Popular

Popular follows two teen girls at Jacqueline Kennedy High who occupy opposite ends of the social spectrum. Brooke is the queen bee, adored for her looks and cheerleading energy, while Sam pushes for truth and integrity as the school newspaper editor. When their single parents unexpectedly announce plans to marry, the girls suddenly find themselves sharing a home and a household under one roof. The shock of blending families sits alongside the usual high school chaos, from crushes and crowds to rivalries and rumors. The show uses sharp humor to explore friendship, identity, and what happens when status meets responsibility, with warmth and bite. Behind their polished exteriors lie insecurities that ripple through friendships and the grind of life.

Premiering in 1999 on The WB, Popular was created by Ryan Murphy and Gina Matthews. It presented an original take on teen life and featured a rotating roster of directors guiding its episodes, with an ensemble cast that pushed boundaries.

It helped establish Murphy's early voice mixing sharp social observation with high school drama. The show satirized cliques while giving screen time to friendships and rivalries among Brooke, Sam, Lily, Harrison, and Carmen, leaving a mark on late 90s teen television and inspiring future creators with a memorable ensemble.

Reception and themes echoed the blend of humor and heart as it navigated popularity, belonging, and the performance of gender within a brutal clique culture. The show staged bold scenarios and clashed with expectations of teen dramas inviting viewers to reconsider who holds power at school and how friendships redefine it.

Its lack of major nominations from the Oscars, Emmys or Golden Globes is noted, but it built a devoted following and is often cited as an early example of Ryan Murphy's bold approach to teen storytelling, influencing later school stories before its run ended in many fans memories forever.