1994: ABC Debuts 'My So-Called Life'
August 25, 2020
| By TV WW
This day in 1994 marked the debut of the critically-acclaimed drama, My So-Called Life. The ABC series served as the first big acting break for its then-teen star Claire Danes, who portrayed the show's protagonist, high school sophomore Angela Chase.
My So-Called Life received accolades for the realistic way in which it portrayed adolescent angst and the emotional journey many teens go through while forging their pre-adult personalities. The show also wrapped weighty topics such as teenage drug and alcohol use, homelessness, homophobia, and child abuse into its ongoing storylines.
The show was cancelled after just one season, despite protests from fans, in part because the network perceived it to be a show that appealed mostly to teens — and because its star, Danes, reportedly did not want to return for a second season.
My So-Called Life was created by Winnie Holzman and produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. Holzman had served as a writer on the Zwick and Herskovitz shows, thirtysomething and Once and Again. She went on to create other notable angst-ridden characters. Holtzman was the author of the stage book for the 2003 Broadway production, Wicked, a story based on the Gregory Maguire novel that traced the early friendship of the witches of Oz. And, along with her daughter, Savannah Dooley, Holzman developed the 2010 ABC Family series, Huge. The show, which starred Hairspray's Nikki Blonsky, revolved around a group of teens at a weight-loss camp.