guess is that A is everywhere because A is a group of people.

  3. Vicki says:
    Tue, 30th Aug 20114:59 pm 

    I actually read the Pretty Little Liars series before the show started, so I'm not totally in love with it because there are so many diversions from the books. I know who A is (or at least the first one), so I'm hoping that they don't mess with that or I'll be done with the show.

  4. Mel says:
    Tue, 30th Aug 20115:59 pm 

    Lol I watched Kyle XY. Don't knock it til you've seen it. :P

  5. Lauren says:
    Tue, 30th Aug 20117:12 pm 

    Remember the show Huge last summer with Nikki Blonsky from Hairspray? I thought it was very good even though, yes, the acting was sub-par. But it was sadly canceled. Also, why did they stop airing Gilmore Girls re-runs??

  6. Madeline says:
    Tue, 30th Aug 20119:18 pm 

    I still think it’s ridiculous how all the fans of the PLL tv show are so obsessed with figuring out who A is and yet still don’t read the books.

  7. Ann says:
    Tue, 30th Aug 201110:09 pm 

    A from the books isn't the same as the show. They changed it.

  8. Lisa says:
    Wed, 31st Aug 20115:05 am 

    I HATE that i love these shows as well. I get very sneaky when i watch it on hulu, and I rapidly click away when people notice. But i do have a thing for Pretty Little Liars, and also allthough not from ABC Gossip Girl.
    And there is an election in my country which i should spend more time on. How can i be an intelligent person, and yet SO stupid?

  9. Cait says:
    Wed, 31st Aug 20111:22 pm 

    How bout Switched at Birth?

  10. liltxchic47 says:
    Sat, 3rd Sep 201112:51 pm 

    i am a huge gilmore fan. why they replaced gilmore girls with secret life is beyond me. bring back gilmore girls!

  11. e.tuoihy says:
    Sun, 4th Sep 20113:44 pm 

    poor abc do you really think we need another cooking show ??the people that watch amc and oltl will just turn to another station to find another soap ,as they did when other soaps were let go.

  12. el tuohy says:
    Sun, 4th Sep 20113:47 pm 

    poor abc do we need another food show,we have food net etc.the people that watch ams &oltl will turn to another soap on another chan.

  13. James Farrel says:
    Mon, 5th Sep 201110:47 am 

    Only show I ever watched on ABC Family was Greek. I loved that show. Oh well.

  14. Christina says:
    Tue, 6th Sep 20116:14 pm 

    I loved Kyle XY!! Im still mad that they canceled it!!!

  15. Vanessa says:
    Wed, 7th Sep 20115:21 am 

    Kyle XY was a good show…I loved Kyle & Jessi!!! I am now obsessed with ♥♥♥The Lying Game♥♥♥I love Melissa & Joey…and although The Nine Lives of Chloe King is pretty boring at times, I love the love triangle between Chloe, Alek & Brian!!!

  16. Nikki says:
    Wed, 7th Sep 201110:17 am 

    I am so pissed they cancelled Gilmore Girls re-runs…..that was a great show! and funny as all hell!! Bring back GG's!!!

  17. Christian says:
    Wed, 7th Sep 20117:32 pm 

    Gilmore Girls is back on the schedule weekdays at 11 starting October 3.

    As for the article, Kyle XY had way more viewers than your precious Wildfire so I’d say, yes, people watched it and those who didn’t missed a great show. I’m also addicted to Pretty Little Liars, Make It or Break It (the gymnastics show as you put it) and Switched at Birth. Chloe King and The Lying Game are pretty terrible while I continue to watch Secret Life despite my better judgment. I’m also hooked on CW’s line up. Maybe I just need to grow up lol.

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