[Top Ten Tuesday] YA TV Shows

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. 

Top 10 YA TV Shows

In no specific order...

Saved by the Bell

Mark Paul-Glossar, Mario Lopez

Ahhh... Saved by the Bell!!!! My sister and I used to record the show's sound on a cassette tape and then at bed time we would play the day's episode over again with the images flashing in our heads. So basically we had bootleg audiobooks of SbtB... haha.

Dawson's Creek

James Van Der Beek, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Michelle Williams

I'm not even sure if these needs an explanation but no love triangle will ever be as triangle-ish as Pacey, Dawson and Joey. Over 6 seasons the gang helped me, on weekly basis, navigate 7th grade through high school graduation. My parents divorced around the time Dawson's started airing so on Wednesdays it became a weekly ritual with Dad on visitation night. I watched every single episode with Dad and that's special.

Young Americans

Ian Somerhalder, Kate Bosworth

This show was short lived at eight episodes but for some reason I have never forgotten it. Set in at a private school located in a small town there was lust, transgender issues, classism, and all the high school drama your heart can handle. The main character Will had a guest spot in Dawson's Creek and the show was intended to be a summer filler that never really blossomed. If I could find this on DVD I would ship it so hard!

Roswell

Shiri Appleby, Jason Behr, Brendan Fehr, Katherine Heigl

Aliens in high school! This was another series I watched in full with Dad and we were so disappointed when it got cancelled. I totally shipped Alex and Isabel, and loved Michael for all his broody awesomeness. These days you can catch Brendan Fehr in NBC's The Late Shift, Nick Wechsler in Revenge, and Emilie de Ravine in Once Upon a Time. This was Katherine Heigl's launching pad post-Disney movies and pre-Grey's Anatomy.

Don't click the above unless you want to see the moment Jimmy gets shot. So it's a spoiler of sorts.

Degrassi: The Next Generation

Nina Dobrev, Aubrey "Drake" Graham, Miram McDonald, Cassie Steele, Shane Kippel

Degrassi is easily the longest running teen show in North America and a major Canadian franchise. Now on the air for 14 seasons it's guts to tackle deep issues way before they became reality. My sister and I began watching this show when we were roommates in college. From eating disorders, to school shootings, teenage pregnancy, suicide, murder... you name it and Degrassi covered it. These days you can find Aubrey Graham under his stage name Drake performing in an arena and Nina Dobrev on Vampire Diaries.

Gilmore Girls

Alexis Bledel, Lauren Graham, Melissa McCarthy, Jared Padalecki

Gilmore Girls!!!! There are not enough words for this show. Growing up is hard and Lorelai and Rory were no exception. This duo showed us what it was like to have a mom/be a mom and be a BFF. Navigating family (Gilmore parents are a hoot!), first and last loves, books, friendships and so much more. Each season just made me feel like I was growing up too. These days you can find Melissa McCarthy in a number of awesome comedy movies but it was here she made us laugh first. Jared Padalecki is probably more famous now as Sam on Supernatural but he'll always be Dean to me. 

My So-Called Life

Claire Danes, Jared Leto

If there was ever a show on this planet that didn't deserve to be canceled after one season it was this show!!! I could rant all day about how ABC and Claire Danes pissed me off but I digress... Jordan was the perfect, imperfect bad boy who could brood your boxer shorts off. Seriously though, the eyes. Angela was awkward and her group of friends lived out a very real life for 19 short episodes in 1994. Claire Danes went on to win both the Golden Globe and Emmy for her role as Angela Chase. These days you can find Claire Danes on Homeland and Jared Leto accepting Oscar Awards for his film roles and playing with his band 30 Seconds to Mars.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Sarah Michelle Geller, David Boreanaz, Nicholas Brendan, Alyson Hannigan

Buffy is cult classic that went on for seven season running in parallel with Dawson's Creek as The WB beefed up it's YA presence in the late 90's. I loved this show and watched it religiously. Buffy's friendships and loyalties made her an amazing heroine who had one major flaw... her love for Angel. As far a paranormal TV for teens this is top notch. It's on Netflix in case you need to OD (I mean binge watch) all seven seasons!

Boy Meets World

Ben Savage, Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Rider Strong, William Daniels

I can honestly say that there is no show quiet like this one. From Topanga and Cory's growing love, the bromance between Shawn and Cory, and Mr. Feeny to guide us all the way. So many episodes left my sister and me in tears and with deep thoughts about life. I could watch re-runs of this show forever and sometimes when I feel a bit lost I just watch an episode or two. 

My number one show right now is...

Teen Wolf

Tyler Posey, Dylan O'Brien, Tyler Hoechlin, Holland Roden

I started watching Teen Wolf on Netflix and binge watched it leading up to season 2B. I was hooked!!!!!! I love everything about this show. It's bits of horror, Stiles' humor, all of the folklore and paranormal legends. Every week someone dies, someone lives, someone gets kisses, someone loses their shirt... basically it's a good time.

Talk to me:

What YA TV did you grow up with or currently obsessed with?