Hannah Montana (Television)

Episode titled: He Ain't a Hottie, He's My Brother

Season 3, episode 1.

Disney Channel original series.

Starring:
Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Mitchel Musso, Jason Earles, Billy Ray Cyrus.

Plot: Miley has a dream that her brother Jackson is about to kiss her friend Lily. When she wakes up she decides that she had the dream because she ate her dad's Pork Rinds before bed. Well Liliy comes over and really does like Jackson. Miley is creeped out by how smitten Lily is. Lily asks Miley to find out if Jackson likes her back and he says he does. Miley tells Lily that He doesn't and Lily cries. Jackson comes out to find Llily and Miley tells him that Lily meant she likes President Andrew Jacks on, not him. He is upset and runs off crying. On the Mack & Mickey Morning Show Miley is performing as Hannah Montana when Jackson and Lily start arguing. During the interview Jackson and Lily say great things about Miley/Hannah, like how she is honest and always there for them. She fesses up about how she lied to them and they get mad at her. Later Lily explains to Miley that it is her business who she dates and Miley will just have to live with it. Miley agrees. Turns out the whole thing was a dream, Lily does not like Jackson and all is sane in Miley's world.

Genre: Musical, humor

Interest level: ages 8-12

Subjects/themes: pop stars, music, friendship, family.

Awards:

• 2007 Kids Choice Award for Favorite Television Actress - Miley Cyrus
• 2007 Teen Choice Award for Favorite Television Actress - Miley Cyrus
• 2007 Teen Choice for TV Show Comedy - Hannah Montana cast and crew
• 2008 Kids Choice for Favorite Television Actress - Miley Cyrus
• 2008 Teen Choice for Favorite Television Actress - Miley Cyrus
• 2008 Teen Choice for TV Show Comedy- Hannah Montana cast and crew

Wizards of Waverly Place (Television)

Episode titled: Smarty Pants

Season 2, episode 1.

Disney Channel original series.

Starring:
Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Jake T. Austin, Jennifer Stone, Maria Canals Barrera, David Deluise.

Plot: The episode opens with the wizards getting a lesson on Wizard Wear. Smarty pants give the person wearing them super knowledge on everything, but there are side effects if you wear them too long. At school Alex agrees to help set up for the Quiz Bowl so that she can talk to Dean. Her friend Harper is on the girl's team of the Quiz Bowl, and after one of her team members gets shocked by electicity, thanks to Alex for setting up the wiring to the buzzers wrong, Alex joins to help her friend out. Only problem is Alex isn't book smart. She decides to wear the Smarty Pants and ansers all the questions during the first round at the Quiz Bowl. Harper gets upset, so Alex takes the pants off, but she left them on too long and now she has skeleton legs. She leaves embarrassed and Harper goes on to win for the girl's side. Luckily everyone will think Alex was only wearing skeleton tights.

Genre: Fantasy

Interest level: ages 8-12

Subjects/themes: wizards, magic, friendship, family.

Awards:

• 2009 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actress - Selena Gomez
• 2009 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming
• 2009 Alma Award for Special Achievement Comedy Television Actress- Selena Gomez
• 2010 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards for Favorite TV Actress- Selena Gomez
• 2010 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress Comedy- Selena Gomez

The Vampire Diaries (Television)

Based on the Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith.

Episode titled: Pilot

Starring:
Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert
Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore
Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore

Originally aired September 10, 2009 on the CW television network.

Timeslot: Thursday at 8 pm.

Plot: Nina begins the new school year in the town of Mystic Falls, trying to come to terms with the death of her parents. She and her younger brother Jeremy are living with their aunt. She is immediately attracted to the mysterious new guy at school, Stefan, who she doesn't know is a vampire. They are in many of the same classes together and she invites him to a party. The two of them have a few things in common, like writing in journals and that both their parents are dead. Elena's brother is having a difficult time coping and is messing with drugs. The girl he likes, Vicky, isn't interested in him, and gets bitten by a vampire and taken to a hospital. Stefan's brother Damon, also a vampire, is the one who bit Vicky. After a fight between the two brothers we learn that Stefan doesn't want to live as a vampire and refuses to feed on humans, while Damon continues to hunt. It is revealed that they can live in the sunlight by wearing special rings.
*Due to references about sex, drugs and alcohol, I would recommend this show to older tweens.

Genre: Horror, fantasy

Interest level: Ages 13 & up

Subjects: Vampires, romance, loss, school, growing up.

Awards:

• Teen Choice 2010- Choice for Fantasy/Sci-fi TV Show
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice for Fantasy/Sci-fi Actor -Paul Wesley
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice for Fantasy/Sci-fi Actress -Nina Dobrev
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice TV Villain -Ian Somerhalder
• Teen Choice 2010- Choice for Breakout Show

Glee (Television)

Episode Titled: The Rocky Horror Glee Show

Originally aired on October 27, 2010 on Fox at 8 pm.

Season 2

Plot: The students in the Glee Club are performing The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the school musical, which came about because club director, Will Schuster, wanted to impress guidance couselor Emma. This episode touches on ethical issues, due to the content of Rocky Horror and that high school kids will be performing it. It also deals with insecurities that the student have with their bodies, since some of the scenes are done in their underwear.


Starring:
Matthew Morrison as Will Schuster
Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester
Lea Michele as Rachel Berry
Jayma Mays as Emma Pillsbury
Cory Monteith as Finn Hudson

Genre: Musical comedy/drama

Interest level: Ages 10 & up

Subjects/themes: high school, insecurities, relationships, music, singing.

Awards:

• Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series 2010
• Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series 2010
• Golden Globe for Best Television Series- Musical or Comedy 2010
• Screen Actor's Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2010

Personal thoughts: I really love this show, and I think it covers a lot of issues teens and tweens go through, like budding relationships, self expression, family drama, etc. And they support the arts, which gives kids an outlet for self expression and a way to display their talents.