My Super Sweet 16

For the 2007 film, see Super Sweet 16: The Movie.
My Super Sweet 16
Directed by Lucy J. Lesser
David L. Bowles
Opening theme "Sweet Sixteen" by Hilary Duff
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 61 (list of episodes)
Production
Producer(s) Jordana Starr
Lucy J. Lesser
David L. Bowles
Running time 22 minutes
Release
Original network MTV
Original release January 18, 2005 (2005-01-18) – June 15, 2008 (2008-06-15)
External links
Website

My Super Sweet 16 is a MTV reality series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States, Canada and UK, who usually have wealthy parents who throw huge coming of age celebrations, which had a very exclusive target audience. Parties include the quinceañera (a sweet 15), the sweet 16, and other birthdays including a My Super Sweet 21 (which was broadcast during MTV's Spring Break party) and My Super Swag 18. The show premiered on January 18, 2005 and ended its run on June 15, 2008. The opening theme is "Sweet Sixteen" sung by Hilary Duff. The series had two spinoffs, Exiled and The Real deal, which have both ended their run by 2010. The show has also covered a number of celebrity coming of age parties. Bow Wow, Sean Kingston, Aly and AJ, Chris Brown, Soulja Boy Tell Em and Teyana Taylor have all had their parties featured on the show.[1] A UK version of the program was also produced, and also a Spanish version entitled "Quiero mis quinces" or "Super Dulces 16" produced by MTV.

In 2008, MTV launched a spinoff titled Exiled. On the show, a number of parents of participants on My Super Sweet 16 banish their teens to remote countries in order to see if their "sweet sixteener" will survive the harsh conditions.[2] In 2009, MTV announced their newest addition to the franchise, My Super Psycho Sweet 16, a horror movie based on the concept of the show, which was aired on October 23, 2009 and followed by two sequels: Part 2 and Part 3.

In March 2010, MTV International commissioned Maverick TV in the UK to make a new, international version of the Super Sweet franchise. Casting has begun globally on a series of 10 episodes, and interested parties are encouraged to go to the casting website.[3] The brand has been extended to include people having birthdays aged 13–24. The series has also ended its run.

Bobcat Goldthwait noted that watching the My Super Sweet 16 marathon inspired him to write his controversial film God Bless America.[4] Prior to attaining stardom in film, Jennifer Lawrence made her on-screen acting debut in an advertisement for the series depicting a fictional scenario (she never appeared in the series proper).[5]

Mysupersweet16.com

MTV's Mysupersweet16.com is the online component of MTV's eponymous show which focuses on extravagant coming outs, sweet 16s, Quinceañeras, and more.

Criticism

The show has been criticised for its excesses and the effects of presenting such over the top parties as an aspirational norm to impressionable young people.

The Daily Mail said: "In an age of celebrity, where anyone desperate and rich enough can get their 15 minutes of fame, the series is a depressing indictment of our next generation's goals and aspirations" displaying "the crippling excesses of fame and capitalism that have come to symbolise our society."[6]

English satirist Charlie Brooker gave a light-hearted criticism of the show on BBC4's Screenwipe, calling it "a stonehearted exposé of everything that's wrong with our faltering so-called civilization." He describes the protagonists by saying that "Each episode follows an unbelievably spoiled rich and tiny sod as they prepare to throw a despicably opulent coming of age party for themselves and their squealing shitcake friends." He said the show "might be an Al-Qaeda recruitment film." However, he added that "that's exactly how the show wants you to feel - it's even more effective at creating instant hate figures than Big Brother, and that's saying something."[7]

One teenager (Audrey Reyes) is seen screaming at her mother and saying she "hates" her after having received a new Lexus SC430, costing US$67,000, a day before the party.[7][8][9] However, after the episode aired, she apologized for the tantrum.[10]

In pop culture

See also

References

External links

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