Life very often imitates art...but sometimes, it's the other way around. These days, Hollywood - and the movies and television shows it creates - seems to be reflecting the fact that over half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. The National Campaign has collected some of the news articles and reports on Hollywood's "baby boom" as well as our response to the recent trend.
Check back often, as we will update this page when new movies and television shows that relate to teen and unplanned pregnancy are released.
Tell us what YOU think. Love the movie Knocked Up? Want to vent about Jamie Lynn? Send us an email and tell us your thoughts on the latest trend in Hollywood.
What's On Right Now?
The Media Takes a Stand Against Teen Pregnancy
This May, in honor of the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, leading entertainment media companies are promoting the National Day Quiz and delivering prevention messages in their programming. Here's what's happening:
- ABC Daytime’s “One Life to Live,” whose teen character Starr Manning (Kristen Alderson) is dealing with the consequences of teen pregnancy. Through the story line and through Kristen Alderson’s weekly blog, the show’s fans are learning the facts and using the show to start family conversations about sex, love, relationships and preventing teen pregnancy. Find out more at http://blogs.abc.com/kristen.
- The Candie’s Foundation, a leader in raising awareness of teen pregnancy by mobilizing celebrities, creating innovative ad campaigns, and keeping the national spotlight on the issue, will honor ABC Daytime (and other national leaders) for its commitment to the cause at the annual Event to Prevent gala in New York City on May 7. Find out more at http://www.candiesfoundation.org.
- NBC’s “The Baby Borrowers” is teaming up with members of The National Campaign’s Youth Leadership Team to screen the new reality series and to start a dialogue about the reality of teen pregnancy and the importance of prevention. The National Campaign and NBC collaborated on discussion guides for parents and teens, which will be available online when the show premieres on June 25 at 8-9:00 p.m. ET. Find out more at http://www.nbc.com.
- The N, Nickelodeon’s network for teens, will run teen pregnancy-related episodes of favorite shows including “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” “The Hills,” “Dawson’s Creek,” and others throughout the day on May 7, and will run The National Campaign’s “Stay Teen” PSAs all day. For more about The N, visit http://www.the-n.com.
- Fox Broadcasting Co. will air “Stay Teen” PSAs throughout May during popular prime-time shows including “Mad TV,” “American Dad” and others. Tune in and find out more about Fox prime time programs at http://www.fox.com.
- ThinkMTV.com, CWTV.com, Seventeen.com and YourProm.com are among the top web sites for teens that are featuring teen pregnancy prevention messages, promoting the quiz prominently throughout their sites, and encouraging users to grab the widget and get involved. Please visit their sites to find out more.
For a full list of National Day partners and to learn how you can support the National Day, please visit http://www.TheNationalCampaign.org/national/partners2008.aspx
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"One Life to Live's" Starr and Cole (Kristen Alderson and Brandon Buddy) |
Starr Manning is 16 and pregnant!
Starr Manning, a 16-year-old resident of Llanview, PA, had sex with her boyfriend Cole Thornhart for the first time last month and recently found out she’s pregnant. She’s scared and confused and isn’t sure what to do next. Her parents don’t know about the pregnancy but her dad is mad enough already after finding his daughter in bed with her boyfriend. Starr’s best friend, Langston, is trying to help, but she too is shaken up and afraid about what her friend is going through. No one knows for sure what will happen next.
So what makes Starr different from the hundred of thousands of other teen girls who get pregnant every year? For starters, Starr is a fictional character – she’s really actress Kristen Alderson – herself a 16-year-old – and a member of ABC’s “One Life to Live” family. She’s also blogging about her experience in this role – the good and the bad – at www.onelifetolive.com. And on April 11 she addresses the entire OLTL audience with some wise words about teen pregnancy prevention in a commercial during the broadcast.
This storyline, its related blog posts, media coverage and nationally televised public service announcements are all part of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen & Unplanned Pregnancy’s partnership with ABC Daytime. Working with the show to provide viewers with important information about teen pregnancy is just one of the ways the Campaign is reaching out to teens and parents with messages about sex, prevention, and consequences.
- Read Kristen’s blog
- Learn more about Starr and the other characters on OLTL
- Get tips on how to prevent pregnancy among the teens in your life
Recent Television Appearances
The Tyra Banks Show - Warner Brothers Television
February 11, 2008
Tyra speaks to young girls to find out why girls choose to have sex at such a young age, pressures they face to have sex and the options available to them if they find themselves pregnant. To learn more, visit The Tyra Banks Show's website.
Dr. Phil - NBC
February 1, 2008
Dr. Phil examines what happens when young girls find themselves having a baby while they're still in their teens. Check out Dr. Phil's website for more information.
Family Guy - FOX
January 27, 2007
When Meg reveals to the family that she is pregnant, Peter forces her and her boyfriend to tie the knot. For more information, check out the official Family Guy website at www.familyguy.com.
Gossip Girl - The CW
January 9, 2007
Gossip Girl rocked the whole world of the Upper East Side’s elite by reporting that Serena van der Woodsen was spotted buying pregnancy tests. Of course, on the Upper East Side, the truth is often even juicier and more scandalous than the gossip. Check out www.cwtv.com for more on Gossip Girl, including show info, games, and much more.
For more National Campaign television appearances, please visit the National Campaign Media section.
Recent Press Clips
Get Real, Hollywood: Babies Are No Joke
Washington Post
February 12, 2008
The National Campaign Responds to Jamie Lynn Spears
February 20, 2007
Going from Zoey 101 to Knocked Up
Washington Post
December 20, 2007
Jamie Lynn's Pregnancy Has Folks Talking
USA Today
December 19, 2007
For more National Campaign press clips, please visit the National Campaign Press section.