Ready or Not

Ready or Not was in my opinion one of the best teenage shows ever! The show followed two long time best friends Amanda Zimm and Elizabeth "Busy" Ramone through there years of middle school and high school. This show dealt with what every teenage girl goes through: puberty, boyfriends, first kisses, and heartbreak. Ready or Not also dealt with everyday problems. Some of them were rasicm, homophobia, eating disorders, peer-pressure, and many more.

I first saw this show on Disney channel and was immediately hooked. After it was taking off Disney I started to see it on Showtime. Watching the shows on Disney now, I am VERY shocked they ever aired this show, even though they didn't air a few episodes. The characters were amazing. Busy was the somewhat independent free thinker who didn't obsess over boys while Amanda was the complete opposite she was a boy crazy person who always wanted to fit in. The acting was incredible and I truly miss this show and the cute theme song!!

Out of all the 'Teen shows' that I've seen this is by far the most realistic. It's not made anymore but I still watch the reruns on Trouble when I can. What sets this aside from the other teen junk out there is that they actually have teenagers playing teenagers. And they also talk like teenagers. Not like they are 65, something that Dawson's Creek is VERY guilty of.

The show is based around Amanda Zimm and her friend Elizabeth 'Busy' Ramone. They have been friends since childhood and become involved in numerous, realistic, story lines based around their family, high school and social life. Everything about this show seems real and authentic to me. It's more for girls than it is for guys but there's no shame in watching it.

If you can catch reruns of this show it's advisable to ditch Dawson and his unrealistic creek for this. It may not be on anymore but it's undoubtedly superior.

Set in 90s, in the Canadian suburbs, Ready or Not centers on the unlikely friendship of two girls with opposite dispositions: the insecure, accident-prone Amanda Zimm, who tends to leap into embarrassing situations without thinking them over (Ready); and the cool, insightful, and cautious, Elizabeth "Busy" Ramone (Not).

At it's best, Ready or Not showcases a type of bittersweet realism, found in The Wonder Years and Freaks and Geeks. The girls are free to talk about pretty much anything (to quote Amanda discussing her older, 7th grade idol, Chrissy "letting a guy touch her boob for a second because it's supposed to give him a boner or something".) Even though there's the occasional after-school special message, it's saved from being cheesy with it's humor. For example, the episode where Busy's brother awkwardly attempts to bum a cigarette off of a group of older kids and obliviously declares "a guy just likes to enjoy a butt every once and a while".

However, in the last two seasons, there was a noticeable difference in tone. They could no longer go through the same embarrassing shenanigans as in the earlier episodes without looking foolish instead of naive. Things become more serious, and there is less humor to be found.

Seasons 4 and 5 also concentrates on the two girls growing up and growing apart. Amanda is bubblier, and having an easier time with boys and the social dynamics of school. Though, Busy is thrown threw a loop. She is suddenly unsure where she fits in when it becomes more apparent that Busy is Jane Lane to Amanda's Charlotte York. Through it all, Busy becomes more desolate, yet consistent. At times, it makes it really hard to like Amanda's character, her boy-crazy, social climbing ways become more apparent than ever. However, both girls work hard at staying friends no matter how different they are, and whatever the circumstances.

This was a really great show, and I remember watching it on Showtime when it first started way back when. I'm 22 now, and would probably watch the show today, because it was light, and the humor worked really well. I don't remember everything about the show, but I do remember that it was definitely quality television, and so much better than the teen stuff on today, which is utter crap.

You Canadians really have your stuff together. You show all the oldies but goodies. This YTV sounds interesting and I would love to have that channel if it means I could watch this show. I adored this show! I cannot explain how upset I was that I didn't have the premium channels back in the day and would have to wait for Disney's free preview weekend to watch this show. Canadian based teen shows are really good at hitting the nail of teen life or emerging teen life. Mess like Dawson's Creek are ridiculous compared to this show and "Higher Ground". I loved the dynamic of the 2 lead characters. They dealt with a lot of issues you wouldn't think to address, and did it without an ABC After-School Special quality about it. It was very blunt and "this is what it is", now deal quality that I liked. Laura Bertram is a tremendous actress. I remember her from a lot of childhood shows like "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" and was just wowed at my young age by her talent. I can't even remember specific episodes, but I hope they add it to the WAM! channel. Might write a letter...lol. Seriously, it was a great dramatic show about entering adolescence and the issues we have on the way. Awesome piece of work!