Best Teen Drama Series (1990-2009)
The 1990s saw an explosion in teen-centered programming, with a specific growth in the teen drama series. Many covered the soapy realities of high-school and college, others had more high concepts, including undercover cops, teen detectives, and vampire slaying. But they all had beautiful teenagers (or 20something actors PLAYING teenagers) feeling all of the feels on our TV set, week after week. Now the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to determine the Best Teen Drama Series that aired between 1990 and 2009! Shows discussed: “Veronica Mars,” “Party of Five,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Felicity,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Friday Night Lights,” “One Tree Hill,” “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Degrassi High,” “Glee,” “The O.C.,” “Freaks and Geeks,” “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” “Gossip Girl,” “My So-Called Life.”
Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Bob Erlenback, Brendan Hay, Joelle Boedecker, and Kara Austin as they discuss and debate 16 of the most iconic teen shows of the 90s and 00s.
Great Pop Culture Debate is brought to you by Factor Meals. Visit factormeals.com/greatpop50 and use the code greatpop50 for 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next month.
Play along at home by finding the listener bracket here. Make a copy for yourself, fill it out, and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Round 1 Match-Ups:
Not a Patreon subscriber? Here’s a primer on how we came up with the bracket.
Match-Up 1: “Veronica Mars” (2004-2007, UPN/CW) (1) vs. “Party of Five” (1994-2000, Fox) (4)
Match-Up 2: “Gilmore Girls” (2000-2007, WB/CW) (3) vs. “Felicity” (1998-2002, WB) (2)
Match-Up 3: “Dawson’s Creek” (1998-2003, WB) (1) vs. “Friday Night Lights” (2006-2011, NBC/101 Network) (4)
Match-Up 4: “One Tree Hill” (2003-2012, WB/CW) (3) vs. “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000, Fox) (2)
Match-Up 5: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003, WB/UPN) (1) vs. “Degrassi High” (1989-1991, CBC/PBS) (4)
Match-Up 7: “Freaks and Geeks” (1999-2000) (1) vs. “Degrassi: The Next Generation” (2001-2015, CTV/MuchMusic/MTV Canada) (4)
Match-Up 8: “Gossip Girl” (2007-2012, CW) (3) vs. “My So-Called Life” (1994-1995, ABC) (2)
Want to play along at home?
Download the Listener Bracket and see if your picks match up with ours!
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Episode Credits
Host: Eric Rezsnyak
Panel: Bob Erlenback, Brendan Hay, Joelle Boedecker, Kara Austin
Producer: Curtis Creekmore
Editor: Bob Erlenback
Theme Music: “Dance to My Tune” by Marc Torch
