Television Review: lose-Up on Teen Life: American High
by Jan Aaron

PBS’s teenage reality show, “American High,” is a few weeks into its13-part run on PBS. The critically acclaimed program that aired briefly on the edgier Fox network was created by documentary-film maker R.J. Cutler (“The War Room,” a behind the scenes look at the 1992 Clinton Campaign). “High” is a little more explicit than PBS’s usual fare and no competition for the steamier teen fictional shows on other channels, but it is far less contrived and completely realistic. It’s life.

In an early scene a hyper-teen, Morgan, runs through his home, seeking a little peace and quiet. His mother yells at him to “clean his room,” his dad calls him a “lousy student,” he fights with his brother, slams the door to his room and utters a popular expletive. The short sequence is shot entirely from Morgan’s point of view. Footage like this is what makes “High” special; when camera crews are not following the students, their self-made video diaries take over and pack the program with the roller-coaster game of daily teen life.

Cutler and his production crew spent the entire 1999-2000 school year with the 14 juniors and seniors at the predominately upper middle class Highland Park High School, northwest of Chicago, documenting their lives on 2,800 hours of film.

“More than 100 students volunteered for the program. Participants were selected after extensive interviews and, in some cases, preliminary filming,” said Cutler at the press screening.

By and large, the students confront typical teen problems, which are mundane as well. Robby and Sarah, who have been dating for two years, discuss the future and what will happen when he goes away to school. In the most dramatic scene, Robby’s buddy Brad reveals he is gay. Robby is surprised, but cool about it.

(WNET Channel 13, Wednesdays, 10-11/ET. A website, pbs.org/americanhigh, offers further help and information..)

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