ENTRY RULES:
LI Kids is proud to be giving away three sets of Spread Heads. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the bottom left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries into our contest by:

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three weeks, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of July 19, 2009, which means you have until July 18, 2009 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Mustard Marvin (to the left) and Ketchup Charlie (on the right) are used to make condiments more fun for the kids. Of course, that is no longer the case with Charlie and Marvin. When kids go to squirt ketchup out of the bottle they will find that it comes out Charlie’s nose in two thick streams. Likewise, if mustard is on the menu, Marvin basically vomits it from his mouth. At the table, it generally does not get more interesting than this.

You can learn more about Spread Heads at the Spread Head Website.

Technorati Tags: Spread Heads, Giveaway, Mustard Marvin, Charlie Ketchup, BBQ, Cookout, Bottle Topper, Gross, Fun, Giveaway, Contest

In our first official birthday bash review, we decided to review a set of grossly, disgusting bottle tops that kids are sure to love. Mustard Marvin (to the left) and Ketchup Charlie (on the right) are used to make condiments more fun for the kids. I imagine these are a huge hit during the summer, when events like BBQs can sometimes leave kids bored when it comes time to make their plates.

Of course, that is no longer the case with Charlie and Marvin. When kids go to squirt ketchup out of the bottle they will find that it comes out Charlie’s nose in two thick streams. Likewise, if mustard is on the menu, Marvin basically vomits it from his mouth. At the table, it generally does not get more interesting than this.

On the plus side, Spread Heads are inexpensive (about $5 per top and reusable). They fit on the majority of standard sized mustard and ketchup bottles, too. You just put the top on, squirt, and remove the cap when you are done. It is recommended that the original caps still be utilized when not using the condiments. This ensures that no contamination occurs. While I do not have a dishwasher, I am certain that these gross-out kitchen gadgets would be fine if you sent them through for a wash.

Lil B loved the Spread Heads. He was intrigued from the moment he saw them. He wanted to touch them and play with them. In fact, he was told more than once that he wouldn’t be able to play with them like he could a traditional toy. He is very independent though and as his fifth birthday approaches you would think that he thinks he is a little man.

It did not take me long to determine that even condiment caps sometimes need a suggested age. At five and being all boy, Lil B loved the gross out factor, so much that he waited for everyone to turn their head so that he could grab the bottles and squirt all of the condiments out onto his plate! Unfortunately, he decided to use an ice cream plate, which had ice cream on it, so the condiments were all ruined. He’s never done this before, so I can assume he was just overwhelmed with the gross, fun factor. This leads me to recommend if your little ones are too little, you might want to keep a close eye on them with these.

From an adult, parental standpoint, these are all for the kids. I would have no reason for them if there were no kids around. I find that the Spread Heads give me more condiments than I want and less control over how much I get. When I said earlier that the mustard vomits from Marvin’s mouth, I was not lying. Thick streams of ketchup and mustard are expelled. If you’re looking for the traditional amount that comes from your bottles you will find that with Spread Heads you end up getting double, which may be too much, if you’re like me. Of course, if you like smothering your food, these might be right up your alley.

Recommendation
If you do not have kids, I honestly believe that there is little point to these bottle toppers. While cute in that disgusting sort of way, from a culinary perspective they are a nightmare. The idea of condiments literally attacking my food is not something I am interested in exploring. However, if you have kids they will probably love these. They will be a hit with the kids at cookouts and other fun events. Just make sure that the kids know better than to squirt your Ketchup and Mustard all over the place. Otherwise, you may end up going through quite a bit.

Purchase These At:
You can purchase Spread Heads through the Spread Heads Website. Currently Mustard Marvin and Ketchup Charlie are available, though they have some toothpaste Spread Heads available for pre-order, as well.

*Check out our Spread Heads Giveaway for a chance to win your own set of Spread Heads!

Technorati Tags: Spread Heads, Review, Birthday Bash, Mustard Marvin, Ketchup Charlie, Condiments, Food, BBQ, Cookout, Toothpaste

ENTRY RULES:

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the bottom left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries into our contest by:

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three weeks, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of July 18, 2009, which means you have until July 17, 2009 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Get in gear! Join forces with the Power Rangers against a sinister machine army accelerating toward global domination in Power Rangers RPM Volume 1: Start Your Engines. The mysterious and menacing Venjix Computer Network has unleashed an evil virus and is driving towards conquering the entire planet. In the shining city of Corinth, one of the only safe havens on earth, an elite team of super teens is ready to fight for justice – but will these fierce Power Rangers have enough high-octane fury to save the world?

Technorati Tags: DVD, Movie, Cartoon, Birthday Bash, Giveaway, Contest, Power Rangers RPM, Volume 1, Disney

ENTRY RULES:
It’s the fourth day of our Birthday Bash Celebration and today LI Kids is proud to be giving away a Super Soaker Bottle Shot. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the bottom left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries into our contest by:

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three weeks, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of July 17, 2009, which means you have until July 16, 2009 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Convert almost any beverage bottle into an on-the-go water supply for SUPER SOAKER fun with the new SUPER SOAKER BOTTLE SHOT blaster. Simply fill a clean bottle with water, screw it onto the universal connection on the blaster and you’re ready for water battle! The SUPER SOAKER BOTTLE SHOT blaster features the awesome hydro-powered performance that kids have come to expect from the SUPER SOAKER brand and can blast up to 20 feet. The SUPER SOAKER BOTTLE SHOT blaster is compatible with most water bottles up to two liters.

Technorati Tags: Contest, Giveaway, Birthday Bash Celebration, Water Fight, Super Soaker, Bottle Shot, Summer, Water Gun

ENTRY RULES:
It’s the third day of our Birthday Bash Celebration and today LI Kids is proud to be giving away a Spring Jam Basketball pool toy. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the bottom left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries into our contest by:

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three weeks, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of July 16, 2009, which means you have until July 15, 2009 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
SPRING JAM BASKETBALL
Let the dunking begin! The SwimWays Spring Jam Basketball brings the game off the court and into the pool for hours of fun and friendly competition! Equipped with a pro-style grip basketball, swimmers can easily grasp the ball and maneuver around their opponent for the perfect shot. The inflatable, floating goal features bright colorful graphics and is covered with durable fabric for a season full of fun. A twist and fold design makes storing and carrying the set a breeze so you can ‘bring your game’ to backyard pool parties and challenge your friends to a one-on-one competition. A convenient carry and storage bag is included.

Technorati Tags: Contest, Giveaway, Birthday Bash Celebration, Spring Jam, Basketball, Pool Toy, Sports

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: June 26, 2009
DVD Release Date: June 30, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.49

The writers at Disney never cease to amaze me. I love their programs; everything from the classics to their new movies. When I had the opportunity to review the Princess Protection Program I knew it was going to be a great family film. The Disney programs never disappointment me with the characters, plot and the lessons shown in their films. My daughter and I sat and enjoyed the movie and Bonus Features together. What a treat for the both of us!

As a parent, and avid Disney Channel watcher, Princess Protection Program had everything I needed to keep me engaged throughout the entire movie. Demi Lavato as Princess Rosalinda/Rosie and Selena Gomez as an everyday girl and tomboy Carter Mason was a perfect pairing, especially for fans of Hannah Montana and Camp Rock.

I feel this is a fantastic film to teach young girls and boys that just because you are from one side of the world or the other you may still have things in common. Just because you come from different backgrounds doesn’t mean you cannot become great friends. Also, another lesson can be found by not judging a book by its cover. I love this lesson, any which way it’s written and Disney did a bang-up job of presenting it.

My daughter, Eliana, is a big fan of Wizards Of Waverly Place and to see Selena Gomez in a different production was really exciting for her. Of course, seeing Demi Lavato as a princess was the icing on the cake. Even though Eliana is only six years old, she totally understood the message Disney was trying to deliver. She enjoyed every part of the movie and the Bonus Features, too. This is a movie that we will watch over and over, and it’s sure to be a hit at our future slumber parties.

The Princess Protection Program Plot
Princess Protection Program is a wildly exciting reality check for two teenage girls whose lives are turned upside due to unforeseen circumstances. This Disney Channel Original Movie stars Selena Gomez (Wizards Of Waverly Place) as Carter Mason and Demi Lavato (Sonny With A Chance) as Princess Rosalinda Maria Montoya Fioré/Rosie.

Carter’s father, an agent in the covert international Princess Protection Program, brings home Rosie to live as Carter’s “cousin” until it is safe for her to return to her home in Costa Luna. The fact that this is a measure of protection that is necessary for the girl doesn’t matter much to her or the tomboy she is forced to become a “relative” to.

The girls are from two entirely different worlds and in the beginning all they notice is the differences of the other girl. It doesn’t change the fact that these two girls have to learn to get along. Of course, it doesn’t take long for them to learn that they have more in common than meets the eye.

Rosie might not seem like the kind of princess that would be a good fit for Louisiana, but with Carter at her side (like it or not) she soon learns to adapt. Rosie finds herself roughing-it and learns to act like an everyday girl. Meanwhile Carter, with the help of Rosie, finds her inner princess.

Storyline/Plot: 5 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The video and audio for the Princess Protection Program was across the board incredible. The picture was crisp, clean and clear throughout the movie. The aspect ratio is 1.78:1 and looks great. There were spots in the movie where I felt as though I was right there. In some movies I have noticed that the scenes seem to be on a green screen or just man made, but this was not the case for this film.

The audio for the movie is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound with tracks in French and Spanish. The main tracks are in English and sound superb. I cannot comment on the French or Spanish tracks, but I am led to believe they would be just as favorable. There wasn’t a time that I had to adjust the volume or color for this movie.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are a couple of bonus features for Princess Protection Program. The thing I liked most about these bonuses is that they should be fun for kids that liked the movie. A lot of times, kids are left out of the bonus features, but these ones are enjoyable to the young girls that will make up the core audience for this DVD.

There are three main features for this film. Included are two featurettes and a music video. The music video, “One And the Same” stars both Gomez and Lavato who sing together. Their fans should enjoy this quite a bit. I know that we did!

The featurettes included are “Royal & Loyal BFF’s” and “A Royal Reality”. Both of these are quite entertaining, though I think seeing and hearing from the real life princess was the most exciting option, causing “A Royal Reality” to be the real winner. In “Royal & Loyal” we get a chance to see what real life good friends Lavato and Gomez are. They dish about their friendship and it’s great for their fans to see how much they truly seem to like one another. In “A Royal Reality” kids get a chance to see and hear from a real life princess. While she cannot tell too much about her background, kids get a chance to see that she’s just like most other girls even though she comes from a completely different world. It’s definitely enlightening!

Other than that the only thing that qualifies as special features are the previews. This disk includes previews for Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Princess and the Frog, Hannah Montana: The Movie, Race to Witch Mountain, Sonny with a Chance, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Earth, and Hatching Pete/Dadnapped Double Feature.

Bonus Features: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
Disney has created yet another fantastic family movie. The Princess Protection Program will be played over and over again at my house if my daughter has anything to say about it.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: DVD, DVD Review, Movie Review, Disney, Family, Princess Protection Program

ENTRY RULES:
It’s our second day of Lil B’s Birthday Bash and LI Kids is proud to be giving away a Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzle. The puzzle, shown above is one of their ABC Chunky Puzzles. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the bottom left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries into our contest by:

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three weeks, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of July 14, 2009, which means you have until July 13, 2009 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
Alphabet fun begins with this extra thick wooden puzzle that includes 26 easy-grasp, chunky pieces (A-Z). Each piece is shown with a colorful picture that begins with that letter, and a full-color, matching letter is shown under each piece. Letter pieces stand up. Encourages hand-eye, fine motor, letter recognition and pre-reading skills.

Technorati Tags: Birthday Bash, Puzzles, Melissa and Doug, Chunky Puzzles, Knob Puzzles, Giveaway, Contest, ABC, Alphabet, Toy, Learning

ENTRY RULES:
In honor of Braxton’s fifth birthday this month, LI Kids is proud to be giving away a Play-Doh Magic Swirl Ice Cream Shoppe playset. To enter all you need to do is leave us a comment. Please be sure to only leave one.

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the bottom left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries into our contest by:

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)
-Becoming a Member of our Facebook Fan Page

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three weeks, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of July 15, 2009, which means you have until July 14, 2009 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
PLAY-DOH MAGIC SWIRL ICE CREAM SHOPPE
Kids can satisfy their creative ‘sweet tooth’ with the PLAY-DOH MAGIC SWIRL ICE CREAM SHOPPE playset. Using PLAY-DOH compound children will enjoy making pretend treats and desserts including cake and ice cream. The PLAY-DOH MAGIC SWIRL ICE CREAM SHOPPE playset features a special soft-serve style ‘ice cream’ dispenser that extrudes PLAY-DOH compound making a perfect swirled ‘ice cream.’ Whether kids create a cup, cone, or sundae the ‘topping’ stations are the perfect place to decorate their creation with sprinkles, hot fudge or whipped cream. To really make spectacular pretend ‘sweets,’ children can use the dessert-themed molds to create strawberries, cookie crumbles, or a cherry using PLAY-DOH compound. The PLAY-DOH MAGIC SWIRL ICE CREAM SHOPPE playset comes complete with four 3-ounce cans of PLAY-DOH compound, over 40 dessert-themed molds, two ice cream cones, two spoons, one ice cream scoop, one sundae dish, one parfait glass and one cake.

Technorati Tags: Birthday Bash, Braxton, LI Kids, Giveaway, Contest, Play-Doh, Magic Swirl, Ice Cream Shoppe, Toy

ENTRY RULES:

COMMENTS ARE MODERATED to avoid spam, so it will not show up right away. People who leave multiple comments will be deleted from the contest altogether. If you do not see your comment within a day then by all means leave another one. Otherwise, do not worry as we accept comments several times a day.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:
To enter you need to be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the US. If you have won a contest within the last 30 days you are not eligible.

GET AN EXTRA ENTRY:
Want an extra entry? Twitter about this contest! Just click the Tweet button in the bottom left corner of this article’s box!

You can post the URL to your Tweet in your initial comment for this contest.

To find out about all our latest contests feel free to add us to your Twitter:

@dominickevans
@ashtynevans

You can also get extra entries into our contest by:

-Posting on your blog/website about out contest with a link back to LI Kids (please let us know where to find said link so we can give you an extra entry)
-Digging or Stumbling this post (list your Digg/Stumble username in your comment)

*******Please only leave ONE comment – If you Twitter, Digg, Blog about, or Stumble this contest you can post all relevant information in that comment. We will make sure to add extra entries for each extra thing you’ve done when we randomly pick winners.

CLAIMING YOUR PRIZE:
Winners will be sent an email shortly after the end of the contest. To claim your prize all you will need to do is send us your address in a reply to the congratulation email that you will receive. If we do not receive a reply from you within three weeks, your winnings will be forfeited and your prize will be offered to another contestant.

ENTRY DEADLINE:
We will begin emailing winners for this the week of July 9, 2009, which means you have until July 8, 2009 at 11:59 to enter.

FROM THE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:
It’s a season full of bright new beginnings for The Secret Life of the American Teenager. An ABC Family series that has become a cultural phenomenon from coast to coast, The Secret Life of the American Teenager is more engaging than ever in its sensational second season. As Amy’s due date approaches, her secret marriage to Ben complicates matters even further. Viewers will be captivated by the relationship twists and turns, as they discover what the future holds for Amy, Ben, Ricky, and their friends and family. Created by Brenda Hampton (”7th Heaven“), The Secret Life of the American Teenager stars Molly Ringwald (Pretty in Pink), Shailene Woodley (“Crossing Jordan,” “The O.C.”“), Francia Raisa (Bring It On: All or Nothing ), Greg Finley (“Cold Case”), Josie Bissett (“Melrose Place”), and John Schneider (“Smallville”).

Bonus Features
Character Secrets: The Cast Reveals All! – The cast of The Secret Life of the American Teenager discusses the intimate details of their characters and dishes on each other in exclusive on set interviews.

Cast Close-Ups – A special set visit reveals the likes and dislikes of each cast member in a series of one-on-one video conversations.

“Secret Life (You And Me)” – A music video by The Strange Familiar

Technorati Tags: LI Kids, Giveaway, Contest, TV on DVD, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Season Two, ABC Family

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: January 5, 2009-March 23, 2009
DVD Release Date: June 16, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $25.99

This may be the second season of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, but it still blows my mind to see Molly Ringwald, the pretentious rich-girl from The Breakfast Club play a mother of a teenager. Sure, she’s old enough to play the part, but it’s somewhat surreal. I always think of her as the perpetual, pretty redhead next door from the 80s. Now she’s a mom and that’s cool. It’s just a little bit different. It’d be like seeing Anthony Michael Hall remake My Three Sons. It might work out, but in the beginning it would take some getting used to.

ABC Family is one of those networks that run a lot of pretty decent shows that I always forget to watch. For some reason my brain fails to make a connection with the fact that this network exists when primetime shows are on. So, I get these sets and always tell myself to watch and always end up forgetting. I figure its okay though because soon enough the new season will roll out on DVD and I will be able to pick that up for review. This is a major plus when you consider I do not have to go through the agonizing wait for the next week’s episode.

During the second season you see a lot of the same themes as you did in the first season. There is a continuation here that is necessary to finish a lot of the stories that began in the first season. You get to see what life is like for teenagers, in some respects, including one that deals with a pregnancy, a boyfriend that is not the father of said baby, a secret wedding, and family life in general. While occasionally Secret Life can border on melodrama, the show is pretty good.

The The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season Two Plot
From what I can gather, this second season set is actually the second half of the first season. It has been marketed as a second season, but as far as I know, season two is currently airing on ABC Family. In any case, a list of all of the episodes in this set are listed below so you know what is available.

“The Secret Wedding of the American Teenager”: Amy and Ben decide to get married using fake IDs after Amy learns that the new baby is going to be her responsibility and if she wants to keep it she will need to get a job. After Ricky finds out, he gets a fake ID, as well. This starts a trend and numerous others get one, too, including Adrian, Alice, Ashley, Henry, Grace, Madison, and so on. Meanwhile, George moves into the Juergen family garage.

“Baked Nevada”: George and Leo find Amy and Ben at the wedding reception and trouble breaks loose as a result. This doesn’t matter much when Amy and Ben learn that their marriage is not valid anyway. Jack confesses (falsely) to making the fake IDs and gets community service. Anne tries to give Amy and Ben advice about what to do with the baby.

“The Father and the Son”: Ashley tries to get Reverend Stone to help her keep her parents together. Ricky’s dad is out on parole and he’s in town looking for his little boy. He visits Amy and proceeds to tell Ricky that he might sell the baby. When Anne learns that Ricky was sexually abused by his dad she thinks that the kids should seriously consider giving the baby up for adoption. Both Ben and Ricky want to keep the baby, even though they both have their own, specific reasons. Meanwhile, Anne tries to find a nice adoptive home for the child.

“That’s Enough of That”: Ricky admits the truth about being abused to Adrian and refuses to see Grace as long as his father, who keeps trying to convince him to sell the baby, remains in town. Ben suffers a blow when he learns that Amy wants to go to the doctor’s alone. Ben later makes a video of Amy and reveals that she is going to have a boy. Anne finally comes to terms with the fact that Amy really is pregnant.

“Chocolate Cake”: Ben cannot believe it when he finds out that a meeting between Ricky and Amy was planned and he was not invited. Anne talks to the Reverend about Ashley and her attempts to stop her parents from breaking up. Adrian’s father catches her and her step-brother Max in a compromising position. Meanwhile, when Jack learns that Shawna has no interest in him he tells Grace that Ricky and Adrian are still sleeping together. George learns that two of his gay co-workers want to adopt Amy’s baby.

“Unforgiven”: Amy becomes upset when Ben says he needs some space and seems to doubt their relationship. Jack and Shawna begin dating, even though she supposedly isn’t interested in him. George holds adoption interviews to find parents for the baby. Amy agrees that the gay couple should adopt the baby. Ricky informs Jack that he wants to be with Amy, not Grace or Adrian.

“Making Up is Hard to Do”: Ricky tells Dr. Fields that he wants to be with Amy and that he doesn’t want to go through with the adoption. Ashley attempts to convince Ben that he should be with Amy. Max and Adrian go on their first date. Amy and Ricky meet Donovan and Leon, who decide that it is in their best interest to be foster parents instead of adopting.

“Money for Nothing, Chicks for Free”: Anne receives a job offer. Adrian decides that she will become a virgin again by changing her style. Amy and Ben get back together and the gay couple announces that they do not wish to adopt the baby. This prompts Amy to admit that she does not want to give the baby up for adoption. Anne and Ben both pressure Amy to get a job based on her decision.

“Maybe Baby”: Both Ben and Ricky get a job, working together with Ben’s dad at his sausage shop. George is able to get a loan on a foreclosed home. Ashley becomes upset when she learns that Amy wanted to get rid of the baby and becomes angry when she learns about the tape that Ben and Amy made for the baby. Grace and Adrian want to make sure that Amy gives the baby up because that keeps her tied to Ricky if she keeps it. Later, Grace tells Amy that she got her a job at the Church and she would have both daycare services and insurance available to her. With that in mind, Anne lets Amy keep the baby.

“Whoomp! (There it is)”: As the baby approaches, a baby shower is planned for Amy. Ricky prepares for the baby by learning how to change a diaper. On the way to the baby shower, Amy goes into labor. George, who is in the process of moving out, is called to meet everyone at the hospital. Meanwhile, Ben tells Amy that she should call Ricky and let him know that she is in labor.

“One Night at Band Camp”: Amy recalls when she met Ricky at Band Camp before she got pregnant. Tom makes an attempt to get Grace and Jack back together. Amy feels bad for blaming Ricky for her pregnancy because she realizes the sex wasn’t solely his fault. Ricky admits he wants to be a good friend to Amy and to help with the baby.

“And Unto Us, A Child is Born”: Everyone gathers at the hospital to support Amy and her family. Ben and Ricky agree to be friends and talk about the future. Adrian comes to the hospital to support Ricky. Amy finally has the baby and everyone gets to see him. They decide to name the baby John. Despite her decision, Amy has a hard time adjusting to being a mom, but after Ricky sees and spends time with the baby, he likes the idea of being a dad.

Storyline/Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Replayability: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Acting: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Directing: 4 out of 5 stars

Audio/Visual:
The Secret Life of the American Teenager is a newer show that is currently still airing on ABC Family. Shot in HD, the picture you receive here is about equal to the quality you see when it is on television. That means you will view this in anamorphic widescreen with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. You can expect few errors, no dirt, and nothing annoying. The detail is high and the colors are good. It’s one of the better visual productions you will see on ABC Family, and like I said it appears just like if you were watching it on its assigned day of television.

As for the sound, the Dolby Digital 5.1 does an adequate job though this is a dialogue driven production. Being that it’s more dialogue than anything you can expect it to be fairly even and not entirely dramatic. Still, the dialogue is crisp and everything remains consistently easy to hear. In addition to standard audio options subtitles are available in both French and Spanish.

Visual: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Audio: 4 out of 5 stars

Bonus Features:
There are a couple special features available for The Secret Life of the American Teenager. There isn’t anything truly special here, but fans should enjoy the secrets and the close-ups that are offered. In addition to those things, a music video for “Secret Life (You and Me)” is offered by The Strange Familiar. As you might expect, the video includes clips from the show.

“Character Secrets: The Cast Reveals All” – This ten minute look at the show has the cast dishing on the romances of the show and the drama that comes with them. While this is being discussed the family dynamic is also looked at.

“Cast Close-Ups” – This includes a series of personal videos from the various characters on the show. Michaela, a show fan, interviews the cast in each of their videos. Every video runs about three minutes and naturally some are better than others.

Bonus Features: 3 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
The Secret Life of the American Teenager is a decent show, but it’s not ever going to step out of the realm of the family drama. If you love that type of show, revolving around teenagers and their problems then you should really like this show. The acting is sometimes overly dramatic, but it’s good for the most part, and the show offers topics that older kids need to hear about. If you haven’t caught this on ABC Family yet, I recommend checking out the first season first and then renting or buying both seasons as you see fit.

Overall Rating: 4.07 out of 5 stars

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