The Teen Choice Awards

The Teen Choice Awards make me nostalgic. Remember when postering people was an overriding passion? Back in the day, Blu Tacking pretty boys to the bedroom walls took up a lot of my (after school) schedule.

From a business perspective, the awards can be viewed as a form of market research, especially as audience input is involved. Actors who carry their fan base from one show to the next are the kind of talent studios want on the books. Current popularity with the teen market could be indicative of potential longterm popularity on the small screen.

It's always interesting to note which pretty people can translate good looks into magnetic onscreen charisma. Some youthful actors come up blank on television, while other seem to burn a trail across the screen like glossy comets.

When it comes to categories, maybe The Teen Choice Awards should take a leaf from fictional bookstore Elsewhere, which created 'interesting' sections for its novels. "This Show's Got Lotsa Hotties But No Real Story" maybe?

Let's just say the only thing funnier than Chuck competing in the Action category, was Chuck winning the Action category.

Likewise, Glee for Comedy? Generally described as a dramedy, I do consider it more dramatic than comedic, especially in comparison to fellow nominees Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory.

(Placing The Vampire Diaries in the Fantasy/Sci-Fi category was probably an attempt to convince teens vamps aren't real, but my guess is the subliminal message didn't register).

The show's main hunk Paul Wesley won for Actor in a Fantasy/Sci-Fi program, but my (bloodbank) money remains firmly on Ian Somerhalder, who plays resident baddie Damon. He won for Villain, probably just edging out Ed Westwick for his seductive portrayal of billionaire bad boy Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl.

At least one resident hottie is usually de rigeur when it comes to success with teen audiences, but Glee has shown a quirky and adorable ensemble cast can make up for the lack.

I never thought I'd see the day I was glad Keeping Up With The Kardashians won something, but hey, if the sisters can stop Jersey Shore from taking out a 'Reality' award, I'm happy.

There wasn't a lot of competition in the summer program section. Lucy Hale, who plays Aria in Pretty Little Liars, took out the Actress award. (Hale was also great in short-lived series Privilege).

Moments where I wish reality had bent to reflect my tastes? Supernatural winning the Fantasy/Sci-Fi category, as reward for portraying the Apocalypse on a television budget, would have been fair. Ed Westwick even being nominated for Actor in a TV Drama would have been believable?? (Any competition that implies Penn Badgley, who plays Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl, qualifies as a more of a hottie than Ed Westwick, is definitely on something).

Kudos has to go to actress Leighton Meester. When Gossip Girl first hit our screens, the lead character in the series was troubled blonde socialite Serena Van Der Woodsen, portrayed by actress Blake Lively. Leighton Meester was cast as the sidekick bf, Blair Waldorf.

Over three seasons, Meester has stiletto'd her way to the top of the cast pile. Climbing the podium in a white minidress and wildly high heels to accept the award for Choice TV Actress: Drama, she shone with a kind of confident ambition that's breathtaking.

You go, girl. (Do kids even say that anymore? Maybe more like 'uGOgrrl'?)

xoxo