Young Americans

Our Rating: L Factor: Gender Bender Short Take: A spinoff of teen show Dawson’s Creek. Stars Katherine Moennig as a girl who passes as a guy. Alternate Titles:
Year: 2000 Duration: 60 min Language: USA/English MPAA: Not Rated	Director: Mel Damski, Perry Lang Writer: Steve Antin, Greg Berlanti Starring: Mark Famiglietti, Katherine Moennig, Kate Bosworth, Rodney Scott, Ian Somerhalder, John Driscoll, Ed Quinn, Matt Czuchry, Deborah Hazlett

Young Americans Trailer

A spinoff of teen show Dawson’s Creek, Young Americans aired for an eight episode summer season. It centers on the lives of students at the private Rawley Academy in New England. Will (Rodney Scott) is a local there on a scholarship, and he struggles with no longer fitting in with his old friends or his new schoolmates. His rich roommate Scout (Mark Famiglietti) falls in love with Bella (Kate Bosworth), a local girl who is forbidden to him.

What makes the show interesting for us is the presence of Jake (Katherine Moennig, The L Word), a girl who passes as a boy and lives in a single room in the male dormitories. She binds her chest and rides a motorcycle that is the envy of the other guys.

Inevitably, one of the girls falls for Jake and kisses him. But Jake is heterosexual, and she only has eyes for Hamilton (Ian Somerhalder, Celebrity), the Dean’s son. He begins to think that he is gay, until after a passionate kiss in the men’s room, Jake finally lets him in on the secret. Turns out that Jake/Jacqueline has only done this to mess with her mother, who doesn’t understand her.

Jake and Hamilton are assumed to be a gay couple by those around them. Meanwhile, the rest of the students’ soap opera lives continue. (AB)