MTV's 16 and Pregnant

Does anyone else watch "16 and Pregnant" on MTV?

No? You wish MTV would go back to playing music videos? Hmm. Well, this is awkward.

Much to the chagrin of my boyfriend, who has sacrificed far too many "Futurama" reruns to satisfy my reality TV addiction, I love "16 and Pregnant."

I'm surprised by how many people think the show is trashy. True, watching a teenage cheerleader go into labor isn't necessarily a vehicle for a life-changing inspiration.

But from a filming standpoint alone, the show is done really well. The author of this interesting Salon piece, "I actually was 16 and pregnant," notes that a good portion of the show is filmed with participants' hand held flip cameras -- minimizing the presence of outside filming crews and creating an honesty you don't usually get out of reality TV.

From its onset, the show -- a partnership between MTV and the National Campaign to Reduce Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy -- was designed to deter teen viewers from getting pregnant.

I agree with this DoubleX writer: Even if they watch every episode, teens are more likely to be influenced by their family and friends.

That doesn't mean the show is without purpose. At the very least, it reminds us as viewers to form our real-life conclusions carefully.

And know that every pregnant teenager is more than her bulky sweatshirts.

(Click here to watch full episodes of "16 and Pregnant." The show's reunion episode, "Life After Labor," airs 10 p.m. tonight on MTV.)