document_title: Barbershop music

question_text: where did the term barbershop quartet come from

text: Barbershop music

text: Ringing chords[edit]

text: This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text:
Equally tempered harmonic seventh chordA harmonic seventh chord, or "barbershop" chord, as it might be tuned on a piano
 Just harmonic seventh chordThe same chord with just intonation, as tuned by singers to "ring"

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text: The defining characteristic of the barbershop style is the ringing chord, one in which certain overtones of the four voices reinforce each other, sometimes so strongly that the overtone is perceived by the listener as a distinct tone, even though none of the voices are perceived as singing that tone. This effect occurs when the chord, as voiced, contains intervals which have strongly reinforcing overtones (fifths and octaves, for example) that fall in the audible range; and when the chord is sung in perfect just tuning without excessive vibrato. Both of these characteristics are important in many styles of singing, but in Barbershop there is an extreme emphasis on them that tends to override other musical values. For example, favored chords in the jazz style are characterized by intervals which don't audibly ring, such as diminished or augmented fifths. For another example, Barbershop music is always a cappella, because the presence of fixed-pitch instruments (tuned to equal-temperament rather than just temperament), which is so highly prized in other choral styles, makes perfect just tuning of chords impossible.

text: The physics and psychophysics of the effect are fairly well understood; it occurs when the upper harmonics in the individual voice notes, and the sum and difference frequencies resulting from nonlinear combinations within the ear, reinforce each other at a particular frequency, strengthening it so that it stands out separately above the blended sound. The effect is audible only on certain kinds of chords, and only when all voices are equally rich in harmonics and justly tuned and balanced. It is not heard in chords sounded on modern keyboard instruments, due to the slight tuning imperfection of the equal-tempered scale.

text: Gage Averill writes that "Barbershoppers have become partisans of this acoustic phenomenon" and that "the more experienced singers of the barbershop revival (at least after 1938) have self-consciously tuned their dominant seventh and tonic chords in just intonation to maximize the overlap of common overtones." However, "In practice, it seems that most leads rely on an approximation of an equal-tempered scale for the melody, to which the other voices adjust vertically in just intonation."[3]

text: What is prized is not so much the "overtone" itself, but a unique sound whose achievement is most easily recognized by the presence of the "overtone". The precise synchrony of the waveforms of the four voices simultaneously creates the perception of a "fifth voice" while at the same time melding the four voices into a unified sound. The ringing chord is qualitatively different in sound from an ordinary musical chord e.g. as sounded on a tempered-scale keyboard instrument.

text: Most elements of the "revivalist" style are related to the desire to produce these ringing chords. Performance is a cappella to prevent the distracting introduction of equal-tempered intonation, and because listening to anything but the other three voices interferes with a performer's ability to tune with the precision required. Barbershop arrangements stress chords and chord progressions that favor "ringing", at the expense of suspended and diminished chords and other harmonic vocabulary of the ragtime and jazz forms.

text: The dominant seventh-type chord is so important to barbershop harmony that it is called the "barbershop seventh". BHS arrangers believe that a song should contain dominant seventh chords anywhere from 35 to 60 percent of the time (measured as a percentage of the duration of the song rather than a percentage of the chords present) to sound "barbershop".

text: Historically barbershoppers may have used the word "minor chord" in a way that is confusing to those with musical training. Averill suggests that it was "a shorthand for chord types other than major triads", and says that the use of the word for "dominant seventh-type chords and diminished chords" was common in the late nineteenth century. A 1910 song called "Play That Barber Shop Chord"[4] (often cited as an early example of "barbershop" in reference to music) contains the lines:

text:
'Cause Mister when you start that minor part
I feel your fingers slipping and a grasping at my heart,
Oh Lord play that Barber shop chord!

text: Averill notes the hints of rapture, "quasi-religion" and erotic passion in the language used by barbershoppers to describe the emotional effect. He quotes Jim Ewin as reporting "a tingling of the spine, the raising of the hairs on the back of the neck, the spontaneous arrival of goose flesh on the forearm ... the fifth note has almost mysterious propensities. It's the consummation devoutly wished by those of us who love Barbershop harmony. If you ask us to explain why we love it so, we are hard put to answer; that's where our faith takes over." Averill notes too the use of the language of addiction, "there's this great big chord that gets people hooked." An early manual was entitled "A Handbook for Adeline Addicts".[3]

text: He notes too that "barbershoppers almost never speak of 'singing' a chord, but almost always draw on a discourse of physical work and exertion; thus, they 'hit', 'chop', 'ring', 'crack', 'swipe', and 'bust.' Vocal harmony is interpreted as an embodied musicking. Barbershoppers never lose sight (or sound) of its physicality."[3]

text: Historical origins[edit]

text: While the modern era of barbershop music is accepted to have begun with a 1940s revival, opinions as to the genre's origins vary with respect to race, gender, region and context.[5]

text: Historical memoirs and journalism indicate a strong tradition of quartet singing among young African American men, gathering informally to "crack up a chord".[6] This was acknowledged as early as 1882, when a New York Age writer traced the development of singing as a home-grown amusement, arising from the exclusion of Blacks from theaters and concert halls.[6]

text: Barbershops have a long history of serving as community centers, where men would gather for a variety of activities. English "barber's music", for example, was described in the 17th century by Samuel Pepys as amateur instrumental music.[6] In the United States, the role of the barbershop continued, particularly for African American men, who passed time there singing spirituals, folk songs and popular songs. This generated a new style, consisting of unaccompanied, four-part, close-harmony singing. Later, white minstrel singers adopted the style, and in the early days of the recording industry their performances were recorded and sold. Early standards included songs such as "Shine On, Harvest Moon", "Hello, Ma Baby", and "Sweet Adeline".

text: Barbershop music was very popular between 1900 and 1919, and modern barbershop quartets often costume themselves in gaudy versions of the dress of this time, with boaters and vertically striped vests.[7] The music gradually faded into obscurity in the 1920s, although barbershop-style harmonies remained in evidence in a cappella forms of traditional black gospel and white gospel.[6][8][9]

text: Other researchers argue that today's barbershop music is an invented tradition related to several musical features popular around 1900, including quartet singing[10] and the use of the barbershop chord,[11][12] but effectively created during the 1940s in the ranks of the Barbershop Harmony Society whilst creating a system of singing contests and its contest rules.[12][13][14]

text: Organizations[edit]

text: Barbershop Harmony Society[edit]

text: The revival of a cappella singing took place around 1938 when a tax lawyer named Owen C. Cash sought to save the art form from a threat by radio.[15] He garnered support from an investment banker named Rupert I. Hall. Both came from Tulsa, Oklahoma.[16] Cash was a true partisan of quartet singing who advertised the fact that he did not want a cappella to fall by the wayside.

text: Cash had struck a chord, albeit unwittingly, and soon, across North America, men responded in their thousands and later in the same year the "Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America" was set up, known by the abbreviation S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.[17] at a time when many institutions in the United States were in the habit of using multiple initials to denote their function. The group adopted the alternate name "Barbershop Harmony Society" early in its history. While its legal name has never changed, it changed its official brand name to "Barbershop Harmony Society" in 2004.

text: Sharp Harmony, a Norman Rockwell painting, appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post magazine issue dated September 26, 1936; it depicts a barber and three clients enjoying a cappella song. The image was adopted by SPEBSQSA in its promotion of the art.

text: Female barbershop music[edit]

text: Traditionally, the word "barbershop" has been used to encompass both men's and women's singing in the barbershop style – in quartets and choruses. Sweet Adelines International and Harmony, Inc. are two women's barbershop singing organizations.

text: Notable artists[edit]

text: This list of "famous" or "notable" persons has no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help to define clear inclusion criteria and edit the list to contain only subjects that fit those criteria. Please help to define clear inclusion criteria and edit the list to contain only subjects that fit those criteria. (April 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

text: Quartets[edit]

text: A barbershop quartet is an ensemble of four people who sing a cappella in the exacting barbershop music genre.

text: In North America most male barbershop quartet singers belong to the Barbershop Harmony Society,[citation needed] while most female barbershop quartet singers are in either Sweet Adelines International or Harmony, Inc.[citation needed] Similar organizations have sprung up in many other countries.

text: Most barbershop quartet singers also choose to sing in a chorus.[citation needed]

text:
The Haydn Quartet, an early 1900s quartet also known as the Edison Quartet
American Quartet, recorded in the first quarter of the 20th century
The Buffalo Bills, 1950 International Quartet Champions, appeared in stage and screen productions of The Music Man, frequently appeared on Arthur Godfrey's radio show
The Suntones, 1961 International Quartet Champions, were regulars on The Jackie Gleason Show in the 1960s and introduced many contemporary songs into their performances.
The Dapper Dans of Disneyland, regularly appearing at Disneyland and Disney World, as The Be Sharps in Season 5, Episode 1 of The Simpsons, and as the Singing Busts in Disney's 2003 Haunted Mansion movie
The Singing Senators, a quartet of U.S. Senators
Nightlife, the 1996 International Champion Quartet of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. Inc. from Los Angeles
Finest Hour, the 2016 BABS Quartet Champions
Ringmasters, a Swedish quartet that became the first BHS International Champion Quartet from outside the U.S. in 2012.
Vocal Spectrum won the BHS International Championship for quartets in 2006. The group is known for its tight ringing harmonies and wide range of tones.

text: Choruses[edit]

text: A barbershop chorus sings a cappella music in the barbershop style. Most barbershop choruses belong to a larger association of practitioners such as the Barbershop Harmony Society, Sweet Adelines International or Harmony, Inc.[citation needed]

text: In the Barbershop Harmony Society, a chorus is the main performing aspect of each chapter. Choruses may have as few as 12 or as many as 150 members singing. Choruses normally sing with a director, as distinct from quartets. It is not uncommon for a new quartet to form within a chorus, or for an established quartet affiliated with a given chorus to lose a member (to death, retirement, or relocation) and recruit a replacement from the ranks of the chorus. Choruses can also provide "spare parts" to temporarily replace a quartet member who is ill or temporarily out of town.

text: Unlike a quartet, a chorus need not have equal numbers singing each voice part. The ideal balance in a chorus is about 40% bass, 30% lead, 20% baritone and 10% tenor singers.

text: Filling the gap between the chorus and the quartet is what is known as a VLQ or Very Large Quartet, in which more than four singers perform together, with two or more voices on some or all of the four parts. A VLQ possesses greater flexibility than a standard quartet, since they can perform even with one or more singers missing, as long as all four parts are covered. Like a normal quartet, a VLQ usually performs without a director.

text: BHS[edit]

text:
The Vocal Majority, based in Dallas, TX twelve-time International Chorus Champions
The Masters of Harmony, nine-time International Chorus Champions. Based in Los Angeles County, California.
The Louisville Thoroughbreds, seven-time International Chorus Champions from Louisville, Kentucky.
The Alexandria Harmonizers, based in Alexandria, VA. four-time International Chorus Champions.
The Ambassadors of Harmony, 2004, 2009, 2012, and 2016 International Chorus Champions. Based in St. Charles, Missouri.
The Westminster Chorus, a youth barbershop chorus in California started by young members of the Masters of Harmony are International Chorus Champions of 2007, 2010 and 2015.
Chorus of the Chesapeake, two-time International Champion chorus, based in the Baltimore, Maryland area.
Southern Gateway Chorus, of Cincinnati, Ohio, has earned 22 medals (including two gold) while competing since 1963 in International contests.
The Toronto Northern Lights, 2013 International Chorus Champions, five-time International Chorus Silver Medalists. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Great Northern Union, based in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, consistent top-ten finisher and nine-time International Chorus Medalists.
The Alliance, 2003 and 2004 International Chorus Medalists. Based in Columbus, Ohio.
Voices of Gotham, based in Hell's Kitchen, New York City, are the 2011 Mid-Atlantic District Champions and a top-ten finisher in the international competition in 2013, 2015, and 2017.
Brothers in Harmony, top-ten finisher in 2010 and 2013
Pacific Coast Harmony, based in La Jolla, California, small Far Western District chorus that competed internationally in 2005, 2006, and 2012.
Vocal Revolution, based in Lexington, Massachusetts, are the 2011–2015 Northeastern District Champions.[18]

text: British Association of Barbershop Singers[edit]

text:
The Cottontown Chorus: Five times British champions in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013; four times BABS silver medalists (2001, 2002, 2004, 2015) and bronze medalist for 2003; European Barbershop Convention silver medalists for 2005 and 2009; winners of the adult section of BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year for 2008; Irish Association of Barbershop Singers international gold medalist for 2008; winning chorus at the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition for 2008; four-time BHS International competitor, in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2017; based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England.
Cambridge Chord Company: twice European barbershop chorus champions (2001 & 2005) and bronze medalist (2009); four times British Association of Barbershop Singers chorus champions (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006); BABS Millennium champions (2000); five time BABS silver medalists (1994, 1997, 1998, 2009, 2010); "Choir of the World" National Eisteddfod of Wales 2004; chorus based in Cambridge, England.
The Great Western Chorus of Bristol winners of a record ten gold medals (1977, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017), four times BABS silver medalists and five times bronze medalists. The Great Western Chorus hold more chorus competition medals than any other chorus in the association; Radio 3 "Choir of the Year" 2006 Finalists; based in Bristol, England. They won the inaugural Barnardo's Adult Male Choir Competition, have always placed within the top five nationally, and are one of two choruses to have won contests back to back due to the "Year Out" rule (wherein a chorus that wins the national contest takes a year out) not being active at the time. They competed at the International contest in 2009 and 2011
The Grand Central Chorus: Five times British Champions (1993, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2012); four times BABS silver medalists (2005, 2006, 2007, 2016); winner of the 2016 Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers Performance Award; based in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England.[19]
Hallmark of Harmony: Seven times British champions, formed in 1978 and based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England.
Shannon Express: twice champion chorus formed in 1978 and based in Potton, Bedfordshire, England.
Mantunian Way: a youth chorus from the University of Manchester; part of the Manchester University Barbershop Singers (MUBS); the association's first and so far only full youth chorus (in which all members and committee members are under 26 years of age); 2014 British Bronze Medalist Chorus; the first youth chorus to win national medalist ranking and the first chorus in the association's history to win a medal in their national contest debut (other than within the first contest in 1975).[citation needed]
Crawley Chordsmen: Four time British champions (1975, 1976, 1978, 1984), and one of two choruses to have won contests back to back due to the "Year Out" rule (wherein a chorus that wins the national contest takes a year out) not being active at the time. Defunct as of 2011 due to low membership.[citation needed]

text: Sweet Adelines International[edit]

text:
Gem City Chorus, five-time Sweet Adelines International Chorus Champions from Dayton, OH.
Lace City Chorus, six-time (four times consecutively) Sweet Adelines Region 31 Gold Medal chorus from Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Melodeers Chorus, six-time Sweet Adelines International Gold Medal chorus from Northbrook, Illinois.
North Metro Chorus, four-time Sweet Adelines International Chorus Champions from Toronto, Ontario.
Pride of Kentucky Chorus, eight-time Sweet Adelines Region 4 Chorus Champions from Louisville, Kentucky.
The Rich-Tone Chorus, five-time Sweet Adelines International Chorus Champions from Richardson, Texas.
Surrey Harmony Chorus, five-time Sweet Adelines Region 31 Gold Medal chorus from, United Kingdom.
Celebrity City Chorus, five time Sweet Adelines Region 11 Chorus Champions from Las Vegas, Nevada.

text: Barbershop Harmony New Zealand[edit]

text:
Musical Island Boys, Wellington, New Zealand, 3 times New Zealand champions, 3 times International Quartet Silver Medallists, 2014 International Quartet Champions
Vocal FX, Wellington, New Zealand, 6 times New Zealand Chorus champions, 2014 Pan Pacific Chorus Champions
Polytonix, Auckland, New Zealand, 2014 Pan Pacific Silver Medalists
The Mission, Wellington, New Zealand, 2015 BHNZ Quartet Champions, 2016 International Youth Quartet Bronze Medalists[20][21]

text: Sweet Adelines Australia[edit]

text: 31 chartered women's barbershop choruses all around Australia, including champions:[22]

text:
Endeavour Harmony Chorus, Sydney – NSW
Perth Harmony Chorus, Perth – WA
The Melbourne Chorus, Melbourne – VIC
Circular Keys Chorus, Sydney – NSW
Vocalescence Chorus, Gold Coast – QLD

text: Irish Association of Barbershop Singers[edit]

text:
4 in a Bar, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 IABS national male quartet champions, from Dublin.
Autotunes, 2014 IABS national male quartet champions, 2015 IABS International quartet champions, from Dublin.
The Polyphonics, fifteen times male chorus champions, most recently 2015, from Cork.

text: The Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers[edit]

text:
Amersham A Cappella, LABBS 2016 and 2010 gold medallist chorus; 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 silver medallist chorus from Amersham
Cheshire Chord Company, LABBS 2012 and 2014 gold medallist chorus from Warrington
Crystal Chords, LABBS 2011 Bronze medallist chorus from Greater Manchester
The White Rosettes, LABBS Chorus Champions: 2015, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1996, 1993, 1990, 1987, 1986, 1984, 1983 Leeds[24]

text: Typical barbershop songs[edit]

text: Barbershop Harmony Society's Barberpole Cat Songs "Polecats"—12 songs which all Barbershop Harmony Society members are encouraged to learn as a shared canonic repertoire—all famous, traditional examples of the barbershop genre:

text:
"Down by the Old Mill Stream" (by Tell Taylor)
"Down Our Way" (by Al Stedman & Fred Hughes, arr. Floyd Connett)
"Honey/Little 'Lize-Medley" (Traditional, arr. Floyd Connett)
"Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (words by Beth Slater Whitson, music by Leo Friedman)
"My Wild Irish Rose" (words and music by Chauncey Olcott, arr. Floyd Connett)
"Shine on Me"
"The Story of the Rose" ("Heart of My Heart")
"Sweet Adeline (You're The Flower Of My Heart)"
"Sweet and Lovely" (by Norm Starks, arr. Mac Huff)
"Sweet, Sweet Roses of Morn" (Oscar F. Jones and Martin S. Peake 1915)
"Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie" (by Andrew B. Sterling and Harry Von Tilzer, arr Warren "Buzz" Haeger)
"You Tell Me Your Dream (I'll Tell You Mine)"

text: The Barbershop Harmony Society announced on May 28, 2015, that the "Polecat" program would be expanded to include the following songs:

text:
"Bright Was The Night"
"Caroline
"(When It’s) Darkness On The Delta" (Levinson, Neiburg, Symes)
"Drivin’ Me Crazy"
"From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye" (words & music: Johnny Burke)
"Goodbye, My Coney Island Baby / We All Fall"
"Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart)
"I Don’t Know Why (I Just Do)"
"I've Been Working on the Railroad"
"Lida Rose / Will I Ever Tell You"
"Over The Rainbow" (words by E.Y. Harburg and music by Harold Arlen)

text: Examples of other songs popular in the barbershop genre are:

text:
"Alexander's Ragtime Band"
"Come Fly with Me"
"Hello Ma Baby"
"In the Good Old Summer Time"
"Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair"
"Last Night Was the End of the World"
"Love Me and the World Is Mine"
"Shine On Harvest Moon"
"Sweet Georgia Brown"
"Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine"
"What'll I Do"
"Yes Sir, That's My Baby"

text: While these traditional songs still play a part in barbershop today, barbershop music also includes more current titles. Most music can be arranged in the barbershop style, and there are many arrangers within the aforementioned societies with the skills to include the barbershop chord structure in their arrangements. Today's barbershop quartets and choruses sing a variety of music from all eras—show tunes, pop, and even rock music has been arranged for choruses and quartets, making them more attractive to younger singers.


document_title: Alcoholics Anonymous

question_text: where did the name alcoholics anonymous come from

root

text: Alcoholics Anonymous

text: Oxford Group origins[edit]

text: AA sprang from The Oxford Group, a non-denominational movement modeled after first-century Christianity.[13] Some members founded the Group to help in maintaining sobriety. "Grouper" Ebby Thacher was Wilson's former drinking buddy who approached Wilson saying that he had "got religion", was sober, and that Wilson could do the same if he set aside objections to religion and instead formed a personal idea of God, "another power" or "higher power".[14][15]

tag: p

text: Feeling a "kinship of common suffering" and, though drunk, Wilson attended his first Group gathering. Within days, Wilson admitted himself to the Charles B. Towns Hospital after drinking four beers on the way—the last alcohol he ever drank. Under the care of Dr. William Duncan Silkworth (an early benefactor of AA), Wilson's detox included the deliriant belladonna.[16] At the hospital a despairing Wilson experienced a bright flash of light, which he felt to be God revealing himself.[17] Following his hospital discharge Wilson joined the Oxford Group and recruited other alcoholics to the Group. Wilson's early efforts to help others become sober were ineffective, prompting Dr. Silkworth to suggest that Wilson place less stress on religion and more on "the science" of treating alcoholism. Wilson's first success came during a business trip to Akron, Ohio, where he was introduced to Dr. Robert Smith, a surgeon and Oxford Group member who was unable to stay sober. After thirty days of working with Wilson, Smith drank his last drink on 10 June 1935, the date marked by AA for its anniversaries.[18]

text: While Wilson and Smith credited their sobriety to working with alcoholics under the auspices of the Oxford Group, a Group associate pastor sermonized against Wilson and his alcoholic Groupers for forming a "secret, ashamed sub-group" engaged in "divergent works".[19] By 1937, Wilson separated from the Oxford Group. AA Historian Ernest Kurtz described the split:[19]

text: ...more and more, Bill discovered that new adherents could get sober by believing in each other and in the strength of this group. Men [no women were members yet] who had proven over and over again, by extremely painful experience, that they could not get sober on their own had somehow become more powerful when two or three of them worked on their common problem. This, then—whatever it was that occurred among them—was what they could accept as a power greater than themselves. They did not need the Oxford Group.

text: In 1955, Wilson acknowledged AA's debt, saying "The Oxford Groupers had clearly shown us what to do. And just as importantly, we learned from them what not to do." Among the Oxford Group practices that AA retained were informal gatherings, a "changed-life" developed through "stages", and working with others for no material gain, AA's analogs for these are meetings, "the steps", and sponsorship. AA's tradition of anonymity was a reaction to the publicity-seeking practices of the Oxford Group, as well as AA's wish to not promote, Wilson said, "erratic public characters who through broken anonymity might get drunk and destroy confidence in us."[20]

text: The Big Book, the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions[edit]

text: To share their method, Wilson and other members wrote the initially-titled book, Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism,[21] from which AA drew its name. Informally known as "The Big Book" (with its first 164 pages virtually unchanged since the 1939 edition), it suggests a twelve-step program in which members admit that they are powerless over alcohol and need help from a "higher power". They seek guidance and strength through prayer and meditation from God or a Higher Power of their own understanding; take a moral inventory with care to include resentments; list and become ready to remove character defects; list and make amends to those harmed; continue to take a moral inventory, pray, meditate, and try to help other alcoholics recover. The second half of the book, "Personal Stories" (subject to additions, removal and retitling in subsequent editions), is made of AA members' redemptive autobiographical sketches. [22]

text: In 1941, interviews on American radio and favorable articles in US magazines, including a piece by Jack Alexander in The Saturday Evening Post, led to increased book sales and membership.[23] By 1946, as the growing fellowship quarreled over structure, purpose, and authority, as well as finances and publicity, Wilson began to form and promote what became known as AA's "Twelve Traditions," which are guidelines for an altruistic, unaffiliated, non-coercive, and non-hierarchical structure that limited AA's purpose to only helping alcoholics on a non-professional level while shunning publicity. Eventually he gained formal adoption and inclusion of the Twelve Traditions in all future editions of the Big Book.[4] At the 1955 conference in St. Louis, Missouri, Wilson relinquished stewardship of AA to the General Service Conference,[24] as AA grew to millions of members internationally.[25]

text: Organization and finances[edit]

text: AA says it is "not organized in the formal or political sense",[25] and Bill Wilson called it a "benign anarchy".[26] In Ireland, Shane Butler said that AA “looks like it couldn’t survive as there’s no leadership or top-level telling local cumanns what to do, but it has worked and proved itself extremely robust.” Butler explained that "AA’s 'inverted pyramid' style of governance has helped it to avoid many of the pitfalls that political and religious institutions have encountered since it was established here in 1946."[27]

text: In 2006, AA counted 1,867,212 members and 106,202 AA groups worldwide.[25] The Twelve Traditions informally guide how individual AA groups function, and the Twelve Concepts for World Service guide how the organization is structured globally.[28]

text: A member who accepts a service position or an organizing role is a "trusted servant" with terms rotating and limited, typically lasting three months to two years and determined by group vote and the nature of the position. Each group is a self-governing entity with AA World Services acting only in an advisory capacity. AA is served entirely by alcoholics, except for seven "nonalcoholic friends of the fellowship" of the 21-member AA Board of Trustees.[25]

text: AA groups are self-supporting, relying on voluntary donations from members to cover expenses.[25] The AA General Service Office (GSO) limits contributions to US$3,000 a year.[29] Above the group level, AA may hire outside professionals for services that require specialized expertise or full-time responsibilities.[4]

text: Like individual groups, the GSO is self-supporting. AA receives proceeds from books and literature that constitute more than 50% of the income for its General Service Office.[30] In keeping with A.A.’s Seventh Tradition, the Central Office is fully self-supporting through the sale of literature and related products, and through the voluntary donations of A.A. members and groups. It does not accept donations from people or organizations outside of A.A.

text: In keeping with A.A.’s Eighth Tradition, the Central Office employs special workers who are compensated financially for their services, but their services do not include traditional “12th Step” work of working with alcoholics in need.[31] All 12th Step calls that come to the Central Office are handed to sober A.A. members who have volunteered to handle these calls. It also maintains service centers, which coordinate activities such as printing literature, responding to public inquiries, and organizing conferences. Other International General Service Offices (Australia, Costa Rica, Russia, etc.) are independent of AA World Services in New York.[32]

text: Program[edit]

text: AA's program extends beyond abstaining alcohol.[33] Its goal is to effect enough change in the alcoholic's thinking "to bring about recovery from alcoholism"[34] through "an entire psychic change," or spiritual awakening.[35] A spiritual awakening is meant to be achieved by taking the Twelve Steps,[36] and sobriety is furthered by volunteering for AA[37] and regular AA meeting attendance[38] or contact with AA members.[36] Members are encouraged to find an experienced fellow alcoholic, called a sponsor, to help them understand and follow the AA program. The sponsor should preferably have experience of all twelve of the steps, be the same sex as the sponsored person, and refrain from imposing personal views on the sponsored person.[37] Following the helper therapy principle, sponsors in AA may benefit from their relationship with their charges, as "helping behaviors" correlate with increased abstinence and lower probabilities of binge drinking.[39]

text: AA's program is an inheritor of Counter-Enlightenment philosophy. AA shares the view that acceptance of one's inherent limitations is critical to finding one's proper place among other humans and God. Such ideas are described as "Counter-Enlightenment" because they are contrary to the Enlightenment's ideal that humans have the capacity to make their lives and societies a heaven on earth using their own power and reason.[33] After evaluating AA's literature and observing AA meetings for sixteen months, sociologists David R. Rudy and Arthur L. Greil found that for an AA member to remain sober a high level of commitment is necessary. This commitment is facilitated by a change in the member's worldview. To help members stay sober AA must, they argue, provide an all-encompassing worldview while creating and sustaining an atmosphere of transcendence in the organization. To be all-encompassing AA's ideology places an emphasis on tolerance rather than on a narrow religious worldview that could make the organization unpalatable to potential members and thereby limit its effectiveness. AA's emphasis on the spiritual nature of its program, however, is necessary to institutionalize a feeling of transcendence. A tension results from the risk that the necessity of transcendence, if taken too literally, would compromise AA's efforts to maintain a broad appeal. As this tension is an integral part of AA, Rudy and Greil argue that AA is best described as a quasi-religious organization.[40]

text: Meetings[edit]

text: AA meetings are "quasi-ritualized therapeutic sessions run by and for, alcoholics".[41] They are usually informal and often feature discussions. Local AA directories list a variety of weekly meetings. Those listed as "closed" are available to those with a self professed "desire to stop drinking," which cannot be challenged by another member on any grounds.[4] "Open" meetings are available to anyone (nonalcoholics can attend as observers).[42] At speaker meetings, one or two members tell their stories, while discussion meetings allocate the most time for general discussion. Some meetings are devoted to studying and discussing the AA literature.[43]

text: AA meetings do not exclude other alcoholics, though some meetings cater to specific demographics such as gender, profession, age, sexual orientation,[44][45] or culture.[46][47] Meetings in the United States are held in a variety of languages including Armenian, English, Farsi, Finnish, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.[48][45] While AA has pamphlets that suggest meeting formats,[49][50] groups have the autonomy to hold and conduct meetings as they wish "except in matters affecting other groups or AA as a whole".[4] Different cultures affect ritual aspects of meetings, but around the world "many particularities of the AA meeting format can be observed at almost any AA gathering".[51]

text: Confidentiality[edit]

text: US courts have not extended the status of privileged communication, such as that enjoyed by clergy and lawyers, to AA related communications between members.[52][53]

text: Spirituality[edit]

text: A study found an association between an increase in attendance to AA meetings with increased spirituality and a decrease in the frequency and intensity of alcohol use. The research also found that AA was effective at helping agnostics and atheists become sober. The authors concluded that though spirituality was an important mechanism of behavioral change for some alcoholics, it was not the only effective mechanism.[54] Since the mid-1970s, a number of 'agnostic' or 'no-prayer' AA groups have begun across the U.S., Canada, and other parts of the world, which hold meetings that adhere to a tradition allowing alcoholics to freely express their doubts or disbelief that spirituality will help their recovery, and forgo use of opening or closing prayers.[55][56] There are online resources listing AA meetings for atheists and agnostics.[57]

text: Disease concept of alcoholism[edit]

text: More informally than not, AA's membership has helped popularize the disease concept of alcoholism, though AA officially has had no part in the development of such postulates which had appeared as early as the late eighteenth century.[58] Though AA initially avoided the term "disease", in 1973 conference-approved literature categorically stated that "we had the disease of alcoholism."[59][better source needed] Regardless of official positions, from AA's inception most members have believed alcoholism to be a disease.[60]

text: Though cautious regarding the medical nature of alcoholism, AA has let others voice opinions. The Big Book states that alcoholism "is an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer." Ernest Kurtz says this is "The closest the book Alcoholics Anonymous comes to a definition of alcoholism."[60] In his introduction to The Big Book, non-member Dr. William Silkworth said those unable to moderate their drinking have an allergy. Addressing the allergy concept, AA said "The doctor’s theory that we have an allergy to alcohol interests us. As laymen, our opinion as to its soundness may, of course, mean little. But as ex-problem drinkers, we can say that his explanation makes good sense. It explains many things for which we cannot otherwise account."[61] AA later acknowledged that "alcoholism is not a true allergy, the experts now inform us."[62] Wilson explained in 1960 why AA had refrained from using the term "disease":

text: We AAs have never called alcoholism a disease because, technically speaking, it is not a disease entity. For example, there is no such thing as heart disease. Instead there are many separate heart ailments or combinations of them. It is something like that with alcoholism. Therefore, we did not wish to get in wrong with the medical profession by pronouncing alcoholism a disease entity. Hence, we have always called it an illness or a malady—a far safer term for us to use.[63]

text: Canadian and United States demographics[edit]

text: AA's New York General Service Office regularly surveys AA members in North America. Its 2014 survey of over 6,000 members in Canada and the United States concluded that, in North America, AA members who responded to the survey were 62% male and 38% female.[64]

text: Average member sobriety is slightly under 10 years with 36% sober more than ten years, 13% sober from five to ten years, 24% sober from one to five years, and 27% sober less than one year.[64] Before coming to AA, 63% of members received some type of treatment or counseling, such as medical, psychological, or spiritual. After coming to AA, 59% received outside treatment or counseling. Of those members, 84% said that outside help played an important part in their recovery.[64]

text: The same survey showed that AA received 32% of its membership from other members, another 32% from treatment facilities, 30% were self-motivated to attend AA, 12% of its membership from court–ordered attendance, and only 1% of AA members decided to join based on information obtained from the Internet. People taking the survey were allowed to select multiple answers for what motivated them to join AA.[64]

text: Effectiveness[edit]

text: Studies of AA's efficacy have produced inconsistent results. While some studies have suggested an association between AA attendance and increased abstinence or other positive outcomes,[65][66][67][68][69] other studies have not.[70][71][72]

text: The Surgeon General of the United States 2016 Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health states "Well-supported scientific evidence demonstrates the effectiveness of twelve-step mutual aid groups focused on alcohol and twelve-step facilitation interventions." [73]

text: Relationship with institutions[edit]

text: Hospitals[edit]

text: Many AA meetings take place in treatment facilities. Carrying the message of AA into hospitals was how the co-founders of AA first remained sober. They discovered great value of working with alcoholics who are still suffering, and that even if the alcoholic they were working with did not stay sober, they did.[74][75][76] Bill Wilson wrote, "Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics".[77] Bill Wilson visited Towns Hospital in New York City in an attempt to help the alcoholics who were patients there in 1934. At St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio, Smith worked with still more alcoholics. In 1939, a New York mental institution, Rockland State Hospital, was one of the first institutions to allow AA hospital groups. Service to corrections and treatment facilities used to be combined until the General Service Conference, in 1977, voted to dissolve its Institutions Committee and form two separate committees, one for treatment facilities, and one for correctional facilities.[78]

text: Prisons[edit]

text: In the United States and Canada, AA meetings are held in hundreds of correctional facilities. The AA General Service Office has published a workbook with detailed recommendations for methods of approaching correctional-facility officials with the intent of developing an in-prison AA program.[79] In addition, AA publishes a variety of pamphlets specifically for the incarcerated alcoholic.[80] Additionally, the AA General Service Office provides a pamphlet with guidelines for members working with incarcerated alcoholics.[81]

text: United States Court rulings[edit]

text: United States courts have ruled that inmates, parolees, and probationers cannot be ordered to attend AA. Though AA itself was not deemed a religion, it was ruled that it contained enough religious components (variously described in Griffin v. Coughlin below as, inter alia, "religion", "religious activity", "religious exercise") to make coerced attendance at AA meetings a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the constitution.[82][83] In 2007, the Ninth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals stated that a parolee who was ordered to attend AA had standing to sue his parole office.[84][85]

text: American treatment industry[edit]

text: In 1949, the Hazelden treatment center was founded and staffed by AA members, and since then many alcoholic rehabilitation clinics have incorporated AA's precepts into their treatment programs.[86] 32% of AA's membership was introduced to it through a treatment facility.[64]

text: United Kingdom treatment industry[edit]

text: A cross-sectional survey of substance-misuse treatment providers in the West Midlands found fewer than 10% integrated twelve-step methods in their practice and only a third felt their consumers were suited for Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous membership. Less than half were likely to recommend self-help groups to their clients. Providers with nursing qualifications were more likely to make such referrals than those without them. A statistically significant correlation was found between providers' self-reported level of spirituality and their likelihood of recommending AA or NA.[87]

text: Criticism[edit]

text: Thirteenth Stepping[edit]

text: "Thirteenth-stepping" is a pejorative term for AA members approaching new members for dates or sex. The Journal of Addiction Nursing reported that 50% of the women that participated in a survey (55 in all) experienced 13-stepping behavior from others.[88] AA's pamphlet on sponsorship suggests that men be sponsored by men and women be sponsored by women.[89]

text: Moderation or abstinence[edit]

text: Stanton Peele argued that some AA groups apply the disease model to all problem drinkers, whether or not they are "full-blown" alcoholics.[90] Along with Nancy Shute, Peele has advocated that besides AA, other options should be readily available to those problem drinkers who are able to manage their drinking with the right treatment.[91] The Big Book says "moderate drinkers" and "a certain type of hard drinker" are able to stop or moderate their drinking. The Big Book suggests no program for these drinkers, but instead seeks to help drinkers without "power of choice in drink."[92]

text: Cultural identity[edit]

text: One review of AA warned of detrimental iatrogenic effects of twelve-step philosophy and concluded that AA uses many methods that are also used by cults.[93] A subsequent study concluded, however, that AA's program bore little resemblance to religious cults because the techniques used appeared beneficial.[94] Another study found that the AA program's focus on admission of having a problem increases deviant stigma and strips members of their previous cultural identity, replacing it with the deviant identity.[95] A survey of group members, however, found they had a bicultural identity and saw AA's program as a complement to their other national, ethnic, and religious cultures.[96]

text: Literature [edit]

text: Alcoholics Anonymous publishes several books, reports, pamphlets, and other media, including a periodical known as the AA Grapevine.[97] Two books are used primarily: Alcoholics Anonymous (the "Big Book") and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, the latter explaining AA's fundamental principles in depth. The full text of each of these two books is available on the AA website at no charge.

text:
Alcoholics Anonymous: the story of how many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism (multiple PDFs) (4th ed.). 2011. ISBN 1-893007-16-2.  575 pages. Also available in libraries.
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (multiple PDFs). 2002. ISBN 0-916856-01-1.  192 pages. Also available in libraries.
"Home Page". The AA Grapevine. Alcoholics Anonymous. ISSN 0362-2584. Archived from the original on 3 April 2009.  Also available in libraries.

tag: ul

text: AA in film[edit]

text: Films about Alcoholic Anonymous[edit]

text:
My Name Is Bill W. – dramatized biography of co-founder Bill Wilson.[98][99]
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story – a 2010 film about the wife of founder Bill Wilson, and the beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon.[100][101]
Bill W. – a 2011 biographical documentary film that tells the story of Bill Wilson using interviews, recreations, and rare archival material.[102][103]

text: Films where primary plot line includes AA[edit]

text:
A Walk Among the Tombstones (2015), a mystery/suspense film based on Lawrence Block's books featuring Matthew Scudder, a recovering alcoholic detective whose AA membership is a central element of the plot.[104]
When a Man Loves a Woman – an airline pilot's wife attends AA meetings in a residential treatment facility.[105]
Clean and Sober – an addict (alcohol, cocaine) visits an AA meeting to get a sponsor.[106]
Days of Wine and Roses – a 1962 film about a married couple struggling with alcoholism. Jack Lemmon's character attends an AA meeting in the film.[107]
Drunks – a 1995 film starring Richard Lewis as an alcoholic who leaves an AA meeting and relapses. The film cuts back and forth between his eventual relapse and the other meeting attendants.[108]
Come Back, Little Sheba – A 1952 film based on a play of the same title about a loveless marriage where the husband played by Burt Lancaster is an alcoholic who gets help from 2 members of the local AA chapter.[109] A 1977 TV drama was also based on the play.
I'll Cry Tomorrow – A 1955 film about singer Lillian Roth played by Susan Hayward who goes to AA to help her stop drinking. The film was based on Roth's autobiography of the same name detailing her alcoholism and sobriety through AA.[110][111]
You Kill Me – a 2007 crime-comedy film starring Ben Kingsley as a mob hit man with a drinking problem who is forced to accept a job at a mortuary and go to AA meetings.[112][113]
Smashed – a 2012 drama film starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead. An elementary school teacher's drinking begins to interfere with her job, so she attempts to get sober in AA.[114]


document_title: List of Awkward episodes

question_text: who does jenna pick in awkward season 2

question_tokens: who does jenna pick in awkward season 2

text: List of Awkward episodes

text: Series overview[edit]

text:
Season
Episodes
Originally aired

First aired
Last aired

1
12
July 19, 2011 (2011-07-19)
September 27, 2011 (2011-09-27)

2
12
June 28, 2012 (2012-06-28)
September 20, 2012 (2012-09-20)

3
20
April 16, 2013 (2013-04-16)
December 17, 2013 (2013-12-17)

4
21
April 15, 2014 (2014-04-15)
November 25, 2014 (2014-11-25)

5
24
August 31, 2015 (2015-08-31)
May 24, 2016 (2016-05-24)

tag: table

text: Episodes[edit]

text: Season 1 (2011)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(millions)

1
1
"Pilot"
Millicent Shelton
Lauren Iungerich
July 19, 2011 (2011-07-19)
1.72[3]

In the series premiere of Awkward, Jenna loses her virginity at summer camp with the boy of her dreams. She realizes getting the boy of your dreams isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when he's too embarrassed to be seen with you. Jenna also gets a 'care-frontation letter' and has an accident in her bathroom, which everyone thinks was an attempted suicide, but she starts to realize this mistake might actually be her ticket to social visibility.

2
2
"Knocker Nightmare"
Ryan Shiraki
Lauren Iungerich
July 26, 2011 (2011-07-26)
1.43[4]

Mean girls Sadie and Lissa snap a nude photo of Jenna in the girls' locker room and send it to the entire school, eliciting some surprising reactions. Matty says something mean about the photo and Jenna gets upset, but eventually Matty takes all the pictures down at their school and goes to her house, where the pair ends up kissing.

3
3
"The Way We Weren't"
Ryan Shiraki
Erin Ehrlich
August 2, 2011 (2011-08-02)
1.62[5]

When Jenna thinks Matty is taking their relationship public at an 'in crowd' party, she's heartbroken when he ditches her for another girl. Jenna starts to get to know Jake, and Tamara starts to make some new friends.

4
4
"The Scarlet Eye"
David Katzenberg
Meredith Philpott
August 9, 2011 (2011-08-09)
1.94[6]

Everyone that was in the hot tub at Lissa's party gets pink eye including Tamara. When the homecoming bonfire comes Jenna wants to DTR (Define the relationship) with Matty before the bonfire where everyone hooks up.

5
5
"Jenna Lives"
David Katzenberg
Kelly Fullerton
August 16, 2011 (2011-08-16)
1.88[7]

Jenna gets a strange stalker who advertises her fake suicide; after confronting him, she ends up in detention where she meets "Jenna Plus", a junior she suspects is Matty's new girlfriend. When Jenna Plus (actually named Olivia) invites Jenna to skip out on detention, Jenna finds she's rather sweet and begins to wonder if it's because of the way she sees herself that Matty isn't willing to be in a relationship with her. While talking to Jake she tells him that she likes a guy who's already taken and Jake mistakenly thinks she's talking about him. Jake later approaches her and says that if the guy she liked didn't have a girlfriend he would be all over her. He kisses her and Jenna quickly leaves, confused. Meanwhile, it turns out that Olivia is actually Matty's "girlfriend-in-law", as she's dating his older brother.

6
6
"Queen Bee-atches"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich & Nate Federman
August 23, 2011 (2011-08-23)
2.36[8]

Jenna is forced to mingle with the mean girls at an elite charity event for her mom. Later, things get even more awkward when she runs into Matty and Jake. Jake acts weird when Jenna comes in the room, and tells Matty about the kiss . Jenna and Tamara sneak into Sadie's room and find her diary/food journal. Jenna uses it to her advantage and blackmails Sadie into accepting her mom into the club. Later, Jenna's mom over hears the other moms talking trash behind her back, discreetly ruins a vase, and quickly leaves with Jenna. The episode ends with Jake asking Jenna if they can talk.

7
7
"Over My Dead Body"
Ryan Shiraki
Cassie Pappas
August 30, 2011 (2011-08-30)
1.99[9]

A mock DUI event is held at the school, and Jenna gets cast as the victim. Jake is the male lead and begins to develop feeling for Jenna and Matty gets jealous.

8
8
"The Adventures of Aunt Ally and the Lil' Bitch"
David Katzenberg
Lauren Iungerich & Andrew C. Veeder
September 6, 2011 (2011-09-06)
2.08[10]

Jenna throws a wild keg party to try to impress Matty, with help from her mom and her mom's best friend, Ally. The next day, a hungover Jenny struggles to reconstruct the events of the night, which ended with Jenna giving a lecture to Jake, hurting Matty's feelings and sharing a kiss with Ricky (Tamara's long time crush, on/off boyfriend). After Tamara throws out her and Jenna's best friend picture, and their friendship, she tells Jenna that she is "so glad she wrote that letter", talking about the "carefrontation".

9
9
"My Super Bittersweet Sixteen"
David Katzenberg
Erin Ehrlich
September 13, 2011 (2011-09-13)
2.28[11]

It's Jenna's 16th birthday and Valerie surprises her with a birthday rap in the school cafeteria. The rest of the day doesn't go very well but at the end of the day at 7:32pm (the minute Jenna turns 16) Matty knocks on her door to reveal that he wants to be more than friends and the episode ends with them making out.

10
10
"No Doubt"
Patrick Norris
Kelly Fullerton & Cassie Pappas & Meredith Philpott
September 20, 2011 (2011-09-20)
2.11[12]

It's a normal day at school, until Jenna notices a fight between Jake and Lissa because Jake told Lissa he kissed Jenna. This causes a weird conversation between Jake, Lissa, and Valerie about how he can make up to Lissa. Elsewhere, Jenna tries to reconnect with Tamara with help from Ming. Jenna is forgiven, but Tamara confesses she didn't write the letter and just said it because she was hurt. Moreover, Tamara voices her theory that Matty wrote the letter. This causes Jenna to rethink her "relationship" with Matty while complications arise when Matty wants to take Jenna out for dinner in a secluded area. It turns out to be Matty's family's restaurant and Jenna's concerns are resolved when Matty's uncle comments about how Matty has never taken a girl there before. When they get back to Jenna's home, Tamara and Ming bust their date with games and confessions but are soon won over by Matty's true words. Before leaving Matty and Jenna alone, Tamara whispers that she doesn't think that Matty wrote the letter anymore. In the meantime, Lissa and Sadie team up to make Jake break up his friendship with Jenna but he ends up apologizing to Jenna for the earlier fight, and breaks up with Lissa.

11
11
"I Am Jenna Hamilton"
Patrick Norris
Erin Ehrlich & Lauren Iungerich
September 27, 2011 (2011-09-27)
2.24[13]

Matty and Jenna have barbecue with Jenna's parents, and they discuss the upcoming formal dance. Matty doesn't actually ask Jenna to the dance, but does ask her what color dress she will be wearing. Later, while still not asking her to the dance, he asks her if she is a limo girl or not. Jenna sees several boys going to great lengths to make a "big ask," by dressing up as apes, popping out of coffins, etc. Jake asks Jenna to the dance by giving her a mix CD, which has "Will you go to the dance with me?" printed on it. She tells him that she can't go with him because she already has a date. Matty and Jake talk about the Formal, and Jake tells Matty about being turned down by Jenna. Matty almost tells Jake about going with Jenna, but chickens out, and later asks Jenna if it would be okay if they skip the Formal (because he doesn't want to hurt Jake, but he doesn't tell Jenna that). Meanwhile, Sadie manages to steal Jenna's file, with the letter in it. Jenna is surprised to be nominated for Sophomore Princess, but then discovers that the ballot has her letter printed on the back of it. Jenna decides that she deserves more than Matty has offered, and tells him that she won't go out with him that night, to the Formal, or anywhere.

12
12
"Fateful"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich
September 27, 2011 (2011-09-27)
2.24[13]

Jenna agrees to go to the Formal with Jake. She convinces him to take Tamara as well, since they're just going as friends, and Ming tags along as well. Matty decides that he won't give up on Jenna and goes to her house, only to find that Jenna has already left for the Formal. Jake and Jenna have a good time at the Formal, and Jenna decides that maybe Jake is the one for her and they kiss, but then Matty shows up. Without either of them letting Jake know what has happened, they talk about whether they should be together. Jenna takes Jake's hand and realizes that that's what she wants, and tells Matty that she's very sorry, but she thinks it is too late. When Jake and Jenna get home, and they kiss again. She asks him if he wants to come inside since her parents aren't home. He does, but she asks him if it's okay if they wait, and he says of course. She tells him that holding hands means a lot to her, since he's the first person other than her parents to hold her hand in public. They manage to set off the alarm, and Jake goes home. Jenna, looking for the alarm code, goes into the junk drawer and finds a note pad that has the same paper the letter was written on, and realizes her mother is the one who wrote the letter.

text: Season 2 (2012)[edit]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(millions)

13
1
"Resolutions"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich
June 28, 2012 (2012-06-28)
2.15[14]

Winter Break is heading to an end, that is not until after a New Year's Party at Matty's house. Jenna thinks that Matty is completely over her until he says he wants another chance. So Jenna has two options:
Matty and Jenna have another secret night together banging or go with Jake, her unofficial boyfriend. Jenna chooses Jake and as she shares a passionate kiss with him. Matty and Sadie share a makeout session until Matty falls asleep. Later in the night, when Jake is at Jenna's house, he sees the condoms her dad gave her in which she reveals to him that she is not a virgin. At the end of the episode Jenna becomes "official" with Jake and she finally deals with the Care-Frontation letter.

14
2
"Sex, Lies and the Sanctuary"
Erin Ehrlich
Erin Ehrlich
July 5, 2012 (2012-07-05)
1.76[15]

The school year is back into action and it's not the only thing. The Sanctuary has got a video camera put in taping all the "Scandalous" stuff that's happened over the year. Jenna and Matty debate whether or not to tell Jake about their private relationship. Matty confesses to Jenna that he loves her, but Jenna states she has moved on and really likes Jake. Jake reveals to Jenna that he is jealous of her previous boyfriend and does not wish to know anything about that relationship. Meanwhile, Jenna pressures her mom into telling her dad about writing the letter.

15
3
"Three's a Crowd"
David Katzenberg
Kelly Fullerton
July 12, 2012 (2012-07-12)
1.72[16]

Jenna and Jake's relationship is finally going smoothly- that is, until Matty starts tagging along and trying to tempt Jenna, constantly trying to seduce her. Meanwhile, Val gets promoted to vice principal and takes her new job a little too seriously, and Jenna's parents are now separated. Her father went to stay with Jenna's grandmother while her mother stays home and adjusts to being lonely.

16
4
"Are You There God? It's Me, Jenna"
Ryan Shiraki
Annabel Oakes
July 19, 2012 (2012-07-19)
1.58[17]

Post her parents separation, Jenna feels responsible. In an impulsive effort to absolve herself, she seeks refuge from her problems in a higher power with Lissa at Church Camp. Little does she know that Sadie has decided to tag along as well. With the help of Valerie, Lacey attempts to eat alone for the first time.

17
5
"My Love Is a Black Heart"
David Katzenberg
Michael J. Cinquemani
July 26, 2012 (2012-07-26)
1.79[18]

Valentine's Day has arrived and dividing the school between swooning lovers and jealous haters. As Jenna prepares to spend her first V-day with a boyfriend, will jealousy rear its ugly head for her and Tamara as they confront the possibility that their ex's are moving on without them?

18
6
"What Comes First: Sex or Love?"
Ryan Shiraki
Lauren Iungerich
August 2, 2012 (2012-08-02)
1.82[19]

Still reeling from Jake's proclamation of love, Jenna considers sleeping with him, believing sex might bring her some clarity about her own feelings. However, when Jenna leans over, she hits the PA system button and ends up telling the whole school that she wants to sleep with Jake. Meanwhile, her mother's best friend Ally announces that she is engaged, and her fiancé, "Dan the Man", turns out to be Sadie's uncle.

19
7
"Another One Bites the Dust"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich
August 9, 2012 (2012-08-09)
1.82[20]

Jenna is determined to take her relationship with Jake to the next level, but there are obstacles, including her Aunt Ally's wedding, a man from her mom's past and a scheming Sadie. Jake tries to stand up for Tamara when Sadie won't stop making out with Ricky in public, rubbing it in Tamara's face, and Sadie reveals to Jake about Jenna and Matty's relationship.

20
8
"Time After Time"
Lauren Iungerich
Erin Ehrlich & Lauren Iungerich
August 16, 2012 (2012-08-16)
1.95[21]

Jake gets upset when he learns of Jenna and Matty's past, breaking up with Jenna saying 'the timing wasn't right'. Meanwhile Lacey ends up dancing with her old boyfriend Ben at the wedding. Jenna's dad ends up coming finding them dancing and is heartbroken.After Jake breaks up with her,Matty later shows up at Jenna's house to comfort her. Jenna tells Matty she is still in love with him and end up kissing as Jake watches to his horror from the window.

21
9
"Homewrecker Hamilton"
Joe Nussbaum
Kelly Fullerton & Vera Herbert
August 23, 2012 (2012-08-23)
2.19[22]

Jenna desperately tries to fix things with Jake, but he is convinced that she is a cheater, with him having photo evidence of Jenna & Matty's makeout session the night before. Tensions between Jake and Matty come out during a pep rally, resulting in a fist fight. Meanwhile, Jenna's dad gets her a car and she takes this as a sign of her parent's forthcoming divorce. Ming also finds herself on the outs with the Asian Mafia when it is revealed that her boyfriend, Fred Wu, used to date Becca.

22
10
"Pick Me, Choose Me, Love Me"
Joe Nussbaum
Lauren Iungerich
August 30, 2012 (2012-08-30)
1.74[23]

Jake and Matty demand answers from Jenna after reading her blog. Jenna gets confused on who she likes more but does not pick on the spot. Jake and Matty become friends again and constantly ask Jenna who she picks. Meanwhile, Jenna's mom gets revealed as the person who wrote the letter and gets criticized by many people. Jenna and the boys are in good speaking terms again.

23
11
"Once Upon a Blog"
Michael Blieden
Erin Ehrlich
September 13, 2012 (2012-09-13)
1.78[24]

Jenna fictionalizes her Blog in an attempt to change her fate. By the end of the episode she changes her blog to private again, and figures out who she wants to be with.

24
12
"The Other Shoe"
Michael Blieden
Lauren Iungerich
September 20, 2012 (2012-09-20)
2.17[25]

Jenna prepares for her trip to Europe while her decision about the boys goes public in the Season 2 finale. She chooses Matty then Jake and Tamara make-out. Ricky is seen kissing a guy, and Jenna has mixed feelings over whether she made the right choice or not.

text: Season 3 (2013)[edit]

text: On July 16, 2012, Awkward. was renewed for an extended third season of 20 episodes.[26] A promo was released March 11, 2013, which revealed that season three would begin on April 16, 2013 with a double bill.[27] The season took a break after episode 10 aired on June 11 and returned on October 22.[28] This season is the last to feature creator Lauren Iungerich as showrunner.[29]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(millions)

25
1
"Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich
April 16, 2013 (2013-04-16)
2.14[30]

Jenna and the others start their junior year, and she feels isolated from her friends after their summer vacation in Europe. Everyone suspects Sadie is pregnant, but reveals to Lissa that she and her family are now broke. However, Jenna herself goes through a pregnancy scare, but is relieved to find out she is not pregnant, and her mother convinces her not to tell Matty about the whole ordeal. Ricky Schwartz dies.

26
2
"Responsibly Irresponsible"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich
April 16, 2013 (2013-04-16)
2.14[30]

The school mourns Ricky's death and hold a vigil/kegger party to express their feelings. Sadie and Tamara reluctantly bond over their anger at Ricky. Jenna has a pregnancy scare but confides in Jake instead of Matty. Jenna joins a creative writing class and meets Collin, a charming classmate.

27
3
"A Little Less Conversation"
Erin Ehrlich
Erin Ehrlich
April 23, 2013 (2013-04-23)
1.34[31]

Matty has become distant since finding out about the pregnancy scare. Ming tries to hide from the Asian Mafia. Sadie feels lonely and calls up Matty for support. Matty tells Jenna that they need to talk, which prompts her to get Tamara to arrange a group date to avoid having alone time with Matty. Matty becomes jealous of Jenna and Jake's easygoing friendship.

28
4
"Let's Talk About Sex"
Hal Olofsson
Christy Stratton
April 30, 2013 (2013-04-30)
1.38[32]

Jenna's parents finds out that she and Matty are sexually active and insist on telling Matty's parents. The McKibbens come over for dinner and the two families argue over their parenting styles. Meanwhile, Tamara and Jake are contemplating sex for the first time.

29
5
"Indecent Exposure"
Joe Nussbaum
Lauren Iungerich & Michael J. Cinquemani
May 7, 2013 (2013-05-07)
1.38[33]

Matty moves in with the Hamilton's after a dispute with his parents, but it proves to be too stressful for Jenna. Tamara invites herself to a sleepover at Sadie's despite Jake's warnings.

30
6
"That Girl Strikes Again"
Joe Nussbaum
Todd Waldman
May 14, 2013 (2013-05-14)
1.12[34]

It's Halloween and Jenna feels that she is not good enough for Matty after a "Hot/Not" list is published at school. The gang attends a party hosted by Angelique, Collin's girlfriend. Tamara accidentally becomes attached a stranger while Jake unknowingly gets high. Jenna finds that she is comfortable in Collin's crowd while Matty feels out of place. Sadie meets Austin, a potential love interest.

31
7
"Guilt Trippin'"
Ryan Shiraki
Vera Herbert
May 21, 2013 (2013-05-21)
1.17[35]

During the homecoming pinnings, Jenna feels bad for the single girls who don't have dates to the dance, so she decides to take a stand, focusing on a social outsider named Christy, who was a childhood friend of hers. Jake teaches Matty how to dance. Meanwhile, Ming turns to Sadie for help in playing mind games on Becca.

32
8
"Rubbed Raw and Reeling"
Ryan Shiraki
Jamie Dooner & Lauren Iungerich
May 28, 2013 (2013-05-28)
1.35[36]

Jenna's creative writing instructor challenges her to read a personal piece at an open mic. Matty and Jake have a "brobeque" and challenge each other to forget about their girlfriends for one night.

33
9
"Reality Check"
Lauren Iungerich
Erin Ehrlich
June 4, 2013 (2013-06-04)
0.99[37]

Jenna's realizes she may have feelings for Collin after he keeps popping in her head while writing. Ming deals with Becca with physical violence.

34
10
"Redefining Jenna"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich
June 11, 2013 (2013-06-11)
1.22[38]

Tamara co-hosts the big Black Friday party, pushing Jake to the edge with her bossiness. Ming becomes the new head of Asian mafia. Meanwhile Jenna gets invited to a party from Collin but Matty doesn't want to attend. Jenna goes alone and Collin admits his feelings for Jenna. The two kiss and Jenna returns to Matty.

35
11
"Surprise!"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich
October 22, 2013 (2013-10-22)
1.56[39]

Jenna desperately wants to cut ties with Collin, but finds it hard to be faithful. Tamara has trouble keeping secrets. Lacey wants to throw Jenna a surprise party, but ends up canceling it when Jenna expresses her disinterest in celebrating. In a surprise turn of events, everyone gathers at the Hamilton house for the party, but they are all in shock as Jenna and Collin walk in making out.

36
12
"And Then What Happened"
Lauren Iungerich
Lauren Iungerich
October 29, 2013 (2013-10-29)
1.21[40]

Everyone gathers to re-tell what happened at Jenna's birthday party and to speculate whether or not Jenna and Matty are still a couple. Jenna refuses to leave her house and Lacey prods her for information. Jenna and Matty finally meet up. Although Matty is willing to eventually forgive Jenna and go back to the way they were, Jenna breaks up with him, thinking that they both probably deserve better.

37
13
"Taking Sides"
Steve Gainer
Erin Ehrlich & Michael J. Cinquemani
November 5, 2013 (2013-11-05)
1.02[41]

Matty still wants to get back with Jenna, but she is now officially seeing Collin, much to everyone else's disapproval. After rejecting Austin's advances, Sadie sets him up with Lissa but soon has a change of heart. Jenna throws a barbecue to formally introduce Collin to all of her friends, but things don't go as planned. Jake becomes furious with Tamara after finding out that she knew about Jenna's cheating. Thinking that her best friends stood her up, Jenna harasses Tamara and Ming over text messages, leaving her with no friends except for Collin.

38
14
"The Bad Seed"
Gregory Guzik
Jen Braeden
November 12, 2013 (2013-11-12)
1.09[42]

Jenna and Collin nearly get arrested for smoking pot in his car. Jenna further alienates herself from her friends, as well as her parents. Jenna's friends and family try to warn her that Collin is a bad influence. Ally becomes Sadie's legal guardian.

39
15
"A Very Special Episode of Awkward"
Joe Nussbaum
Erin Ehrlich
November 19, 2013 (2013-11-19)
1.06[43]

Valerie recruits students to be in her After School Special video, which is based on Jenna's life. The gang hopes to convince Jenna to rethink her life. Jenna attempts to ditch the project and argues with her friends during filming. Val catches Jenna lighting a joint at school and suspends her. Jenna rebuffs Val's attempts to reach out to her and harshly mocks her.

40
16
"Less Than Hero"
Joe Nussbaum
Joe Nussbaum
November 19, 2013 (2013-11-19)
1.06[43]

Jenna writes a mean essay about Val and gives it to Mr. Hart to publish and rejects Val's attempts to make up. Lacey and Kevin struggle to show tough love to Jenna. Jake and Tamara run against each other for class president. After Collin and Angelique spike her drink, Jenna finally sees Collin for who he is and calls Matty for help. Jenna thanks Matty for leaving his new girlfriend Devon to rescue her.

41
17
"The Campaign Fail"
David Katzenberg
Christy Stratton
November 26, 2013 (2013-11-26)
1.05[44]

Jenna attempts reconciling with her parents and friends, but the gang is reluctant to welcome her back. The presidential race heats up between Jake and Tamara. Tamara wins the election but Jake dumps her shortly after. Ming begins to lose control of the Asian Mafia. Jenna learns that she caused a fight between Matty and his new girlfriend. Jenna continues to see Collin's true colors. Val gets indefinitely suspended from her job because of Jenna's article.

42
18
"Old Jenna"
David Katzenberg
Jamie Dooner & Lauren Iungerich
December 3, 2013 (2013-12-03)
1.13[45]

Jenna befriends the new girl, Bailey. Lacey's new job as school nurse attracts the attention of all the boys in school. Tamara and Ming agree to be friends with Jenna again on probationary terms. Matty's parents divorce and he throws a party. Sadie tries to get Austin to make a move. Jenna hopes to get back together with Matty after learning of his break up with Devon but sees him with another girl. After Jenna gets drunk and kisses Jake, Tamara and Jake make up as they lecture Jenna. Jenna tries to apologize to Val, who tells her that she's been fired.

43
19
"Karmic Relief"
Erin Ehrlich
Erin Ehrlich
December 10, 2013 (2013-12-10)
1.03[46]

Jenna still feels guilty about losing Val's job, so she seeks to make amends. She enlists her mother's help to get Val to attend the school hearing and raise support for Val. Meanwhile, it's prom season at Palos Hills and Jenna is convinced that Matty will ask her in the midst of their renewed friendship. Ming faces a coup d'état from the Asian mafia when former leader Becca returns.
Note: This is a special 1 hour episode.

44
20
"Who I Want to Be"
Joe Nussbaum
Lauren Iungerich
December 17, 2013 (2013-12-17)
1.30[47]

Jenna is upset when Matty asks Bailey to prom. She finds solace in a self-discovery novel that was written by none other than Mr. Hart. In a moment of selflessness, Jenna gets Bailey and Matty to go to prom together, despite her still longing for Matty. Meanwhile, Jake insists on picking out his own tux and Ming struggled to tell Fred that she is not ready for sex. Sadie finds herself falling in love with Austin. Jenna finishes her final creative assignment and attends prom alone and happy.
Note: This is a special 1 hour episode.

text: Season 4 (2014)[edit]

text: On August 5, 2013, Awkward was renewed for a fourth season. Chris Alberghini and Mike Chessler will replace Lauren Iungerich as showrunners.[48] The season will consist of 20 episodes.[49] Season four premiered with a special one-hour episode on April 15, 2014. The second half of the premiered on September 23, 2014. The season finale aired November 25, 2014.

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(millions)

45
1
"No Woman Is an Island"
Peter Lauer
Mike Chessler & Chris Alberghini
April 15, 2014 (2014-04-15)
1.63[50]

Jenna is caught masturbating by her parents and it isn't long until the news spreads. As senior year begins, Tamara takes her role as being student president too seriously, which leads to a rocky relationship with Jake. Jenna finds out that Matty is no longer with Bailey and that he has been single all summer. Ming has moved away to Vermont, but Jenna and Tamara are not slow in finding a new friend, Eva. Jenna and Matty hook up again.
Note: This is a special 1 hour episode.

46
2
"Listen to This"
Ashley Rickards
Christy Stratton
April 22, 2014 (2014-04-22)
1.25[51]

Jenna must stay silent for 24 hours after sustaining a dental injury, but is desperate to talk to Matty, who has discovered a shocking secret. Jake dumps Tamara for being too controlling. Meanwhile, Sadie and Lissa's friendship continued to be troubled due to Lissa's cheer captain position.

47
3
"Touched by an Angel"
Jay Karas
Jenna Lamia
April 29, 2014 (2014-04-29)
1.02[52]

Jenna and Matty become friends with benefits, and Matty tries to use sex to work through his feelings about being adopted. Jenna commits herself to the school's peer guidance program and tries to mentor a troubled freshman. Meanwhile, Tamara becomes annoyed with Jake after his music makes him more popular at school.

48
4
"Sophomore Sluts"
Jay Karas
Sarah Walker
May 6, 2014 (2014-05-06)
1.21[53]

It's Spirit Week at Palos Hills High and the seniors are struggling to stay upbeat. Matty ignores Jenna in favor of hanging out with Eva and Sophomore Slut MacKenzie. Sadie tries to convince Lissa to give up cheer captaincy by quoting the Bible. Tamara Catfishes Jake to keep tabs on him after their break up.

49
5
"Overnight"
Nell Scovell
Leila Cohan-Miccio
May 13, 2014 (2014-05-13)
1.08[54]

Jenna and Tamara pay an overnight visit to a college. Jenna meets Luke, an intellectual college boy, who helps her moves on from Matty. Lacey tries to recapture her missed youth. Sadie and Eva's rivalry is taken to a new level. Jake becomes obsessed with Tamara's fake profile. Sadie and Matty become closer friends but Eva catches them in incriminating position.

50
6
"Crowning Moments"
Ryan Shiraki
Liz Sczudlo
May 20, 2014 (2014-05-20)
1.04[55]

Matty's becomes tired with his mother's obsession with perfection. Jake discovers Tamara has been lying to him. Jenna invites Luke to the Mr. PHHS pageant. Sadie makes a bet with Lissa that she can make Kyle Mr. PHHS. Matty reveals that he was adopted and his pregnancy scare with Jenna, embarrassing her in front of Luke.

51
7
"After Hours"
Ryan Shiraki
Ryan O'Connell
May 27, 2014 (2014-05-27)
1.19[56]

The gang heads to a concert. Jenna sets Matty up with Eva but realizes that she is still in love with him. Eva blackmails Sadie. Tamara runs into trouble and must call Jake for help. Sadie admits the truth and loses Austin. Matty and Jake are caught underage drinking and the two get arrested.

52
8
"Prison Breaks"
Ryan Shiraki
Todd Waldman
June 3, 2014 (2014-06-03)
1.20[57]

Matty and Jake spend a night in prison. Jenna and Tamara visit Luke at college. All Jenna wants to do is have fun, although she learns that Luke has to take his studies seriously. Sadie helps Matty and Jake and is furious at Eva. However, Matty forgives Eva. Tamara hooks up with a lesbian at college.

53
9
"My Personal Statement"
Peter Lauer
Allison M. Gibson
June 10, 2014 (2014-06-10)
1.05[58]

It's time for everyone to send in their college apps and Jenna and Tamara don't want to face the reality of separating once high school is over. Jenna helps Matty with his essay but Eva sabotages her. Meanwhile, Val gets a makeover from Lacey to impress a former crush at her high school reunion. Sadie, Lissa, and Jake run a food truck. Eva and Jenna finally have a standoff.

54

55
10

11
"Snow Job"
Peter Lauer
Mike Chessler & Chris Alberghini
June 17, 2014 (2014-06-17)
1.13[59]

1.22[59]

The Palos Hills High seniors are going on their annual ski trip. Eva continues to antagonize Jenna. At the ski lodge, Jenna is surprised by Luke and must juggle her feelings for Luke and Matty. Sadie discovers that Eva's real name is Amber, she's been home-schooled since she was kicked out of school when she was nine for stabbing another kid with a pencil, and her room (in a home that's not even in the right district for Palos Hills High) is decorated with creepy, stalker bulletin boards of all of Jenna and Matty's friends. Sadie makes attempts to try to warn Matty about Eva's secrets.

Sadie tells Jenna about Eva's secrets and the two team up to finally get to the bottom of psycho liar Eva's real story, The truth about Eva is revealed but Eva claims to be pregnant and Matty refuses to leave her. Jenna tries to make amends with Luke, after leaving him out in the cold.

56
12
"Finals"
Rebecca Asher
Leila Cohan-Miccio
September 23, 2014 (2014-09-23)
1.22[60]

Following the drama of the ski trip, Jenna decides it's best to spend her time focusing on her finals. Matty finds out Eva isn't pregnant and blackmails her so that she would leave PHHS.

57
13
"Auld Lang Party"
Mike Chessler
Sarah Walker
September 30, 2014 (2014-09-30)
1.25[61]

On New Year's Eve, Jenna wants to celebrate quietly, however things don't as planned when Matty turns their evening in to a group activity. Meanwhile, Sadie throws a major party. Jenna and Matty make a pact not to hook up with anyone. Meanwhile, Matty makes amends with his mom.

58
14
"Welcome to Hell"
Chris Alberghini
Ryan O'Connell
October 7, 2014 (2014-10-07)
0.95[62]

After hooking up with sophomore Owen, Jenna lets him know that it was a one-time thing. Meanwhile, Lissa attempts to convince her father to out himself to her mother. Also, Jenna and Tamara learn whether or not they have been accepted into the same college.

59
15
"Bonfire of the Vanities"
Gregory Guzik
Liz Sczudlo
October 14, 2014 (2014-10-14)
0.93[63]

The annual senior bonfire becomes a powder keg when Jenna and Tamara find the boys' girl-rating tradition known as the Phone Book.

60
16
"#Drama"
Claire Scanlon
Steve Yockey
October 21, 2014 (2014-10-21)
1.02[64]

The battle of the sexes erupts once again when Jenna and Tamara's Dude Database goes viral and reveals a secret that causes friction in their own friendship.

61
17
"The New Sex Deal"
Claire Scanlon
Todd Waldman
October 28, 2014 (2014-10-28)
0.82[65]

As Valentine's Day approaches, the entire school is mad at Jenna over the Dude Database, while Tamara refuses to come clean about her involvement. Jenna's solution is to rent a senior party bus, but things don't go as planned.

62
18
"Girl Rules"
Uta Briesewitz
Jenna Lamia
November 4, 2014 (2014-11-04)
0.82[66]

Thinking that they have bad blood, Jenna competes with Gabby to make Matty's 18th birthday special, but the two end up forging a real friendship. Meanwhile, Sadie and Tamara fight over control of the cheer squad in Lissa's absence. Jenna also receives a surprising letter in the mail.

63
19
"Over the Hump"
Uta Briesewitz
Allison M. Gibson
November 11, 2014 (2014-11-11)
1.27[67]

Jenna feels guilty about her brief hookup with Matty, but accidentally tells Gabby and puts herself on bad terms with the both of them. Sadie invites everyone on a spring break trip and also hires Jake to edit her video entry for a scholarship contest, with hilarious results.

64
20
"Sprang Break (Part 1)"
Peter Lauer
Mike Chessler & Chris Alberghini
November 18, 2014 (2014-11-18)
0.91[68]

The crew arrives in Rosarito, Mexico for spring break. Matty invites Jenna to come with him to meet his biological father, but Gabby shows up at the last minute and takes her spot instead. Jenna finally gets a college acceptance and Sadie wins her scholarship to Columbia. Jake and Tamara find out that they are famous in Japan. Lissa decides to start living life on the wild side after escaping from her parents.

65
21
"Sprang Break (Part 2)"
Peter Lauer
Mike Chessler & Chris Alberghini
November 25, 2014 (2014-11-25)
1.04[69]

Spring break continues in Rosarito. Matty spends more time with his biological father Daniel and as they are bonding his father plants doubts in his mind about his relationship with Gabby. Jake and Gabby sleep together after Jake is rejected from Northwestern. Lissa goes to a bar to have fun and finds her father, there they end up having a heart-to-heart conversation. Matty asks Lacey if she's seen Jenna, she tells him that he has to let her go and let her move on. Jenna finds out that she is going to be a big sister, and sparks a connection with a marine named Brian. In the end, Matty watches Jenna and Brian at the beach while realizing he still has feelings for her but had his chance and must now let her go.

text: Season 5 (2015–16)[edit]

text: On October 8, 2014, the show was renewed for a fifth season,[70] which premiered on August 31, 2015.[71] However, on November 9, 2015, executive producers Chris Alberghini and Mike Chessler, revealed that they are hopeful that the show will be renewed for a sixth season.[72] Season five returned on March 15, 2016.[73]

text:
No.
overall
No. in
season
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
U.S. viewers
(millions)

66
1
"Prank Amateurs"
Peter Lauer
Mike Chessler
August 31, 2015 (2015-08-31)
1.29[74]

The Awkward gang start right where they left off-back from Spring Break with the entire Senior class naked in the janitor's closet. While standing idly (and nudely) by preparing for the Senior Streak, Jenna overhears Gabby and Jake talking about their hookup in Mexico. Unsure of what to do she decides to keep this information to herself after running out of the closet and ruining the Senior prank. Sadie receives a surprise visit from her mother who wishes to mend their relationship. Matty decides that his realization about still having feelings for Jenna was just a momentary lapse, and is now committed to being with Gabby. Tamara sets a wedding date for her and Adam while Jenna misses the chemistry she shared earlier with Brian. While celebrating the salvage of the Senior prank, Gabby learns of Matty's initial plan to end their relationship. This leads to Gabby breaking up with Matty and spilling the beans about her and Jake, ending the episode with Matty punching Jake and storming off.

67
2
"Short Circuit Party"
Peter Lauer
Chris Alberghini
September 7, 2015 (2015-09-07)
0.68[75]

While being forced to clean the mess left from the last episode, Jenna accidentally shuts off the power after throwing a bucket of water, intended to get Jake, at the school's fuse box. However, this causes her to gain popularity when everyone believes that she intentionally did it in order to get school cancelled. Jenna has a party at the beach. Also, Val moves in with Jenna with the school's power out. Sadie's mother tries to win her happiness with a new Fiat.

68
3
"Jenna in Wonderland"
Gregory Guzik
Anna Christopher
September 14, 2015 (2015-09-14)
0.76[76]

Jenna is seen looking through pictures of the party, wishing she had been there. When she arrives at school, she is walking down the hall with Tamara, when everyone starts to say hi, and the most popular guy at school talks to her. The Julies then talk to her and ask her for a selfie. Tamara explains to Jenna that Jenna has become popular, and is now at the top of the food chain. Meanwhile Matty, since his video where he swore at Jake went viral, seems to be at the bottom of the popularity ladder. Jenna then goes on a triple date with the Julies and college boys. Matty then gets a lesson on how to survive being unpopular by Kyle. Jenna, on the date, realizes that being part of the popular crowd isn't as fun as she thought it would be, and leaves to go get pizza with Tamara. While she does this, Matty gets a call from Kyle inviting him to a concert. Jenna sends Matty a text asking him if he wants to get pizza with her, but he replies that he is with friends. Jenna then seems to be happy with Tamara and Matty has fun at the concert with the outcasts.

69
4
"Now You See Me, Now I Don't"
Chris Alberghini
Ryan O'Connell
September 21, 2015 (2015-09-21)
0.53[77]

Jenna gets upset when the yearbook comes out and her nickname is 'Most Depressing.' However, she also tries to write something cool in Matty's yearbook while wondering what will Matty write in hers. At the same time, Sadie's mom tries to win her daughter back in an imitation that mothers make about their daughters in Palos Hills. Ally, who knows Sadie better, offers her help. Matty spends time with Kyle seeing the mother's imitations; Tamara promises Jenna to end her commitment to wed Adam, but she doesn't. Lissa becomes the new school counselor. Lacey imitates Jenna when Jenna was plastered, but ends up hurting Jenna's feelings. In the end, Sadie begins to forgive her mother while they both despise Ally. Jenna ends up helping Lacey in her interpretation; Jenna gets mad with Matty for not writing something significant in her yearbook, but he explains to her that she is his best friend.

70
5
"The Dis-Engagement Dinner"
Ashley Rickards
Shawn Simmons
September 28, 2015 (2015-09-28)
0.75[78]

Jenna is forced to throw Tamara a party for her fake engagement (Lacey and Kevin go out of town and let them do the party), and when she thinks everything will be fun and relaxing, she finds out that the party is way too fancy. Jenna discovers that Adam invited Brian and she tries to avoid him while also trying not to say anything about Tamara's secret. Sadie and Sergio argue about marriage when Sadie tells him that she doesn't believe in marriage. Sadie and Sergio, Matty, Jake and, Gabby go to Tamara's engagement party. Later a drunken Gabby tells Jenna that Matty is still in love with her. Jenna overthinks what Gabby said and ends up delivering an awful toast where she starts to think Matty was the one for her since the beginning. Brian talks to Jenna about her horrible toast leading Jenna to tell him everything about Tamara not wanting to get married, but everyone hears them and Adam storms off. Jenna feels bad for Tamara's dis-engagement, while still confused about what Gabby said.

71
6
"Don't Dream It's Over"
Brian Dannelly
Leila Cohan-Miccio
October 5, 2015 (2015-10-05)
0.58[79]

After Adam storms off and the dinner ends, Jenna and Tamara decide to watch Sex and the City, but instead find a porn video Kevin left to Lacey. Tamara thinks that Adam is her Mr. Big and decides to go tell him that. She and Jenna get into an argument and she tells Jenna that all of her relationships ended because of her. Tamara goes to the Base, but a less drunken Gabby is revealed to be in the back of Tamara's car. Jenna thinks about what Tamara said; Jake, looking for Gabby, confirms Jenna's doubts about her ruining every relationship. Tamara isn't allowed to enter the Base and has to wait until 6 a.m. to talk to Adam; Gabby helps her out and Tamara gets to talk to Adam but she doesn't apologize. She just tells him how awesome she thinks she is. Meanwhile, Jenna has a Sex and the City themed dream with Sadie, Tamara and Lissa telling her she ruined every relationship. She talks to several ex-boyfriends (Owen, Collin, Luke, and Jake) in her dreams. Tamara finally apologizes to Adam but as she returns the ring, Adam still rejects her. Jake and Gabby comfort Tamara. Jenna's dream leads her to the conclusion that she never stopped being in love with Matty.

72
7
"The Big Reveal"
Joanna Kerns
Allison M. Gibson
October 12, 2015 (2015-10-12)
0.50[80]

Lacey asks Jenna to prepare a gender reveal party. Matty gets accepted to Berkeley just as Jenna is ready to tell him that she loves him, but later decides to keep this to herself as they prepare to go to separate colleges. Valerie returns to announce her engagement to Biggie, just as Lacey finds out she's having a girl.

73
8
"An Indecent Promposal"
Mike Chessler
Sarah Walker
October 19, 2015 (2015-10-19)
0.71[81]

Jenna and Tamara both struggle with their own disappointments and issues over the impending prom (and their respective lack of dates). A small and brief prom rebellion ensues, and in the end Jenna decides to go with someone she truly loves (while grappling with her renewed love for Matty).

74
9
"Say No to the Dress"
Uta Briesewitz
Jenna Lamia
October 26, 2015 (2015-10-26)
0.63[82]

It's Prom Time at Palos Hills, which means it's also time for drama. Despite everything that's going on, Jenna is determined to have a dream prom, regardless of the many obsticals she faces along the way.

75
10
"Reality Does Not Bite"
Uta Briesewitz
Jenna Lamia
November 2, 2015 (2015-11-02)
0.81[83]

The gang attend prom, which takes many unexpected turns throughout the night.

76
11
"The Graduates"
Peter Lauer
Mike Chessler
November 9, 2015 (2015-11-09)
0.78[84]

Sadie is banned from attending Graduation and giving her Valedictorian speech after being busted for drinking at prom and causing a scene at the Graduation Day breakfast. Matty drops a bomb on Jenna when he reveals he has to leave for Berkeley after Graduation Night to start soccer practice over the summer, leaving the couple only one day left together. Before Jenna can respond, Valerie hijacks the graduation ceremony to announce it is now a 'Weduation' - a surprise wedding for herself and her boyfriend Biggie. Lacey ordains the wedding and Jenna is called on stage to be the flower girl.

77
12
"Holding On and Letting Go"
Peter Lauer
Chris Alberghini
November 9, 2015 (2015-11-09)
0.74[84]

Tamara and Jake realise they are both holding on to how they have defined themselves in high school and confront their fears that they won't be able to achieve such high social statuses in their post-graduate lives. Sergio and Sadie get back together. Jenna and Matty decide they love each other and want to continue the relationship over the summer.

78
13
"I'm the Kind of Girl Who Found Her Voice in College"
Peter Lauer
Mike Chessler
March 15, 2016 (2016-03-15)
0.52[85]

Jenna is on top of the world when she gets home from her freshman year of college, but her new found confidence is shaken when she discovers she's not the only one who's changed.

79
14
"WTF Happened Last Year?"
Gail Lerner
Anna Christopher
March 22, 2016 (2016-03-22)
0.58[86]

Jenna reveals what happened to her and the rest of the gang in the last year--what caused the freeze between Matty and Jenna, what sparked the friendship between Sadie and Tamara, and how Jake and Lissa rekindled their romance.

80
15
"The Friend Connection"
Mike Chessler
Sarah Walker
March 29, 2016 (2016-03-29)
0.48[87]

Jenna refrains from a new relationship in order to connect with her co-workers; Tamara throws a chic birthday party for Sadie that leaves some party goers feeling less than celebratory.

81
16
"Best Friends For Never"
Mike Chessler
Ryan O'Connell
April 5, 2016 (2016-04-05)
0.52[88]

In an attempt to make Idea Bin a friendlier place for herself, Jenna hooks Tamara up with an internship but quickly finds that working with friends can be a recipe for disaster.

82
17
"Fireworks"
Jeff Melman
Allison M. Gibson
April 12, 2016 (2016-04-12)
0.54[89]

Jake gets Jenna and Tamara jobs at Palos hills country club. But everyone ends up getting fired when the group have a party.

83
18
"Digging Deep"
Steve Gainer
Leila Cohan-Miccio
April 19, 2016 (2016-04-19)
0.59[90]

The group throw a surprise party for Jake in an attempt to apologize for getting him fired and Ally gets him rehired. Jenna writes an article about her and Matty's relationship and after it gets posted it goes viral and Matty gets upset at her for revealing personal details about their relationship.

84
19
"Girls Gone Viral"
Beau Mirchoff
Story by : Ryan O'Connell
Teleplay by : Sarah Walker & Jenna Wycoff
April 26, 2016 (2016-04-26)
0.55[91]

Jenna attempts to get her article about Matty taken down. Jake sleeps with Jenna's co-worker Ophelia.

85
20
"Misadventures in Babysitting"
Anna Mastro
Jenna Lamia
May 3, 2016 (2016-05-03)
0.70[92]

Matty helps Jenna babysit. Tamara and Sadie attend a rich-kid clambake. Lissa discovers what it takes to be a Palos Hills mom.

86
21
"Living in Sin"
Chris Alberghini
Leila Cohan-Miccio
May 10, 2016 (2016-05-10)
0.49[93]

Tamara is in debt. Jenna and Luke get serious.

87
22
"Home Again, Home Again"
Chris Alberghini
Jenna Lamia
May 17, 2016 (2016-05-17)
0.59[94]

Jenna and Luke fight over an article Jenna wrote for Ideabin which elaborated on their relationship that got Lizzie angry because Luke hasn't been honest with her. Jenna signs up for her camp reunion, and attempts to reconnect with Matty. In a game of "Truth or Truth" involving alcohol they talk about how important they are to one another and how they have always been there for one another, but Matty said that his timing was always "a little off". Since Jenna has not been answering any of Luke's calls, it turned out Matty texted Luke telling him were Jenna was, and Luke came and apologized. He has also revealed that he sent an email to the Dean of SCU with one of Jenna's articles, and they were interested in Jenna transferring there, much to Jenna's surprise and delight. She and Luke make up, and they both thank Matty and leave him alone. Meanwhile, Sadie attempts to apologize to Tamara but to no avail. She also ruined her relationship with both Lissa and Sergio. Jake helps Lissa film a video of her training for YouTube, and he reveals to her that he started thinking about his future being more than just in the club. Tamara met Adam when she was on the job as a "professional bride's maid", and he introduced her to his new fiancee Amy. Adam confronts Tamara that she always lies to her boyfriends, and thus she calls Patrick leaving a voice message that she needs to talk to him.

88
23
"Second Chances"
Peter Lauer
Chris Alberghini
May 24, 2016 (2016-05-24)
0.47[95]

Jenna faces a dilemma in her dating life when Luke makes plans for her future without consulting her. Tamara has a hard time facing the truth of her personal failings.

89
24
"Happy Campers. Happier Trails"
Peter Lauer
Chris Alberghini & Mike Chessler
May 24, 2016 (2016-05-24)
0.38[96]

In the season 5 finale, Luke helps Jenna land an important meeting at SCU, Tamara admits she has money problems to her boyfriend, and Jenna has important decisions to make that include choosing to attend an SCU event or her camp reunion; and Luke or Matty.