Life as We Know It

"life as we know it" (no capitalizations for supreme coolness), despite it's obvious flaws is a stand-out drama series. The coming-of-age story follows three high school boys whose mission is that of almost every real life high school boy- the name need not apply. Dino, the central character grapples with his need to be intimate with his less than willing girlfriend and a stunning secret he has just learned about his mother. His friends Ben and Jonathan are less secure with their social status and sex life, one coming to terms with dating the girl everyone makes fun of and the other beginning a relationship with his young teacher that definitely crosses the professional line. The show stands out from other soapy dramas because of it's ability to be frank in discussions of sex and the consequences (and even rewards) that come from it. The boys speak their minds and hold nothing back which may offend some. But it's a truthful depiction that shows both the careless desire of high school life and the maturity that must come with sexual relationships. But the package, unfortunately, doesn't come without some nicks. The style of the three leads speaking to the camera when blurting confessions, while sometimes amusing is also conventional and clichéd. As is some of the dialogue that veers the story from an original format to glorifying potentially cardboard characters. The three leads, however, are extremely charismatic and play very well off of each other. Other notable praises should be directed at first-time actress Kelly Osbourne, who plays Deborah almost too convincingly. Her ability to generate emotion and sympathy for an all-too-true character is stellar. In "life as we know it", there's much to be worked with but equally as much to be destroyed. If the cards are played right (and the ratings are high enough) this could turn out to be a sophisticated, enlightening teen drama in the vein of "The OC".

I have watched the last 2 episodes and think the show is awesome. Anyone who thinks this show can be compared to Dawsons creek is dead wrong. Finally there is a show out there that takes things from a guys point of view and what they show is the truth. Most teen dramas, like those featured on the WB, make high school guys seem like babies when it comes to sex, 99.9% of guys just want to have sex and aren't all emotional about it, what I am trying to say is, it's nice to see Dino and the guys actually act like guys when it comes to sex instead of sitting around mulling over it with the girls and "analyzing" all the consequences of it. Great show, Jackie is gorgeous.

This show is yet another teen show but it's better then most. The teens actually talk and act like teens, they don't sound like "Dawson's Creek". Don't get me wrong, I actually liked Dawson's Creek but there's more comedy in Life As We Know It. The teens aren't trying to find their soul mate, they are trying to get laid and that's how most teens are. The teacher affair storyline has been used a lot but it works with this show. It's a new show and they needed something to get our attention so why not. I think this show is really good, it's funny but with a little drama. But where you find teens you will find drama. So for what it's worth I think that this show is one of the best I have seen in a long time and besides the guys are really hot and Kelly Osbourne, I thought that she would suck at acting but she doesn't. She's the best of the three girls on the show.

WOW.."Life as We Know It" has been only on 3 times and i've fallen head-over-heals for this show! I can relate to it so much. I give my friends, family, and myself each a role in the show... it is like our lives but on TV. I've never seen anything like this before. The show seems so real, like you are there with the characters. When the characters talk to the TV screen and say what they are feeling, i thik its great. For all those times a girl has no idea what a boy is really thinking in his head (and vice versa) it is revealed; and its not revealed in a corny way either, it actually makes sense. I hadn't seen previews for the show in a few weeks and i thought it might have be canceled, which would be completely wrong. This show is basically a teen agers life in a nut shell, and the way they have to deal with different difficulties is so real. I look forward to it every Thursday night!!

Coming from a 14-year-old male, I was genuinely interested in seeing this. I knew it was going to be blunt, but I had no idea. The guys willing tell you that they're horny, and one even gets up and runs off to the bathroom, presumably to masturbate.

At least wait until you get home.

ANYWAY, this is one of the best teen dramas I've seen in a while. The idea of characters narrating the story does make it seem a bit like My So-Called Life, but "life as we know it" found a different way of narrating. The background freezes, and the character looks directly at the camera and comments. It felt a little forced at the beginning, but it soon meshed in and felt natural.

Each of the main characters (Dino, Jonathan, and Ben) have their own problems, aspirations and failures, and plenty of flaws. And they talk like any normal person would. I'm sick of hearing people on TV flaunting words I've never even heard of.

The characters were well thought-out, they appear to be contrived for a moment,(Stud, Skittish Nerd, A Student) but almost immediately reveal different facets to their personalities, making them seem multi-dimensional. By the time I finished the pilot I felt like they were my best friends, that I'd known them my whole life. The acting is very good, especially coming from kids, and Kelly Osbourne held up remarkably well.

Their reactions and emotions ring true, and thank God, Jonathan (the nerd) actually acts (although doesn't look) like a nerd. He stated, "I've only really been with one other girl, and she...well, we tried and I like, couldn't find anything. I mean, it's not like diagrams or even in the magazines, it's really complicated!! So...she just laughed and, um, left."

Ouch. But finally a "nerd" who has "nerdy" problems.

Anyway, this is one of the best, and most realistic teen dramas I've seen in a while. It's actually quite funny at points, so it's thankfully not a soap-fest. And it's also a relief to see a teen drama that isn't built around an outlandish premise...(cough, The OC, One Tree Hill, cough cough). It takes place in thankfully unremarkable Seattle. I just hope that this show doesn't fall into the same ratings no-mans-land that My So-Called Life did.

So, watch this show, it'll be worth your while.