December 28th, 2010
09:00 AM ET
2010 Obsessions: You're not watching 'Pretty Little Liars' yet?Four attractive and stylish teenage girls, a handsome young high school teacher, a blind classmate with a secret and a slew of destructive text messages sent by the deceased. If that’s not a recipe for a hit TV series, I don’t know what is. With its August finale watched by more than 3 million viewers, “Pretty Little Liars” quickly claimed the title of breakout series of the summer. Based on the book series of the same name, “Liars” also nabbed the second spot on Twitter’s list of 2010’s most tweeted-about moments in TV. Why, you ask, is a teen drama (on ABC Family, of all channels) getting so much hype? Because it’s awesome, that’s why.
“Liars” is a younger “Desperate Housewives,” with an eerily broad demographic of adults, 18 to 30-something, according to TV by the Numbers. The June premiere, which marked ABC Family’s No. 1 series launch to date, introduced us to each of the main characters – including Alison (Sasha Pieterse), who died a mysterious death prior to the first episode. Sound familiar, “Housewives” fans? Of course, there are differences: The girls live in a town called Rosewood, not on Wisteria Lane; they attend high school and homecoming dances, not work and conference calls; and they continually receive very personal, threatening messages from “A.” Drama, drama, drama. It doesn’t matter that the acting isn’t exactly Oscar-worthy, or that the storyline is about as realistic as an episode of “Gossip Girl.” The show just sucks people in, so much so that you’d be hard-pressed to find a viewer who hasn’t turned to Google looking for answers. Some of our commenters even admitted to picking up the books in hopes of piecing the story together faster. Though, there’s a good chance the show will deviate from the novels. I can’t lie and say there are never any cheesy, tween scenes that pop up - like when Spencer (Troian Bellisario) and her new boy toy randomly break out into song and dance in a country club kitchen. But the show always immediately redeems itself with a juicy new secret or two. It also helps that each episode ends with a cliffhanger so intense you’ll stay put on the couch for 15 minutes contemplating next week’s events with your roommate. (You don’t have to admit to it, but I know for fact I’m not the only one who does that.) For me, TV has been devoid of a show this intense since “Veronica Mars” went off the air in 2007. We need a little light-hearted mystery “Pretty Little Liars” - starring Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Shay Mitchell and Lucy Hale, all of whom were relatively unknown before “Liars” - returns to the tube on Monday, January 3.
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I downloaded the show for free on iTunes and now I am wanting to watch the new episodes. Looks very promising. Sorry that it took me NOW to watch it. Highly addicting!
At first I rejecyed the show as well but one day ( the day if the season finale an of their marathon on abc family) I watched one episode. Next thing I knew it was 9oclock the show was over an I was begging for more! Lol sure their teen baby drama made me barf at times but I soon realized that I wanted to know where the relationship was going with the young main character and her english teacher( wrong I know because if it happened in real life I would be calling the cops on the guy , but hey its tv drama so I can indulge). All the haters need to give the show a try and they will be sounding just like me. : )
No one should follow their hearts at all. I am ugly and my mom is always torturing me like i was like those pretty lil liars. s***.
I wanna see if allison realy died n whos bodie that was that was found at that girls house:`{
get to that http://www.SUPERSONIC.US.COM
End Times? If this ABC Family's latest hit, all would presume, indeed we are in the End Times.. Peace to the world.
This is the first time I've heard of this show. It sounds gay. Just like pretty much every other gay "teen" show on tv.
Don't care for these shows, I'm sure the younger crowd loves it and that's ok with me. I just don't get how a show like this is on ABC Family? This is not a family show.
Maybe that little porker Bristol Palin will do a special appearance.
One eazy concept have u ever felt the back of you're head is there a hole does it soften or harden is there a bunch of people this is not right What is happening to people nothing astronomicaly bad has happend here houndred of thousands an where the little island at drift leave the people alone
Best show ever other than vampire diaries! The grls r sooo hott!!
Best show ever other than vampire diaries! The grls r shocking hott!!
I obviously love this show it is way 2 interesting i mean a girl having n affair with another girl a best friend being kill a mom dating a best friends dad how can u not love it. i watch it when i can n when i do its the best way 2 spend the little time i hav and if i miss episodes i watch them on the internet Abcfamily.com/prettylittleliars
It is a shame, and discouraging, that this show is so popular. It sets a bad example as to what girls should aspire to, what should be important to them. I had truly hpped the show would fail and be cancelled. We are truly doomed as a society, if people are obsessed with dreck like this.
I miss veronica mars that show was the best. i never watched pretty little liars i always get bored & put in a veronica mars dvd.
I WATCH THIS MORE DAN I watch any thing else like 16 and pregant and true life
I LUV PRETTY LITTLE LIAR ME N MY FAMILY WATCH IT EVERY DAY IT CAME ON
Yes I am old enough to be the mom of these girls, but I love this show.
I am an 18 year old girl and i don't watch this crap! Its so funny how all of you think that evryone who dont agree with this show is supposed to be old... I dont watch Degrassi 16 and pregnant or the secret life of an american teenager either, does that make me old? Wow this makes me ashamed to be in this generation of teenagers!
OK so kill yourself...
You can't ever stop me you went to far
Do some thing or ill end my life that simple
So what's the plane 4 police tape look what is all on reacord
I like smoking crack and maybe injecting myself with heroin if Nicole Richie is with me when I watch this show. I just hooked up with my jiggaboo crack dealer and scored a big bag of crack rocks. I hope that jiggaboo dealer didn't rip me off because Nicole and I really need to get high. Yeah...That's Hot.
And what's the point of this ridiculous comment??
Lol
I watched the first episode, decided to read the books and was finished with all 7 novels in 3 weeks. The books are so much better than the show. I highly recommend the books. I will, however, probably continue watching the show just to see how much they change it from the books.
THIS MONDAY ITLL BE BACK ON WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO im going to DVR it so i can watch it every day after i get home from school. 8th grade all the way. WE ROCK.
So by "we rock", are you meaning children who really should be spending a bit more time soaking up some education and less time posting ridiculous and demeaning remarks on this board?
Man I LOVE this show so much. I enjoyed reading this. Can't wait til January 3rd! 🙂
either everyone posting positive comments are drunk or your 12, this show sucks
You like porf raping children with animals it looks like you do an you're public does to
What on Earth are you babbling about!???
O............M.............G!!!!!!!
They are soooooooooo fabulous and mischievous, I want to squeeze their little sweet cheeks!
Uu HUA hi guies u
I love this show even though there is only one African American character who is the girl's sercet girlfirend. Anywho i had to know what was going on and read everything about the books on wikipedia. Its very intese and i make sure im always at home when it comes on...i just have to dvr it because I go to class on mon nites 🙁
Up
There storys don't add u they used school after school but yet people love it an make sence
What the...? Was that English???
old people poop their pants
old people are funny. they always talk about how things were better along time ago. if they like it so much way bback in the 1990s why dont they jusgo there and leave us alone? old people smell.
Stop saying mean things about people you don't know. It's mean. Your mommy also told me to send you straight to bed if I found you doodling on the computer again, saying mean things. You know full well, Ella Jane, that you still poop your pants too when you are watching Elmo's World.
I like this show (and actually started reading the books because I couldn't wait to find out what happened), but please, let's not sully the memory of Veronica Mars by suggesting that they're comparable.
did i mention the girls are pretty?
Kurt
Can't find anything better than this to wack to?
THIS IS THE BEST SHOW ON TV. if you dont agree just look at the ratings. it has everything. cute pretty girls. mild humora plus its a little misterious. I thikn you older people are just stuck in the 1950s. TV isnt in black and white anymore.
Have you ever heard of spell check? It's a very useful tool, especially when you are trying to mock someone. Also, the rating doesn't show how good a show is; it shows how popular it is. Just because something's popular, doesn't mean it's necessarily good.
For a second there I thought Pretty Little Liars was about the Palins. But then again the Palins aren't very pretty, but they are liars.
So hot; the radiation has burned my retinas.
http://67.42.80.195
The author left their name off the article. That means this show is sh|t.
Id like to crack the seals on each one of them
What if they have walruses instead of seals?
People are sheep. They do what they are told. Bahhhhh!
I don't have to watch the show to know it will be unintelligent, shallow, and just plain stupid. More dumbing down of America...
it is pretty good. much funnier than the old saturday night live show. plus the girls have nice hair.
Demographics, my zazz, I am a senior and I love this show!!. Bring it on!!..
Love watching this show with my teenaged daughters. I don't really care for one of the story lines, but the rest of it is pretty decent. We are looking forward to the return of the show on January 3rd!
I love this show! I seriously cant wait for the new season! Especially after the cliffhanger from the last episode of last season. 🙂
why so few comments? this topic and blog is far more interesting than the harry potter one. maybe people will post more at lunch time. CNN REALLY IS TOO GREAT FOR LETTING US DO THIS. CNN RULES.
this show is scrumpdillyumpshus. i think it is the best on tv today. cosmotological signs indicate it is going to be a hit.
How about no. I have not googled for answers and your blog has saved me from ever watching this crap.
*applause*
this is the most wonderful show ever. better than glee and classier than the young and the restless. as a hollywood cosmotologist ihope to get some business from these talented comedians..
I actually have to thank the writer of this and any other article on the Marquee for reviewing this show. It got me interested while I sit at work and play on the internet when I shouldn't be. Thanks to a view insane reviews and some not so savory tactics, I am caught up... and seriously awaiting its return. so... thanks Marquee blog, you've given me addictions like Jersey Shore (so stupid but i cant stop watching), Mad Men, and now Pretty Little Liars.
xoxo
MC YungNFresh
Now if only you would get addicted to doing your job.
"a little light-hearted mystery"
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/ghosts-in-the-machine/