My So-Called Life

About My So-Called Life

My So-Called Life was an iconic teen drama television series released in 1994 created by Winnie Holzman and produced by Edward Zwick. Centered around teenager Angela Chase, who is played by Claire Danes, the show explores themes of adolescent angst, identity search, and discovery. The show is set in suburban Pittsburgh and addresses topical issues such as child abuse, homophobia, teenage alcoholism, homelessness, adultery, school violence, and drug use.

Making / Production

The show was produced by ABC, with production help from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, the team behind 'thirtysomething'. Despite its critical acclaim, the series faced low ratings and was sadly cancelled after its first season. The show was filmed at the University High School in Los Angeles.

Actors

• Claire Danes as Angela Chase - An intellectually gifted 15-year-old who navigates the troubled waters of adolescence.
• Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano - Angela's primary love interest, who struggles with dyslexia and unforgiving parents.
• A.J. Langer as Rayanne Graff - Angela's best friend, an unruly girl dealing with alcohol and drug issues.
• Wilson Cruz as Enrique "Rickie" Vasquez - Angela's friend, a gay teenager dealing with his sexuality and acceptance.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show was the launching pad for the careers of Claire Danes and Jared Leto.
• The show was among the first to depict a gay teenage character (Rickie) as a series regular.
• Although it lasted for only one season, the show has achieved a significant cult following over time.

Awards

"My So-Called Life" received critical acclaim for its portrayal of adolescence and was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Claire Danes. Claire Danes won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Angela Chase.

Quotes

• "People always say you should be yourself, like yourself is this definite thing, like a toaster or something." - Angela
• "When you're not sure you trust a person anymore, say a person you really trusted, say your father, you start wishing they'd do something like really wrong, just to prove you were right." - Angela

Music, Soundtrack

• "Make It Home" by Juliana Hatfield
• "Soda Jerk" by Buffalo Tom
• Various songs by Sonic Youth, The Lemonheads and PJ Harvey