Jordan with twin sister, Jessica (
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Tonight’s season premiere of “16 and Pregnant” isn’t as sad, harrowing, dramatic or traumatic as many of the earlier episodes in the series — the ones that tipped the less stable teens into nightmarish reality-TV stardom.
This year, the hit series shows us what it’s like for someone to watch herself having the life she gave up when she became a pregnant 16-year-old.
Jordan — tonight’s pregnant teen — has an identical twin sister, Jessica. The sisters modeled together before Jordan got pregnant.
READ MORE: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
A dead ringer in every way to her twin Jordan, Jessica leads the life of a somewhat regular teen — hanging out with friends, having fun and going to football games.
In fact, when Jordan goes into labor, Jessica puts on a pout because her sister now pays more attention to the baby’s father, Brian, than to her.
That moment should be tattooed on the brain of every girl who thinks having a baby is a fun way to spend your teen years. What’s more fun: cheering on your team at a game or crying in pain during contractions?
Would most teens rather continue their fledgling modeling careers or stay home with a baby that has acid reflux and cries 20 hours a day for five weeks straight?
The twins’ own back story comes out slowly. Jordan and Jessica’s parents split up right after their birth — and a few years later, their mom abandoned them, too. The twins’ grandparents adopted them and have given the girls a lovely and loving home in St. Louis.
Grandma Aleta is hardly happy with Jordan’s delicate condition, but is still very supportive. But when Brian wants to move in — so he can be there for the baby’s birth and afterwards — Aleta cautions the young couple about living together in her home, including the intrusion it will cause on twin sister Jessica’s life.
As soon as Brian moves in, the sisters, who are thisclose, begin to have problems.
Jessica resents Brian’s presence in the sisters’ lives. For example, Brian wants space and privacy to bond with Jordan during the birth of their baby — while Jessica expects to be in the birthing room with them.
The jealousies and pouting are the giveaways that Jessica is still a normal teen, while Jordan and Brian can no longer afford that luxury and have been forced to grow up overnight.
The series that MTV pretends was a cautionary tale was really never anything but train-wreck TV at its saddest.
Well, tonight, it finally fulfills its loftiest goal: teaching that being this age and pregnant is nothing but sad and boring.
Too bad trash and trauma sell so much better than tired and tearful.