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"My So-Called Life" (1994) More at IMDb Pro »

My So-Called Life: "Dancing in the Dark," "Guns & Gossip" (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: A show so popular with its core audience that it runs in syndication even though only 19 episodes were made, My So-Called Life was the world's first introduction to actress Claire Danes (Romeo & Juliet, Home for the Holidays, The Mod Squad), who played the lead character Angela. In "Dancing in the Dark," Angela daydreams during science class, recalling the few times she's been kissed. She's been thinking about Jordan Catalano, a handsome boy who seems out of her reach. Her spunky and out-of-control friend Rayanne decides to throw the two together by getting Jordan to drop by Brian Krakow's house, where Angela and Brian (who has a crush on Angela) are doing a science project for extra credit. Meanwhile, Angela's parents try to rekindle their marriage-worn affections by taking up ballroom dancing. While both Angela and her parents muddle through their experiments with romance, viewers are treated to a well-written, shot and edited show, which set the pace for all hour-long teen oriented programs to come.

"Guns and Gossip" continues with the parallel story structure of "Dancing in the Dark." Brian Krakow witnesses a gunshot in the hallway at school. As word passes, Brian becomes more and more of a legendary figure. While he is pressured by school officials and uptight parents to identify the person involved, Angela has to contend with rumors that she slept with Jordan Catalano. Boys start looking at her differently, and she finds herself at delicate odds with Jordan. Less about romance and more about teenage issues, "Guns and Gossip" is a sophisticated intertwining between the power of rumors and the truth of actual events. --Shannon Gee

My So-Called Life: "Father Figure," "The Zit" (vhs):

Amazon.com video review: Although the television show My So-Called Life ran for a mere 19 episodes, its popularity has lived on in syndication, various Web sites (that include fan fiction and episode analysis), and home video. Volume 3 of the video series includes the episodes "Father Figure" and "The Zit." In "Father Figure," Angela's father Graham, who was considering having an extramarital affair, senses that Angela is beginning to pull away from him. He tries to remedy this by giving her and her friend Rayanne Grateful Dead tickets. While Rayanne (who doesn't know her father) is joyous, Angela, who is suspicious, wants nothing to do with the tickets and decides to scalp them. Angela's mother Patty is also struggling with her own father who doubts her ability to run the family business. When the business is audited by the IRS the same night as the concert, fathers and daughters clash as they try to equalize their relationships.

In "The Zit," the sophomore girls top-40 list is released at school. While Rayanne is deemed "most slut potential" and Angela's estranged friend Sharon is voted "best hooters," Angela's only award is a big pimple on her chin. As her self-esteem shrinks, Patty insists she participate in the yearly mother-daughter fashion show, coaching her on "how to look your best." Although Patty has always been told how pretty she is, her own insecurities on aging have projected onto fixing up Angela, who feels she will never live up to her mother's expectations. Bess Armstrong, who plays Patty, gives a complex performance here and Angela and Sharon exchange harsh words in a scene that rings true to life. --Shannon Gee