The Secret Life of the American Teenager has a new school counselor: 7th Heaven‘s Beverley Mitchell.

Mitchell will appear when new episodes begin in January 2011, a show rep tells TVGuide.com exclusively. Her character will replace Blossom star Mayim Bialik, who currently plays the school counselor.

The 29-year-old actress is best known for her role as Lucy Camden on the wholesome family drama 7th Heaven.

What do you think of the casting news?

Getting married just because you’re expecting a baby from a one-night stand is not exactly the best reason to say “I do.” Or is it?

Last week, Ben balked at his father’s suggestion to wed Adrian (Francia Raisa) on The Secret Life of the American Teenager (Monday at 8/7c on ABC Family). The teen, however, may have a change of heart on Monday’s episode when the two go in for Adrian’s first sonogram.

“He definitely is not decided for sure,” Kenny Baumann, who plays Ben, tells TVGuide.com. “I think [seeing a sonogram is] an overwhelming experience for anyone, especially for a teenager. It’s times like that where he realizes the gravity of the situation. Ben’s kind of a neurotic guy. He’s always going to have the ‘grass is always greener’ portion of his brain ticking.”

But is it ticking enough for him to act on it after seeing his child for the first time?

“There’s a very expensive object in play,” Baumann teases. “It can be a ring. … It definitely has to do with Ben.”

Marrying Adrian might be — as her father says — the practical thing to do, but Ben’s heart still lies with Amy (Shailene Woodley), who’s still at a music camp in New York. After breaking the news of Adrian’s pregnancy to her two weeks ago, Ben has heard squat from Amy. But she has to come home eventually.

“We’ll see how much longer she tries to avoid him. The radio silence speaks volumes,” Baumann says. “It would be pretty tough for him to date her [while he's expecting a baby with Adrian]. It’d be hard for all four of them.”

The fourth is, of course, Ricky (Daren Kagasoff), Adrian’s ex and the father of Amy’s son, John — also the result of a one-night stand. Ricky jets off to New York to see Amy on Monday’s episode, much to Ben’s chagrin. Though Ben’s irked, Baumann says the teen won’t try to get back at them like he did in the Season 2 finale when he slept with Adrian, given the new circumstances.

“Before [the show goes on midseason hiatus], you’ll see Ben make some decisions and resolve some things for himself,” Baumann says. “He’s going to be a dad so he’s trying to be responsible. I think it’s great. This season has been my favorite arc for Ben and it’s just going to get better. I’m very excited. He’s young, but I think he’s going to make a great dad.”

Would he also make a great husband?

“Why not?” Baumann laughs. “He’s a good guy.”

c/o TVGuide

Amy Juergens may be the star of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, but it’s little sister Ashley Juergens who is telling all in a new book from Hyperion.

“The Secret Diary of Ashley Juergens” starts out as a homework assignment from Principal Miller but it ends up being a cathartic exercise for wise-beyond-her-years Ashley. In the book, she details her feelings about her parents’ separation, her sister’s pregnancy, and her own place in the family.

In addition to Ashley’s take on what we’ve seen in the series, Hyperion promises the diary will also reveal a few secrets and answers to unanswered questions. They say the book will explore:
– What happened at Grace’s pre-med summer program?
– The mystery behind Ben’s trip to Italy and his Italian girlfriend.
– Did Madison and Jack hook up at their Dead Parents Club sessions?
– Insight about baby Robie joining the family.
– Amy’s real feelings for Ricky

“The Secret Diary of Ashley Juergens” will be released on June 15 to coincide with the release of The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Volume Four on DVD. Hardcover and 240 pages, the book retails for $16.99.

cred: buddytv

Ottawa’s Zed Filmworks begins production today on The Perfect Teacher, a psychological thriller that will be shot around town over the next 15 days. The $1-million movie stars David Charvet, a former Baywatch actor who is married to Dancing With the Stars co-host Brooke Burke. It also stars Canadian actress Megan Park, who appears in the TV series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and Boti Bliss, an American actress who has a recurring role in CSI: Miami.

The story concerns a high school student (Park) with emotional problems who develops a crush on a teacher (Charvet). The student’s extremes to get the teacher’s attention result in serious consequences.

Could it really happen? What an amazing turn of events, on the weekend that both their parents get married a pregnancy scare threatens to throw this weekend into an utter meltdown!

I, For one, am very excited to see what is about to happen and am hopeful Adrian is pregnant with Bens baby. Both characters need some stability on the show and this will bring them that. Plus it will be interesting how their characters grow with each other and above all it would give AMY and RICKY a chance to be together!!!

Look, that little moment that Ricky and Ashley had was nothing more than an I care about what you do moment, nothing sexual. I do however think Ashleys boyfriend showed a side of jealousy that could lead to abusive problems down the line. She needs to run away from him ASAP and I don’t mean to Ricky.

I’m really hopeful that Ricky and Amy can give things a shot but with new shows not until June and Amy planning on returning to band camp sans Ricky I’m just not sure its going to happen anytime soon.

But I can always hope.

Oh and Jack and Grace, stop teasing the storyline. Madison has really been shining this season and was amazing during the last episode she needs to stay relevant in this show and honestly we’ve been through your guys ups and downs too many times already!

What do you guys think?

So wow was this past Mondays show crazy or what? Amy had lost her mind for a minute with that “I don’t want John to love you” comment. I thought I was gonna jump through my TV that was so unlike her character. While I applaud her for finally speaking her mind I didn’t know such crazy thoughts were behind her innocent smile.

Luckily she came to her senses as the mediator was making his decision, which was ultimately in Ricky’s favor anyway.

I’m still holding out hope that Amy and Ricky will be together one day but if they can’t I’m alright with them getting along and being the best parents they can be for their son.

What did you guys think of this episode?

Don’t ask me why, but apparently just having a child now qualifies you to be an actor…so without further ado…

Enter Bristol Palin

Our lovely Bristol Palin will be joining the cast during the summer season of Secret Life, playing one of Amy’s friends at a band camp.  My only hope is Bristols mother doesn’t pop in to let Amy know she can see Russia from her house.  I am very hopeful this is just a cameo.

Actor Daren Kagasoff was spotted enjoying a relaxing Valentine’s Day out in Hollywood with girlfriend Jacqueline Wood. The Secret Life of The American Teenager stud and his girl hit up a local movie theater, where they went to see a movie together.

On the next episode of The Secret Life, we find out what happened in Ben’s car. Amy goes on a road trip. Grant comes back, and someone else goes away.

The episode ‘20 Mistakes were Made’ airs February 22nd at 8/7c!

This season of ABC Family’s Secret Life of the American Teenager has been a lesson not so much in safe sex, like the first season, but a lesson in permutations: At the rate things are going, it seems nearly every guy in the cast will have dated every girl possible by season’s end. Despite surprise couplings like Grace and Ben and Jack and That One Friend of Amy’s, the big shocker came last week when Amy kissed — gasp — her baby-daddy, Ricky. Sure, they were just “practicing,” but could there be more romance in store for the young accidental parents? Amy herself, Shailene Woodley, stopped by EW.com to dish on the rest of the season.

Now that Amy and Ricky have kissed (again), do you think they have a future together?

Amy has so much dislike for Ricky based on his past. And Ricky gets really annoyed with Amy because she’s really spiteful. But they are a family because they have John. Amy has a confidante in Ricky and Ricky has a confidante in Amy. I think they would never hurt each other. I think deep down they both know it’ll never be a romantic thing, but sometimes they want to test it out because they think they should.
With all this juicy stuff happening this season, what more could possibly be in store?
There are like three weddings, though no teenage weddings as of right now. Ben is still confused as to what he wants to do about Amy. And Grace and Jack are still arguing about sex. They’re still trying to figure out if they want to be together.

How has it been having a toddler as your frequent costar now?

We have twins playing John now, and they’re so cute. They play with microphones and say hi to people behind the camera. Every single week the writers write something in the script for him where he says, like, “mama” and “dada,” and their mom has to be like, “They don’t even say that in real life.” So they haven’t had a lot of lines yet.

Have you watched MTV’s 16 and Pregnant? Do you feel like you understand what those girls are going through at all?

I’ve seen it a few times. It’s really sad what those girls are going through. It’s so weird to think that they’re going through what I pretend to go through. It’s trippy to think that people really deal with this stuff. I feel like the themes [on Secret Life] are realistic, but the way they present them are definitely artistically licensed. We definitely showed it was not glamorous, but I can’t believe what they go through on 16 and Pregnant. It’s crazy how awful their boyfriends are.

cred: Entertainment weekly