STORIES ON POPULAR

Searching for oneself on the WB ‘Popular’ puts teen struggles through hyperkinetic pacing By Aaron Knopf MSNBC

Sept. 29 — “Popular,” a new offering from The WB, has a lot in common with its characters: Both are searching for their identities. The show’s self-confident side is reminiscent of the best John Hughes or John Cusack movies from the ’80s — a zany yet affecting portrayal of teens struggling to figure out who they want to be.
FUNKY DIRECTION, like the inclusion of a “zit cam” that hones in on a student’s face or the sound of bowling pins crashing when one girl pushes another out of the way at a dance, takes the edge off a subject that can be so clichéd. But sometimes “Popular” is afraid to be quirky. Too often it conforms to the expectation that teen shows have to be melodramatically earnest. “Popular” focuses on two sophomore-year high school cliques: the ultrapopular set and a more average gang. It smartly doesn’t make the less-popular kids a bunch of absolute geeks who would only become objects of pity to viewers.
Sam McPherson (Carly Pope), who bears a striking resemblance to Alanis Morisette, is the de facto leader of the secondary group. She’s awash with confusion about how to be herself and still be popular. Serving as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper is one of the more noble ways she tries to solve that equation. Thinking that a tattoo or nose ring may be the answer shows she has a lot to learn.
CHEERLEADER AS OBJECT OF IRE The chief object of Sam’s ire is Brooke McQueen, head cheerleader and girlfriend of the football team’s quarterback. It’s not like the two have much to do with each other, but Sam resents Brooke’s status as class trendsetter. Brooke’s life is hardly perfect. She’s a recovering anorexic who doesn’t like being in the class spotlight all the time but is too insecure to give it up. “We don’t make homecoming court if you’re a drama geek,” she blurts out at her boyfriend, Josh Ford (Bryce Johnson), when he’s ready to shuck his jock status for the lead in the school musical. Brooke also wants to pick Sam’s friend Carmen Ferrara (Sara Rue) for a spot on the JV cheerleading squad but then succumbs to peer pressure to steer clear of overweight applicants. Finding enough airtime to introduce subplots for all the members of the two clans is tough. Even though the pilot is a two-parter, some of the characters never move beyond caricature. Brooke’s friend Nicole (Tammy Lynn Michaels) serves littlepurpose except to be nasty, although her venomous tirades do add to the show’s hyperkinetic pacing. The antics of Josh’s pal Sugar Daddy (Ron Lester, who played Billy Bob in “Varsity Blues”), a white homeboy-wannabe, are good for laughs. The school’s catty teachers, often willing to use the students for their own ends, also are a hoot.
PURELY PLATONIC The character who really deserves development is Sam’s best bud, Harrison John (Christopher Gorham). All he does in the first two episodes is help Sam with her journalism projects and pine over Brooke. But the inclusion of a platonic friendship (with little evidence that it will be otherwise) between a guy and a girl is one of the show’s nicest touches. Another subtly realistic element is the show’s take on obesity, which has such an effect on the social status of a female character, Carmen, but none whatsoever on the popularity of Sugar Daddy, an incredibly fat guy. These elements, not the long-winded trying-to-be-popular-is-hard monologues, are what often make “Popular” a refreshingly honest show amid its over-the-top camera antics and soundtrack. Unfortunately, as the second episode progresses, “Popular” becomes more and more preachy until it backs itself into a corner — almost. A surprise twist ending offers intriguing possibilities for the future. How those possibilities are handled will ultimately determine whether “Popular” lives up to its name.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/316721.asp?cp1=1#BODY

Friday October 29 2:56 AM ET
WB Gets More 'Popular' By Josef Adalian
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - ``Popular'' has proven to be just that with WB Network executives, who committed to a full season of the teen-targeted rookie drama Thursday.
The order for nine additional shows means the producers will make 22 episodes of the show about the eternal battle of cool vs. uncool among high school teens.
Airing Thursdays at 8 p.m., ``Popular'' has quickly become the fourth most-watched series this season among female teens, averaging an 8.0 rating/27 share to beat NBC's powerhouse ''Friends'' in the narrow demo group. By pairing ``Popular'' with ``Charmed'' Thursdays from 8-10 p.m., the WB has also vaulted to No. 2 with femmes 18-34 on the night, behind NBC.