History Trivia / TheSecretLifeOfTheAmericanTeenager

* MoneyDearBoy: Poor Creator/MollyRingwald. In the outside world, show creator Brenda Hampton has said in regards to the many negative reviews that she'd rather the show get good ratings and bad reviews than bad ratings and good reviews.

* ProductionPosse: In additions to sharing most of the same writing team from Brenda Hampton's previous show ''Series/SeventhHeaven'', multiple actors from that show appear in ''Secret Life'': Camille Winbush (Lauren), Alice Hirson (Mimsy), Bryan Callen (Ricky's dad Bob), Beverley Mitchell (Katelyn O'Malley), Mackenzie Rosman (Zoe), Deborah Raffin (Dr. Hightower), etc.

* RealitySubtext: Molly Ringwald's pregnancy was written into the storyline.

* MoneyDearBoy: Poor Molly Ringwald. In the outside world, show creator Brenda Hampton has said in regards to the many negative reviews that she'd rather the show get good ratings and bad reviews than bad ratings and good reviews.

* ActorAllusion: Molly Ringwald often makes allusions to her roles playing a teenager/teenage mother.
* CastingGag: The show used several actors that also appeared on Brenda Hampton's previous show ''Series/SeventhHeaven'', including Alice Hirson (Mimsy), Camille Winbush (Lauren), and Beverley Mitchell (Katelyn O'Malley).

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** In the episode, "Let's Try That Again," Madison's step-mom is played by Michelle Krusiec, who is probably better known for her portrayal of Helen Chin on Weeds as the tennis coach Dean Hodes has an affair with in "You Can't Miss the Bear"
** Probably the biggest one is Creator/MollyRingwald as Amy and Ashley's mom as most audiences are used to seeing Ringwald as a teenager and not the mother of one. Also has to do with the show's superficial view of teenage pregnancy in sharp contrast to Ringwald's role in ''Film/ForKeeps''.
** [[Film/{{Divergent}} Tris]] is Amy. Or [[Film/TheFaultInOurStars Hazel]].
** [[Series/TheDrewCareyShow Mimi]] is the manager at the butcher shop where Ben and Ricky work.
** Series/{{Blossom}} was the high school counselor in season two and the first half of season three.
** During the latter half of season three and season four, the role of high school counselor is taken over by [[SeventhHeaven Lucy Camden]]
** [[Series/SeventhHeaven Ruthie Camden]] has a few appearances as Zoe, one of Ricky's casual sex partners.
** Renee Olstead (Madison) and Camille Winbush (Lauren) are much more well-known for playing snarky daughters on ''Still Standing'' and ''The Bernie Mac Show'' respectively. Somewhere in between, they forgot how to act.
** [[Series/TheCosbyShow Elvin Tibideaux]] is the court-appointed mediator who handled John's custody case.
** It's a little jarring when Grant's very amiable mom is introduced, since she's better recognized as AxCrazy Amanda Young from ''Franchise/{{Saw}}''
** The new OB/GYN loses all credibility as a doctor when you realize he's playboy [[ReallyGetsAround Vince]] from WhatILikeAboutYou.
** Another OB/GYN is [[Series/TheSopranos Christopher Moltisanti]]
** Ben's dad is Bobby Baccalieri, another [[Series/TheSopranos Sopranos]] alum.
** Grace's dad was played by [[Series/TheDukesOfHazzard Bo Duke]] before he died.
** Ben's stepmom Betty is [[AmericanPie Stifler's mom]]
** Jack's stepfather is the dad from ''Series/EvenStevens''
** Apparently [[Film/{{Ghostbusters}} Winston]] gave up his life of ghost hunting to become Lauren's dad and Ricky's therapist.
** [[Series/BigTimeRush Jo]] ends up as one of Ben's recurring friends in the 1st episode of the 2nd half of Season 4.

** [[TheDrewCareyShow Mimi]] is the manager at the butcher shop where Ben and Ricky work.
** {{Blossom}} was the high school counselor in season two and the first half of season three.

** [[SeventhHeaven Ruthie Camden]] has a few appearences as Zoe, one of Ricky's casual sex partners.

** [[TheCosbyShow Elvin Tibideaux]] is the court-appointed mediator who handled John's custody case.

** Grace's dad was played by [[TheDukesOfHazzard Bo Duke]] before he died.

* StarMakingRole: For Creator/ShaileneWoodley (Alongside her role in ''Film/TheDescendants'').

** It's a little jarring when Grant's very amiable mom is introduced, since she's better recognized as AxCrazy Amanda Young from ''{{Saw}}''

** Renee Olstead(Madison) and Camille Winbush(Lauren) are much more well-known for playing snarky daughters on ''Still Standing'' and ''The Bernie Mac Show'' respectively. Somewhere in between, they forgot how to act.

** [[{{Divergent}} Tris]] is Amy. Or [[Film/TheFaultInOurStars Hazel]].