Podcast Summary: Stefania Marghitu, "Teen TV" (Routledge, 2021)

Podcast: New Books Network
Host: Rebecca Buchanan
Guest: Stefania Marghitu
Date: November 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features Stefania Marghitu, author of Teen TV, a Routledge Television Guidebook, who is interviewed by host Rebecca Buchanan. The discussion dives deep into the history, evolution, and cultural significance of teen television across generations, examining themes like class, representation, sexuality, industry changes, and pedagogical approaches. Marghitu also discusses her unique approach of integrating showrunner interviews in the book and speculates on the genre’s future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Origins and Structure of "Teen TV"

• Academic Background & Approach:
  Marghitu began in media studies, approaching teen television via fandom, girlhood, costume design, and linguistic analysis (03:00).

  • “It was a really nice way to frame this film that is very beloved...in the framework of both fandom and...girlhood and what elements of the genre really stand out. So, like the clothing or the slang.” (B, 03:15)

• Chronological & Generational Framework:
  Chose to structure the book chronologically, examining generational divides and their impact on the teen TV genre (05:30).

  • “To me, it was a convenient way to talk about constructs of the generation...both in terms of demographics and on-screen representations and who's really involved in it and who stays involved.” (B, 05:55)

• Inclusion of Showrunner Interviews:
  Integrated Q&A interviews with showrunners, creators, and professionals reflective of each TV generation, regarding this as valuable primary source material (06:51).

  • “I wanted to use it as primary source material…all of those, for the most part, the contributors were reflective of that generation…” (B, 07:43)
  • Notable interviewees include Linda Schuyler (Degrassi), Winnie Holzman (My So-Called Life), and costume designers from Gossip Girl.

Generational Breakdown of Teen TV

Baby Boomers & Early Teen TV

[11:13–15:54]

• Historical Foundations:
  Early TV was influenced by radio, the rise of teen advertising as a target demographic, and postwar American culture.
• Short-Lived Series & Star-Making:
  Many initial teen shows were short-lived; highlighted stardom pipelines like Sally Field with Gidget.
• Race and Locality:
  Discussed racial segregation in music TV (e.g., American Bandstand), calling for more scholarship on local television histories.
  • “There’s a teen department store dedicated to youth, right. There’s Seventeen Magazine and...convincing folks that teens are a viable market...a post World War II boom.” (B, 12:17)

Progressive '70s and Representation

[15:54–22:48]

• “Welcome Back, Kotter” and Class:
  Recognized as an underrated show for its progressive, blue-collar portrayal and genuine urban diversity.

  • “That is what a lot of folks want to see in representation both on and off screen...highly charismatic John Travolta, like that star element is also definitely there.” (B, 18:11)

• Teaching and Viewing Habits:
  Changes in how teens consume media today vs. communal, appointment TV of the past.

  • “Teaching...freshmen who ... are used to the on demand streaming culture of this is what I want to watch now.” (B, 16:56)

Gen X Television: Rebellion, Diversity, and Cult Classics

[24:52–39:49]

• Defining Gen X TV:
  Focused on narratives of rebellion, suburbia skepticism, and the breakdown of the nuclear family. Noted influences of films like Reality Bites and The Big Chill.

• Cult Status—Short-Lived but Influential:
  Shows like My So-Called Life and Freaks and Geeks set new standards but were “too smart for TV” and canceled early.

  • “There were these shows gone too soon...they had to crawl and be canceled...you could have other things later. It was sacrificial in that way.” (B, 35:40)

• Alternative and Mainstream Mash-Up:
  Noted the fusion of alternative (e.g., grunge) and mainstream (e.g., 90210 soundtracks featuring the Flaming Lips) into teen TV.

• Beverly Hills, 90210 as a Genre Bridge:
  Long-running, serialized teen soap that both glamorized and critiqued American teen life.

  • “It’s marketable and it speaks to, okay, here’s a Midwestern family that gets...not Beverly Hillbillies, but you relate to the more likely America...” (B, 41:18)

Millennial and Gen Z Teen TV: Diversity, Sex, and Social Issues

[51:38–66:21]

• Sexuality and Identity:
  American TV's complicated relationship with showing teen sexuality; comparison with British TV openness (e.g., Skins).

  • “We don’t like to think that kids have sex. Right. God forbid...But we don’t like to depict that they’re even sexual beings in any way, shape or form.” (C, 51:51)

  • “I quite like Ron Becker’s, you know, post-closet TV...although in hindsight, we definitely look at that through a heteronormative gaze...” (B, 52:57)

• Transnational Influence:
  American audiences increasingly exposed to UK/Australian models (Skins), impacting expectations around representation.

• Contemporary Evolutions—Euphoria and Beyond:
  Euphoria is cited as a watershed series for authentic, non-moralizing depiction of sexuality, drugs, and identity.

  • “Something in Euphoria about obviously the post-coming out story...you show the struggles...but it’s also not their entire identity.” (B, 57:10)

• Shifting Representation:
  Noted the urgent call from new generations for intersectional, nuanced stories, reflecting changing social awareness.

  • “They should ask for more. And it's really nice...to see my...students asking for these things in their media...” (B, 59:14)

Pedagogy, Quality, & TV’s Future

[66:21–85:17]

• Education and “Hidden” Messaging:
  Series like East Los High blend entertainment with social education, subtly addressing topics like teen pregnancy within specific geographic/cultural contexts.

  • “They did a brilliant job of...taking from the origins of this nonprofit and the different ways that it is educational...It’s not meant to be purely moral panic, fear based.” (B, 66:21)

• Teaching Media Literacy:
  The genre's adaptability makes it useful for teaching—students are encouraged to critically re-evaluate older series.

• The Constant of Change:
  Both Buchanan and Marghitu agree on the cyclical nature of TV trends and the ever-increasing demand for authentic, diverse representation.

• Reboots and Reappraisals:
  Growing skepticism about the efficacy and need for endless reboots—preference for new stories over recycling characters/plots.

  • “We have great TV now, but we had great...We have often had great tv. Right. And...I don't need a new sex right now...I don't need to see you 20 years later...” (C, 77:26)

• Industry Trends:
  Streaming, diverse authorship, production models, and regional specificity are all shaping new directions for the genre.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hollywood Reboots:

  “I’m getting a little sick of everything and needing to return. I don’t need a new Sex [and the City] right now...I just want you to be who you were 20 years ago and just stay at. And...we don't need to go down it. Veronica Mars...one of the greatest shows of all time...but I didn't need to...the reboot...”
  — Rebecca Buchanan [77:26]

• On Generational Watching Habits:

  “We used to not have that luxury...It was great to be exposed to different things because they were on...not really thinking, oh, I’m not the audience, or I’m not the element...”
  — Stefania Marghitu [16:56]

• On the Value of Primary Sources:

  “I wanted to use [the interviews] as primary source material...the showrunners, the creators, the producers, the designers spoke very thoughtfully...”
  — Stefania Marghitu [07:43]

• On Progressive Boundaries:

  “I feel like this is similar in that it was pushing back whether it wanted...thought it was going to or not. It pushed boundaries.”
  — Rebecca Buchanan [20:50]

• On the New Generation:

  “There’s so much that they [young people] do with television...having so much great feedback from students about these pivotal moments in their lives and wishing that they had that education or that media early on.”
  — Stefania Marghitu [84:40]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Origins of the Book & Methodology: 02:44–06:51
• Showrunner Interviews: 06:51–10:47
• Baby Boomer Era TV: 11:13–15:54
• Class & "Welcome Back, Kotter": 15:54–22:48
• Gen X TV & Key Shows: 24:52–39:49
• Millennial TV, Sex & Identity: 51:38–66:21
• Pedagogy & "East Los High": 66:21–72:34
• Where is Teen TV Headed?: 73:10–82:35
• Current and Future Projects: 82:52–85:17

Conclusion

Stefania Marghitu's Teen TV offers a nuanced, generational exploration of teen television, blending critical theory, historical context, and direct voices from the industry. This episode underscores the genre’s complexity, cultural impact, and its dynamic evolution, foregrounding the ever-changing nature of adolescence, representation, and media consumption. The host and guest share a rich, engaging conversation full of personal recollections, sharp media analysis, and forward-looking insights—making it a must-listen (or read) for media scholars, educators, and pop culture fans alike.