On my class field trip today (in between rainstorms, hikes through the swamp, and begging kids to quiet down on the bus), I chatted with some of my parent chaperones about teenage TV stars – past and present. It seemed to us that a lot of popular shows these days, especially the ones produced by Disney, are entirely focused on becoming a teenage somebody: Hannah Montana, iCarly, Victorious, True Jackson, Sonny With a Chance, The Jonas Brothers … I could go on and on. And, thanks to our media driven society, our kids know everything about these celebrities – good and bad. They know when their Hollywood idols drink, break up with their boy/girlfriend, get arrested, or take a few embarrassing pictures.
Back in the day, we had our own teenage stars – and they had just as many problems, although they were better hidden by the Hollywood set. (Until the stars grew up and wrote their memoirs.) Danny Partridge was abused at home; and the Brady kids were apparently using drugs and having sex with each other. (Ick!) Hollywood life has always been hard on young actors – Judy Garland was handed amphetamines by her studio to keep her energy high and her weight down. Go back even further – into the nineteenth century – and you will find that the teenage Fox sisters were exposed to the same troubling influences. Both Maggie and Kate were plied with alcohol at a young age, and Kate’s mother regularly dosed her with morphine-laced medicine to combat stress-induced migraines.
A wise adult might wish anything but stardom for their own children, based on the numerous cases of child and teenage actors and singers who develop serious, life-long problems thanks to their fame. And yet – let’s face it – we’ve always been attracted to them. Take good old Shaun Cassidy up there. Yes, I pasted his face all over my bedroom door when I was a youngster. Remember DiDoRonRon? Remember the Hardy Boys?
In honor of teenage celebrities throughout history – and especially my gals Maggie and Kate Fox – I’m giving away a We Hear the Dead T-shirt. (Maybe two, if I get over 10 responses …) All you have to do to enter is be a member of the blog and leave a comment on this post before Friday, June 18. (Coincidentally, that will also celebrate my last day of school!)
Tell us which teenage star you crushed on!
I had a crush on a guy from a British TV show based on the book, The Famous Five, by Edith Blyton.
My family went to Italy that year (I was 10), and I could have sworn the actor was on our tour of Venice. Let’s just say I don’t remember much of Venice.
Okay, that was news to me about the Brady Brunch kids. Double ick!
*Paws at others for shirt*
Wants! Wants!
I remember crushing on the youngest kid in Hanson.
My teenage heart will forever belong to the cast of The Outsiders: C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise. Stay gold!
Wow, you’ve brought back a flood of memories. I liked Keith Patridge (watched the show every Friday night along with The Brady Bunch and Rockford Files). I loved Donny Osmond, too. Still have a album somewhere of him with some sort of Flag-inspired jeans and a hat. Couldn’t get enough of the songs Puppy Love,, Lonely Boy, Go Away Little Girl and I’m Your Puppet. So now I’m really dating myself. But thanks for the memories. (Smiles) P.S. I might just have to dig that album out. But no record player to play it anyhow. Come to think of it, I don’t think my kids have ever seen a record player. Now that’s sad, no?
Definitely Sean Cassidy and his other half from the Hardy Boys. Bad memory – had to look him up. Parker Stevenson. I wonder what ever happened to him? Hate to say it because he such a eh now but Leif Garrett when he was young and cute. Oh- Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict in the original Battlestar Gallatica. Dreamy. Sigh – brings back lots of memories.
My eight year old self was in “love” with Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys and later on oddly enough Fox Molder from The X-Files, though David wasn’t a teenager or anywhere near my age for that matter. Needless to say, I really didn’t care.
I had a crush on Millie Perkins who played Anne Frank in the original movie. Now, of course, people say Millie Who?
Yay, Malcolm! I was wondering when we were going to hear from some men!
Gosh, Dianne, you’re making me feel naked. I wasn’t the type of tween or teen to go goo-goo over some hottie in a mag. I’ll never meet him, is what I used to think. But there was two that made my blood boil, not realizing it was a normal teenage reaction–heck, human reaction.
Johnny Depp…Mmmm…I was so ticked when Freddie sliced him to bits in A Nightmare on Elm Street. Grr…..
Then he was in 21 Jump Street. The show sucked but looking at him worked. “;-)
I want a shirt! I crushed on…Vincent Kartheiser, who is now on Mad Men. He’s not so great now, but back then he was dreaaaaaaaamy.
I wouldn’t mind having a t-shirt. After all, summer’s coming (some time!) and tees are required.
I will date myself thoroughly by answering Tim Considine playing Spin in the Disney’s Spin and Marty series. He also played Mike on My Three Sons. You’d have to go back to the 19th C. for an earlier crush than that! OMG! He’s older than I am! (Wiki)
I had a huge crush the 6 Million Dollar Man! I loved Lee Majors when I was a little girl. I loved him and The Fonz. I was all of 6 years old when those two shows came out.
MAJOR crush on Jordan from New Kids on The Block. I was 9 and we were soul mates.
Had to be Bobby Sherman! Or Lee Majors. Or John Travolta. Hmmm….I do feel old! But I will admit this for a chance at a shirt 🙂
Ok…really weird…I signed in with my google account, but it signs me in as george….maybe a 70s heartthrob named george is sending me a telepathic message that I needed to include his name…? Odd. Not sure how to do this otherwise and since I have my eye on that shirt, I’ll proceed with the posts!
Anyway, this is mt, not george 🙂
That’s hysterical, mt! Clearly, George is some kind of spirit trying to come through! Can anybody think of a long forgotten teen heartthrob named George …?
Maybe George Burns? That would support how much I’ve aged this school year…and with his powers from Oh God! he could blog through me…:)