The dictionary definition of the word popular (above) sums up the premise of this new show from the WB. Focusing on two groups of high school students...the popular and the not so popular crowds. The popular group are of course comprised of  the requisite cheerleaders and jocks. The unpopular crowd are all attractive teens who seem to be just on the cusp of being in the popular category. They're not the geeks and nerds of our day, they're outgoing intelligent and highly attractive...and they're not truly sure if they want to be part of the "in" crowd or not...only that it's expected of them to want it. So we are treated to an hour a week of the high school struggle that infiltrates all schools everywhere.

Brooke McQueen (popular) and Sam McPherson (unpopular) are from two different worlds. Brooke is wealthy, blonde, and head cheerleader. Sam is middle class, brunette, and a writer. The worlds of both girls circle but rarely collide until Sam's friend Carmen tries out for the cheerleading squad. Carmen does not make her lifelong dream of joining the squad because she is overweight. Brooke later admits to Sam that she was the best of the candidates, but she does fit in as a cheerleader. Sam then makes it her personal mission to destroy Brooke and the two worlds start colliding on a regular basis. The biggest explosion so far has to be the announcement by Brooke's single father and Sam's single mother that they're engaged...to each other! 

While all of this is going on we're treated to a humorous look at high school life and the troubles that all kids face which ever side of the fence they're on. 

From where I sit, this show really brings back the memories for me of my high school years. I was one of the lucky ones that was able to orbit between all societal cliques. I was not pigeonholed into a particular crowd and had the time of my life with friends from the grits (smokers, rebels), the band geeks, and the cheerleaders. Unfortunately life is not always that easy and, while living the high school life, the crowd you're in determines what type of experiences you're likely to have. That's what Popular strives to show us...the experiences of both groups...good and bad.