Shortly before its August 1994 debut, ABC’s My So-Called Life was hailed by critics for, as The Buffalo News so memorably put it, setting “a standard that no new show can live up to.”
It was canceled the following January.
Yet in the space of just nineteen episodes, the witty, bittersweet story of fifteen-year-old Angela Chase built a die-hard following thanks to stellar writing, an uncompromising depiction of adolescence, and ultrarelatable characters.
How that happened, and why it all came to an abrupt halt, has remained a source of fierce debate—until now. So Beautiful It Hurts: The Making of My So-Called Life is the first book to document the creative process behind this landmark series, including never-before-seen photos. It is based on exclusive interviews with those in front of and behind the camera:
Creator
Winnie Holzman
Executive Producers
Marshall Herskovitz 
Edward Zwick
Cast
Bess Armstrong (Patty)
Claire Danes (Angela)
Patti D’Arbanville (Amber)
Paul Dooley (Chuck)
Ben Guillory (Mr. Foster)
Devon Gummersall (Brian)
Juliana Hatfield (Angel, “So-Called Angels”)
Tom Irwin (Graham)
A. J. Langer (Rayanne)
Devon Odessa (Sharon)
Senta Moses (Delia)
Jeff Perry (Mr. Katimski, director)
Lisa Waltz (Hallie)
Directors
Victor Du Bois
Todd Holland
Elodie Keene
Mark Piznarski
Mark Rosner
Scott Winant
Writers
Elizabeth Gill
Jill Gordon
Jason Katims
Producers/Co-Producers
Alan Poul
Monica Wyatt
Casting
Jeff Greenberg
Linda Lowy
Crew
Cate Bangs (production designer)
Thomas Brodek (executive in charge of production)
Jenifer Catalano (assistant to co–executive producers)
Robert Frazen (editor)
Reuben Greene (studio teacher)
Daniel C. Gold (camera operator, “A” camera)
Charlie Lieberman (cinematographer)
Anthony Nakonechnyj (chief lighting technician)
Patrick Norris (costume designer, director)
Candy Walken (hair stylist)
Thomas Walsh (production designer, “Pilot”)
Other Voices
Steve Joyner (Operation Life Support/MSCL.com)
Melanie Mayron (“Melissa,” Thirtysomething)
 
ISBN: 9798993203102