If the '90s were the golden era of teen television, then the 2000s was a period of intense experimentation. Having obtained the attention of the most loyal of demographics, television networks constantly pushed the boundaries.
Television networks kept pushing controversy to make their flagship teen show a standout amongst the others. From relatable, realistic storylines that discussed teen struggles, to glamorized stories about the rich and famous, the 2000s offers a large catalog of teen series to suit every viewer's cravings.
10 Heroes Proved That The Superhero Genre Could Have A Mature Tone (2006)
NBC broadcasted Heroes. Heroes is a superhero drama about a group of supernaturally talented individuals who team up to protect ordinary people with their powers. Heroes' ensemble cast consisted of Hayden Panettiere as Claire, Milo Ventimiglia as Peter, and Masi Oka as Hiro, amongst others.
Heroes ran for four seasons and spawned a short, thirteen-episode mini-series, Heroes Reborn. It served as a sequel to the original. The first season is credited with legitimizing the superhero genre as a mature, dark concept and would influence similar comic book-inspired television series to come.
9 One Tree Hill Made Its Male Stars Into Teenage Heartthrobs (2003)
During its heyday at the beginning of the century, The WB premiered its flagship teen drama, One Tree Hill. It followed half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott, played by Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty. One Tree Hill featured the drama that ensued with their basketball careers, friends, family, and romances.
One Tree Hill ran for nine seasons, ending in 2012 after being moved to The CW six years prior. It's often considered one of the greatest teen dramas of all time, being favorably compared to The O.C. for its cast and characters. Murray won two Teen Choice Awards for his performance in One Tree Hill, one in 2004 and another in 2008.
8 Gilmore Girls Follows A Mother & Daughter Duo Through Their Everyday Struggles (2000)
Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel starred as mother and daughter in Gilmore Girls. The WB comedy-drama followed the two women's everyday struggles in the fictional town of Stars Hollow. Gilmore Girls received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its dialogue and relatable characters, and ran for over 150 episodes.
Gilmore Girls didn't achieve particularly high ratings during its original broadcast. However, Gilmore Girls gained popularity and cult status through syndicated reruns on American and international networks. Nine years after its finale in 2007, Netflix released a four-episode sequel that was also broadcasted on The CW.
7 Glee Was Known For Its Takes On Social Issues & Inspired Musical Covers (2009)
Glee premiered in 2009. Glee centered around the McKinley High School glee club, a group of misfits who bond and compete over their love for music. The musical teen comedy-drama was created by American Horror Story showrunner, Ryan Murphy, and ran for six seasons on the Fox network.
Glee was extremely popular during its time on the air. Glee was lauded for its take on social issues like homophobia and teen pregnancy, and for its covers of hit songs across a variety of genres. It also won four Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes during its first few seasons.
6 Veronica Mars' Dedicated Fandom Made It Into A Cult TV Series (2004)
The brainchild of screenwriter Rob Thomas, Veronica Mars focused on the titular character. She's a regular teenager who moonlights as a private detective and is played by The Good Place star Kristen Bell. Veronica Mars originally ran for three seasons until 2007 before being renewed for a fourth season in 2019.
Veronica Mars was a critical darling since its debut, being praised for its writing and acting. Despite its average ratings, Veronica Mars gained a devoted and enthusiastic fandom that helped produce a film sequel in 2014 through a Kickstarter campaign. Bell won a Saturn Award for her role in 2005.
5 The Vampire Diaries Continued The Vampire-Mania Started By The Twilight Series (2009)
Riding on the high of the Twilight mania, The CW premiered its own supernatural romance called The Vampire Diaries. The teen series was based on the novel series of the same name. Vampire Diaries starred Nina Dobrev as Elena Gilbert, a high schooler in Mystic Falls, Virginia. She falls in love with a pair of vampire brothers.
After eight successful seasons and various fan-voted awards, The Vampire Diaries ended its long run in 2017. Its high ratings led The CW to produce multiple spin-off shows, including 2018's Legacies, and 2013's The Originals. The Originals ran for five seasons and followed a group of ancient vampires that debuted in the original show.
4 Skins Discussed Controversial Topics With Honesty Despite The Criticism (2007)
Channel Four's Skins was a game-changer of teen television. Set in Bristol, England, Skins follows a group of sixth formers as they deal with family, relationships, mental health, and sexuality. It consisted of seven seasons, running from early 2007 to mid-2013.
Skins had an ever-changing ensemble cast divided into 'generations.' Some of its most well-known cast members include Nicholas Hoult, Kaya Scodelario, Dev Patel, and Daniel Kaluuya. Skins was controversial for its portrayal of adolescence, mostly being lauded for its raw and honest themes and criticized for its depictions of sex and drugs.
3 Degrassi: The Next Generation Is The Best Known Entry In The Degrassi Franchise (2001)
One of the longest-running shows of all time, the Degrassi franchise has been following students at Degrassi Community School since 1979. Its most popular incarnation, Degrassi: The Next Generation, premiered in 2001 and ran for 385 episodes over 14 seasons.
Next Generation was known for its realism. It openly discussed various social issues like disability, bullying, racism, and homosexuality. Degrassi: The Next Generation had a large cast that changed over the seasons, with notable members like singer-rapper Drake and The Strain actress Lauren Collins.
2 Gossip Girl Was The Best Teen Show Of The New Millenium (2007)
Cecily Von Ziegesar's book series about an omnipresent blogger in New York was adapted into one of the most iconic, and controversial, teen series, Gossip Girl. The teen drama starred Blake Lively and Leighton Meester as Serena and Blair, two teen socialites with too many secrets to count.
Gossip Girl positioned itself as the 'it' show for teenagers of the new millennium. Gossip Girl brought with it a slew of contentious content - sex scenes, glorified drug use, and unlikable characters. Gossip Girl ran for six seasons and had Turkish, Indonesian, Mexican, and Thai adaptations. In 2021, HBO Max premiered an eponymous sequel that was received poorly by fans and critics alike.
1 The O.C. Made The Young & Rich Into Compelling Soap Characters (2003)
Before working on Gossip Girl, showrunner Josh Schwartz created the pop culture phenomenon known as The O.C. Set in the titular Orange County, the teen soap opera centered on Ryan Atwood, his rich foster brother, Seth Cohen. The O.C. featured their romantic interests Marissa Cooper and Summer Roberts also.
Following in the footsteps of Beverly Hills, 90210, The O.C. is credited with increasing the demand for television programs about the young and rich. The O.C. ran for four seasons before being canceled in 2007. Like its sister show Gossip Girl, The O.C. was adapted for the Thai and Turkish markets ten years after the finale.