Make It or Break It

Plot

Payson Keeler (Ayla Kell), Kaylie Cruz (Josie Loren), Lauren Tanner (Cassie Scerbo), and newcomer Emily Kmetko (Chelsea Hobbs) are elite-level gymnasts training for the 2012 Summer Olympics at a gym called "The Rock". The girls' futures are thrown into turmoil when their head coach, Marty Walsh (Erik Palladino), is blackmailed out of his job and is forced to move to a rival gym. It is revealed later that Kaylie's mother (Rosa Blasi) and Marty were having an affair and he left to keep the secret from being exposed. All four girls harbor secrets they must conceal for the sake of their athletic careers. Eventually, they put aside their differences in time to leave for nationals. Payson is favorite to win, but after a fall on the uneven bars, she fractures her spine and is told she can never do gymnastics again. The other three receive spots on the National Team, but clash with the head of the National Gymnastics Committee, Ellen Beals (Michelle Clunie), who prizes obedience to her authority and feels threatened by The Rock girls' independence. To get The Rock girls recognized as being international standard, The Rock holds a private meet between them and the Chinese National Team. Working together, the girls get five medals.

In the second season, the girls are joined at The Rock by superstar male gymnast Austin Tucker (Zane Holtz). Payson, who has undergone surgery, attempts to revitalize her gymnastic career. Sasha dedicates himself to helping her become an artistic gymnastic. Payson develops a crush on Sasha and becomes embarrassed when the practice camera they were using catches the kiss, which Lauren uses to get Sasha kicked out of the Rock. The Kmetko family struggles financially with the loss of Emily's scholarship. The girls compete at trials for the World Championships and all four make the Worlds team. Emily is forced to wear an ankle monitor due to her probation after being caught stealing. The other girls train for the World Gymnastics Competition, a task made harder by the presence of their arch enemy, Kelly Parker, at The Rock. In the season two finale, the four girls lead the team to the World Competition in Rio de Janeiro, where they win team gold.

Season Three opens with Payson, Lauren, and Kaylie heading to the American Olympic Training Center as they prepare for the 2012 London Olympics. They deal with a new coach and teammates, including up-and-coming gymnast Jordan Randall, whose presence causes tension within the group. Coach Mac pairs up the girls, forcing Kaylie to live and work with Kelly Parker and Lauren to work with Payson. Kelly is not good enough for the Olympics and leaves gymnastics. Austin does not make the Olympic Team and blames Kaylie. Jordan reveals that a former coach molested her when she was young. Desperate to ensure her spot on the team, Wendy drugs Kaylie with a cold medicine containing a banned substance. After Austin and Kaylie reunite, then Lauren, Payson, and Jordan tell the NGO that they are boycotting Olympic tryouts unless Kaylie is allowed to perform. Lauren discovers the secret Wendy has been hiding and exposes her, getting Wendy kicked out. The season three finale culminates with the five girls, Payson, Lauren, Kaylie, Jordan, and Colleen, being chosen to represent the U.S. in the Olympics.

Cast and characters

Main article: List of Make It or Break It characters

Main cast

Recurring cast

Episodes

Main article: List of Make It or Break It episodes

Release

DVD releases

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released the first ten episodes in a set entitled Make It or Break It – Volume 1: Extended Edition. Bonus material includes deleted scenes, the never-before-seen extended finale, and the featurette, "Making It", which shows how the stars manage the acting with the difficult stunts they do.

Reception

Critical response

For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 80% approval rating with an average rating of 6.70/10 based on 10 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "With thrilling gymnastics scenes and a likable protagonist, Make It or Break It makes for compelling television." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 64 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Ratings

The following is a table with the average estimated number of viewers per episode, each season of Make It or Break It on ABC Family.

Accolades

References

References

1. (June 23, 2009). "ABC Family's "Secret Life" Returns at Record Levels, While "Make It Or Break It" Sets Time Period Highs". The Futon Critic.
2. Andreeva, Nellie. (July 27, 2009). "ABC Family Orders More "Make It"". The Hollywood Reporter.
3. Gorman, Bill. (July 27, 2009). "ABC Family Orders 10 More Episodes of Make It Or Break It". TVbytheNumbers.
4. Seidman, Robert. (November 18, 2009). "The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Make It Or Break It return to ABC Family Monday, January 4". TVbytheNumbers.
5. Gorman, Bill. (January 12, 2010). ""The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and "Make It or Break It" Renewed". TVbytheNumbers.
6. Seidman, Robert. (March 29, 2010). "ABC Family Announces Summer Slate Including "Pretty Little Liars," "Huge," and "Melissa & Joey"". TVbytheNumbers.
7. "Breaking News - ABC Family to "Break It" on Tuesdays". The Futon Critic.
8. Newcomb, Roger. (January 9, 2012). "THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER & MAKE IT OR BREAK IT Return on March 26 and 8 episodes of the Third Season will end on May 14". We Love Soaps.
9. Andreeva, N. [https://deadline.com/2012/04/abc-familys-make-it-or-break-it-to-end-262399/ "ABC Family’s ‘Make It Or Break It’ To End".] ''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' (April 26, 2012)
10. (April 26, 2012). "'Make it Or Break It' Canceled, According to Executive Producer". TV By the Numbers.
11. "Make It or Break It - Make It or Break It". E4.com.
12. Erica. (May 15, 2012). "Chatting with Josie Loren from Make It or Break It".
13. Burtt, Kristyn. (2011-05-09). "Behind The Scenes Of 'Make It Or Break It' With Ayla Kell". Starpulse.com.
14. (August 3, 2009). "Make It Or Break It: Stunt Doubles | Just About Every TV Show". Ax20.wordpress.com.
15. Soderburg, Wendy. (January 1, 2010). "Stunts and Circuses". UCLA Magazine.
16. "Make It or Break It – ABC/Disney Announces a Volume 1: Extended Edition DVD". TV Shows On DVD.
17. "Make It or Break It – Volume 1: Extended Edition". TV Shows On DVD.
18. (January 12, 2010). "Make It or Break It: Volume One - Extended Edition: Chelsea Hobbs, Ayla Kell, Josie Loren, Cassie Scerbo, Zachary Burr Abel, Mia Frampton, n/a: Movies & TV".
19. (January 4, 2011). "Make It or Break It: Season One, Volume Two: Chelsea Hobbs, Ayla Kell, Josie Loren, Cassie Scerbo, Candace Cameron Bure, Neil Jackson, Peri Gilpin, Holly Sorenson: Movies & TV".
20. "Make It or Break It: Season Two, Volume Three: Chelsea Hobbs, Ayla Kell, Cassie Scerbo, Mia Frampton, Zachary Abel, Peri Gilpin, Candace Cameron Bure, Josie Loren, Susan Ward, ABC Family: Movies & TV".
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26. (May 24, 2011). "Monday Cable Ratings: Mavs/Thunder Tops Night; 'WWE Raw' Up + 'Sanctuary,' 'Real Housewives of NJ', 'American Chopper,' 'Secret Life' & More - Ratings". Zap2it.
27. (March 27, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'WWE RAW,' 'Basketball Wives', 'Secret Life of the American Teenager', 'Pawn Stars' & More - Ratings". Zap2it.
28. (March 26, 2012). "Shows A-Z - make it or break it on abc family". The Futon Critic.
29. (May 15, 2012). "Monday's Cable Ratings: TNT Hits NBA Postseason High With Lakers/Thunder". The Futon Critic.
30. (2009-07-08). "2009 Teen Choice Awards: More Nominees & Performers!".
31. (2013-08-12). "The Gracies : 2010 Gracie Awards® Winners".
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33. (July 12, 2010). ""Twilight" Rules Latest Batch of Teen Choice Award Nominees".
34. "2010 BMI Film/TV Awards Winners List {{!}} Press".
35. (2011-07-01). "2011 Teen Choice Awards Nominees".
36. Gallo, Phil. (2013-06-21). "Patrick Doyle, "The Other" Ray Charles Honored at ASCAP Film & TV Awards".