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[via press release]

The N Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of ‘My So-Called Life’ as the Groundbreaking Teen Drama Joins the Network’s Schedule Friday, April 2

Acclaimed Cult Hit Starring Claire Danes and Jared Leto Premieres to A New Generation of Teens

‘My So-Called Life’ to Air Friday Nights at 8:00 p.m. (ET), on the Heels Of The N’s ‘Degrassi: The Next Generation’

NEW YORK, Jan. 27 — Hailed by critics as “the only authentic portrait of a teenager a tv show has ever presented,” “magnificently written and acted,” “the best girls’ coming-of-age show ever done,” and “a grasp of adolescence that’s so real you can smell the Clearasil,” My So-Called Life returns to television, only on The N.

The N, the nighttime network for teens, has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights for all 19 episodes of the acclaimed series. The hour-long drama, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, will premiere on The N on Friday, April 2 at 8:00 p.m. (ET) and 10:00 p.m. (ET). A new generation of viewers will be introduced to the cult hit that launched the careers of Claire Danes (Terminator 3, Romeo & Juliet), Jared Leto (Panic Room, Requiem for a Dream), Wilson Cruz (Broadway’s Rent, FOX’s Party Of Five) and A.J. Langer (NBC’s Three Sisters).

My So-Called Life will air regularly Friday nights from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (ET), immediately following back-to-back episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation (7:00 – 8:00 p.m., ET). Both series explore difficult and complex issues that are relevant to teens today.

“My So-Called Life was the first prime-time teen drama to delve into adolescence in a realistic and uncompromising manner, which is consistent with our network’s mission to be the authentic voice for teens,” said Sarah Tomassi Lindman, VP, Production and Programming, The N. “Some things change, but some things never change, and like its Degrassi lead-in, My So-Called Life will engage The N’s viewers with an honest depiction of timeless teen issues.”

My So-Called Life, executive produced by Edward Zwick (Thirty-Something) and Marshall Herskovitz, is set in Three Rivers, a fictional suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, and centers on Angela Chase (CLAIRE DANES), an articulate 15-year-old sophomore at Liberty High. Angela is at a crucial turning point in her so-called life — the onset of adolescence, an angst-ridden search for identity and the requisite teenage rebellion against family, old friends and benign authority figures. Viewers eavesdrop on a monologue of Angela’s thoughts which range from the esoteric (“School is a battlefield – for your heart”), to the confessional (“I cannot bring myself to eat a well-balanced meal in front of my mother”), to the refreshingly mundane (“Okay, so I have a zit”).

At school, she is flanked by childhood friends, Sharon Cherski (DEVON ODESSA) and Brian Krakow (DEVON GUMMERSALL); the quirky duo Rayanne Graff (A.J. LANGER) and Enrique “Rickie” Vasquez (WILSON CRUZ); and resident enigma Jordan Catalano (JARED LETO) — the object of Angela’s intense but unrequited infatuation. The series also focuses on Angela’s parents, Patty (BESS ARMSTRONG) and Graham (TOM IRWIN) — baby-boomers experiencing their own mid-life growing pains, and Angela’s oft-forgotten 10-year-old sister Danielle (LISA WILHOIT).

Meet the So-Called characters:

* Angela Chase – Liberty High sophomore and former Girl Scout in search of her true identity. She distanced herself from her parents and childhood friends, Sharon and Brian. She hangs with Rickie and Rayanne, pines for Jordan and has only been kissed four times.

* Jordan Catalano – Mysterious loner and high school junior left back two years, probably due to his difficulty reading. He is interested in Angela, but has a hard time expressing himself. He sings, plays guitar, writes music, really loves his car and can get a good fake ID.

* Rayanne Marie Graff – A free-spirited sophomore with a bad reputation, whose father left when she was very young. She can’t take care of herself so she watches out for Rickie and Angela. She shows up for classes she’s not in and has a weakness for bad guys and alcohol.

* Enrique “Rickie” Vasquez – The offbeat gay sophomore and resident romantic tries to protect Rayanne from self-destructing. The half-hispanic, half-black drama club member is a devout Catholic who comes from an abusive home. He once had a crush on Jordan.

* Brian Krakow – The brainy sophomore is the school’s likely future-valedictorian who is completely clueless in the extracurricular matters of the heart. He is a social outcast, and a not-so-secret admirer of Angela — his long-time neighbor and acquaintance.

* Sharon Cherski – The perpetual good girl is Angela’s former best friend, having survived Girl Scouts and tonsillectomies together. The pink-wearing, perky sophomore is an Oboe player, yearbook staffer, World Happiness Dance organizer and Teen Hotline volunteer.

* Patricia “Patty” Wood Chase – Angela’s 40-year-old mom is a baby-boomer, and like Angela, in search of her true identity. The former Queen of her class has known her husband Graham, since high school, and struggles to put some excitement back into their relationship.

* Graham Chase – Angela’s 40-year-old father is in search of his own place in life and attempts to understand the seemingly mundane and predictable state of his marriage. He was close with Angela before her newfound womanhood and independence came between.

* Danielle Chase – Angela’s perpetually unnoticed 10-year-old sister is a Girl Scout with a major crush on Brian. She excels in gymnastics, talking without people hearing, and is most likely to be kicked out of the room for no reason.

My So-Called Life was produced by The Bedford Falls Company in association with ABC Productions. Created and co-executive produced by Winnie Holtzman, its executive producers are Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick; Scott Winant is co-executive producer. The series made its debut on ABC on Thursday, August 25, 1994.