20 years "My So-Called Life"

General discussion about the nineteen episodes of "My So-Called Life". Note: Our episode guide can be found here.
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Sascha
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20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by Sascha » Aug 25th 2014, 4:00 am

August 25, 1994 -- Bill Clinton was President, the Internet was still in its infancy and ABC aired the pilot episode of a new tv show: "My So-Called Life" premiered exactly 20 years ago with 14-year old Claire Danes as its main star.

So much time has passed, but the show still resonates with viewers all over the world. Maybe it's a little bit quieter here on this website, but I'm sure the show still holds a very special place in our hearts. So, get your DVDs out and watch your favorite episode(s)! :D

To celebrate the anniversary, Flavorwire has ranked every "My So-Called Life" episode. http://flavorwire.com/473399/every-my-s ... d/view-all

Den of Geek reminds us "How My So-Called Life changed teen drama": http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/my-so-calle ... teen-drama (and will look tomorrow at the careers of the stars of the show)

The Examiner lists a few lesser-known facts about the show:
http://www.examiner.com/article/my-so-c ... ic-teen-sh

The Boston Globe mentions Angela, Brian and Jordan in their list of "best tv triangles": http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014 ... le_Related

Why not watch a short video of Winnie Holzman discussing her research strategy for the pilot episode? PaleyCenter.org is featuring a short excerpt from PaleyFest 1995: http://www.paleycenter.org/

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by Sascha » Aug 25th 2014, 8:51 am

Wilson Cruz posted two pictures on his Facebook and Twitter feeds in light of todays 20th anniversary:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=508206075949387
http://instagram.com/p/sGGqsQEoTE/

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by stburr91 » Aug 25th 2014, 3:05 pm

I was just watching the pilot episode this past weekend in honor of it's 20th anniversary. Seeing the pilot again, I couldn't help but to be struck by how much thought, and care went into that episode. I think I still love the show as much today, as I did when it originally aired, albeit in a different way. The thought, and care that went into the show by all involved, allows it to live on still today, 20 years later. I encourage you all to watch the show again, are remember why we all love the show so much.

I also want to say thank you to the people that have kept this great site alive all of these years.

Steve
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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by Sascha » Aug 26th 2014, 2:16 am

Some more media items:

Time.com has an article by Winnie Holzman's daughter, Savannah Dooley, about the show: "Finding My So-Called Queer Identity in My So-Called Life" http://time.com/3160995/my-so-called-li ... niversary/

The Decider lists the 40 Most Important Objects from "My So-Called Life": http://decider.com/2014/08/25/my-so-cal ... niversary/

Us Magazine features a "Then & Now" Photo Gallery: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-new ... 4208/40117

And finally, Bess Armstrong tells us in Vanity Fair what could have happened in Season 2: http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/ ... alled-life

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by Sascha » Aug 27th 2014, 9:56 am

Jeff Perry ("Mr. Katimski") remembers his time on the show: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainme ... lled-life/

The Fashionista claims that "The Fashion of My So-Called Life is still relevant 20 years later":
http://fashionista.com/2014/08/my-so-ca ... nniversary

Screencrush wonders why "Why It Still Gets You Like No One Else Does, 20 Years Later"
http://screencrush.com/my-so-called-lif ... nniversary

Another piece on TIME.com: A short interview with Winnie Holzman.
http://time.com/3162138/my-so-called-life-claire-danes/
What would have happened to the characters if the show hadn’t been canceled?

There were thoughts I had, and I would have done some version of them. I wanted somebody to get pregnant — that probably would have been Sharon. I was also picturing something that had to do with Patti becoming depressed over the ending of her marriage. I was picturing Angela stepping into a leadership role where she really had to become almost the designated adult. So again, it’s all so theoretical and it remains that. Claire and I joke that she would have gone and become an agent in the CIA!

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by Sascha » Aug 31st 2014, 8:08 am

Costume designer Patrick R. Norris answers a few questions in an interview with refinery29.com: http://www.refinery29.com/2014/08/73609 ... nniversary (check out the photo gallery!)
"My So-Called Life was such a gift for me...looking back on it I think, Wow, what a blast I had, and what an amazing, eclectic group of clothes. I couldn’t have left [costume design] on a better gig."

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by MSCL Fan » Sep 5th 2014, 3:01 pm

GUYS! This almost needs a new thread solely for this article!!!!
Check it out!

"Geeking Out Over the My So-Called Life Finale With Creator Winnie Holzman" on VULTURE.COM

http://www.vulture.com/2014/09/winnie-h ... -chat.html

:angel:

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by Sascha » Sep 9th 2014, 6:05 am

Yep, that Vulture article is definitely a Must-Read :) It finally answers all those "what would have happened" questions.
Oh, yes. [Delia] and Brian would have been boyfriend and girlfriend, and he would have told everything about it to Angela. He would have used Angela to help him through that relationship, for advice and stuff. And it would begin to sort of destroy her.

Because she would have been with Jordan?
She would be in a relationship with Jordan, Brian would be in a relationship with Delia, and they would be longing for each other, basically.
There a few additional articles up at Vulture:
http://www.vulture.com/2014/09/angela-c ... drobe.html
http://www.vulture.com/2014/09/angela-c ... ughts.html
http://www.vulture.com/2014/09/wilson-c ... -1995.html

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by Sascha » Sep 9th 2014, 8:05 am

Claire Danes celebrated the 20th anniversary with her "My So-Called Life" co-stars and a BBQ -- watch her recent appearance on "The Tonight Show":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8MQWt7Tsa8

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by richard » Sep 13th 2014, 5:27 pm

Another nice little article - 19 things you may not know (although I think most are known!)

http://mentalfloss.com/article/56115/19 ... alled-life

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Re: 20 years "My So-Called Life"

Post by slimeball » Aug 25th 2019, 9:43 am

Now 25 years later and Angela would be the mother on the show...

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