Watch a sneak peek of the upcoming episode of THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER titled “Sweet and Sour” Season 3 Episode 12 which airs Monday, August 23 2010 at 8pm on ABC FAMILY.

Episode Synopsis: THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER “Sweet and Sour” Season 3 Episode 12 – With only a few days remaining until Amy returns home, Ricky cannot seem to remain faithful to her. And if the tension wasn’t thick enough already, Adrian has an unfortunate pregnancy scare that takes her to the emergency room. With their emotions running high, Ben and Adrian have a huge fight, leaving Adrian in tears. Once Ben realizes how much Adrian and their unborn baby mean to him, he delivers a heartfelt apology with a special gift. And haven’t spent so much time dealing with his son’s problems, Ben’s dad has become unsure of his own marriage to Betty. Meanwhile, Jack and Madison are forbidden to see each other, and Jack tries to prevent Grace from seeing Grant on “Sweet and Sour,” an all-new episode of the hit ABC FAMILY drama series, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” airing Monday, August 23, (8:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT).

The series cast includes Shailene Woodley, Ken Baumann, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Greg Finley, Daren Kagasoff, Megan Park, Francia Raisa with Steve Schirripa and Molly Ringwald. Reid Scott, Renee Olstead, Camille Winbush, Grant Harvey, Michelle Krusiec, Andrew McFarlane, William R. Moses, Raphael Sbarge, Dawnn Lewis, Maira Walsh, Zoe Hall, Luke Zimmerman, Kelly Thiebaud with Kathy Kinney and Ernie Hudson also guest star. Special guest stars include Jennifer Coolidge and Josie Bissett. Created and executive-produced by Brenda Hampton (“7th Heaven”).

Also don’t forget to check the The Secret Life of the American Teenager Store

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BEN AND ADRIAN HAVE A PREGNANCY SCARE THAT TAKES THEM TO THE HOSPITAL ON AN ALL NEW EPISODE OF”THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN TEENAGER,” PREMIERING ON MONDAY, AUGUST 23, AT 8:00PM ET/PT

Burbank, CA (August 18, 2010) – With only a few days remaining until Amy returns home, Ricky cannot seem to remain faithful to her. And if the tension wasn’t thick enough already, Adrian has an unfortunate pregnancy scare that takes her to the emergency room. With their emotions running high, Ben and Adrian have a huge fight, leaving Adrian in tears. Once Ben realizes how much Adrian and their unborn baby mean to him, he delivers a heartfelt apology with a special gift. And haven’t spent so much time dealing with his son’s problems, Ben’s dad has become unsure of his own marriage to Betty. Meanwhile, Jack and Madison are forbidden to see each other, and Jack tries to prevent Grace from seeing Grant on “Sweet and Sour,” an all-new episode of the hit ABC FAMILY drama series, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” airing Monday, August 23, (8:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT).

The series cast includes Shailene Woodley, Ken Baumann, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Greg Finley, Daren Kagasoff, Megan Park, Francia Raisa with Steve Schirripa and Molly Ringwald. Nick Zano, Paola Turbay, Renee Olstead, Camille Winbush, Brando Eaton, Grant Harvey, William R. Moses, Michelle Krusiec, Dawnn Lewis, Shoshana Bush, Kristopher Higgins, Luke Zimmerman and Ernie Hudson also guest star. Created and executive-produced by Brenda Hampton (“7th Heaven”).

Part of the Disney/ABC Television Group, ABC Family is distributed in over 98 million homes. ABC Family features programming reflecting today’s families, entertaining and connecting with adults through relatable programming about today’s relationships – told with a mix of diversity, dysfunction, passion, humor and heart. ABC Family’s programming is a combination of network defining original series and original movies, quality acquired series and blockbuster theatricals. ABC Family is also the destination for annual Holiday events with “13 Nights of Halloween” and “25 Days of Christmas!” ABC Family. A New Kind of Family.

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As if Castle didn’t have enough on his plate with his writing, helping out with murder cases, and his complicated relationship with Beckett, now he’s going to have to contend with his daughter’s first boyfriend. Ken Baumann (Secret Life of the American Teenager) is joining CASTLE in the fourth episode, “Punked,” and while Alexis (Molly Quinn) is excited about having her first boyfriend, her father is unnerved because she’s not telling him all the details. Baumann’s role will be recurring.

So many changes for Castle: his relationship with Beckett was left in an uncertain place at the end of last season’s finale, it was unclear whether he would even go back to the precinct, and now his little girl is growing up too fast for him. It should make for a fun season.

Castle returns with its third season premiere on ABC Monday September 20 at 10pm/9 central. Check this handy chart to know when all the fall shows premiere.

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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12 (UPI) — Actor Ken Baumann has been cast in a recurring role on the U.S. mystery series “Castle,” ABC said Thursday.

Baumann, who is known for his work on TV’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” will play the first boyfriend of Alexis Castle, portrayed by Molly Quinn.

“Richard Castle (played by Nathan Fillion) is dealing with the fact Alexis is excited about having her first boyfriend, but he’s unnerved that she’s not confiding in him with all the details,” ABC said in a synopsis.

Season 3 of “Castle” is to premiere Sept. 20.

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ABC Family’s drama The Secret Life of the American Teenager dives right into the center of this complicated world, which heavily deals with the issue of teen pregnancy from every possible angle (this show should be required viewing for teens and their parents).

We fell in love with him as Ben on Secret Life and we’ll soon be able to catch him on ABC’s Castle this fall — I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with series star Ken Baumann, whose character Ben was deeply involved with a girl who was pregnant with another guy’s baby and then manages to get another girl pregnant the first time he has sex.

During my delightful chat with this dynamic actor, I asked about the popular series, exotic animals, celebrity encounters, and important issues teens face today…

Interview with Ken BaumannMore About Secret Life of the American TeenagerMore Celebrity Interviews

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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Kenny Baumann started acting at the age of 11 and moved to Hollywood at the age of 14, where he landed a lead a Fox pilot.  He recently finished filming the independent feature Springbreak ’83 with Jamie Kennedy and Joe Pantoliano. Kenny landed a lead on ABC Family’s The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, playing Ben Boykewich, the know-it-all hopeless romantic, who falls for the lead, Amy.  Ben has not yet learned that Amy is pregnant, but that may be coming up soon on the hit summer seires.

Kenny recently spoke to MediaBlvd Magazine about the role of Ben, and what we can expect for the rest of this season of the show.

Question: Can you tell us a little bit about how you got into acting?

Kenny Baumann: Originally, it all started at one of those small-town actor/model searches.  I was ten and I was living in Abilene, Texas, and I happened to “qualify” at the small-town level and of course, pay $600 to go to that large convention in Dallas where I actually picked up a talent agent in New York.  So I spent three months in New York auditioning for commercials and doing print work.  From New York I came back home to Texas and did quite a bit of print work and commercials in Dallas.  Then I said enough of this modeling stuff; acting is what I love and I want to pursue that.  So we came to L.A. and gave pilot season a shot a few times.  I started booking things and working and that’s how it all worked out.

Question: When did Ken become Kenny?

Kenny: I’ve been Kenny all my life, but I use Ken sometimes for other venues such as my writing and some other things.  I try to keep some sort of separation between the two entities just for my own sake.

Question: Could you touch on what about this character appealed to you and how you this role?

Kenny: I was drawn to this role because ultimately Ben is, to me, he’s such a sweet, loving guy and then, of course, he’s very funny as well.  It’s very funny to watch someone kind of go through that love/misery pattern.  To be able to play that and really work on that really flesh that out and make it as real and as frank as possible is an opportunity that, of course, not many people are allowed.  So what drew me to Ben was really just at the core of him he’s very loving; he’s very sweet and of course, the comedic stuff is also really fun to play as well.

Question: Ben, has the slightly difficult task of helping Amy through a teen pregnancy.  How do you interpret that character?  Is there anything you did or anything you do to get in character?

Kenny: Absolutely.  Of course, I think as most actors kind of practice the moment before and really working on drawing things from the character’s past to form current decisions.  As far as Ben’s relationship with Amy he’s very sweet, loves her to death, so anything, of course, would be for her and exclusively for her happiness.  And the writing is there and the writing is so wonderful.  It just makes the performance very easy as far as just pulling out the necessary emotions and callbacks.  With everyone on set being so incredibly capable and creative, it’s really an easy process to kind of fall into Ben completely.

Question: You’re 18 so that’s 3 years older than your onscreen character.  Does playing this role bring back memories of your own high school years?  Or aside from the obvious difference, were you anything like the character you play?

Kenny: Absolutely.  I think I’m probably still that guy who will always crack a joke in an uncomfortable situation.  I fall back to humor quite a bit and yes, my own high school years were spent out here and they were a little unconventional.  I went to a charter school, only was in school about six to seven hours a week.  But even then, though, you still deal with those social interactions that become so written about in television and film and other venues that kind of define high school life.  But yes, absolutely.  I remember a lot of my high school experiences definitely come through as Ben on the show.

Question: Are you surprised with how well the show’s doing?  The numbers are pretty astounding for the first premiere episode.

Kenny: To me not at all.  I hoped that people would catch on to this and appreciate it and when, of course, it performed like it did I was very happy.  You learn to not expect anything and not count your chickens until they’ve hatched, but in this case they really hatched.  So everyone’s ecstatic.  We’re all just happy to kind of entertain the idea that there’s more to come and that we can just really focus on the work again and not have to worry about that monkey on your back, kind of this thing beating at you and making you constantly thinking how the show’s going to do.  Now we know so we can focus on our work and just really hit it hard.

Question: The show seems to have pretty much every group that you might see in high school from the geeks, the jocks, the Christians and so on.  What group would you say that Ben was in?

Kenny: I think that Ben is definitely the loner.  The self-deprecating humor kind of guy that, I would say that he would float between all the groups, but none of the groups really take him in.  He’s just the kind of guy who, you know, he’s had those two best friends for years and he just kind of floats through high school.  Luckily he’s now got this love to pursue and really learn and teach himself things and yes, absolutely, I think Ben is the kid who doesn’t really belong to any group.  He just kind of floats through on his own.

Question: Can you give us any hints what’s coming up for the character and take in the rest of the season or the next few shows?

Kenny: I will be very, very vague, but I will say that Ben “falls even harder” for Amy and definitely experiences trials and tribulations with her and with the entire cross section of the school. Just look for Ben really, really growing with Amy in her very difficult situation to come.

Question: Could you talk a little bit about how you feel the series is different from other teenage dramas besides the obvious pregnancy aspect.

Kenny: What I’ve noticed so far is that this show doesn’t really glorify any high school ideal, idea; it doesn’t make things appear glossy and sexy; it’s just very frank.  And it’s a very accurate cross section of what a lot of high schools look like, unfortunately.  I think that is a very individual aspect of the show, that it does not glorify sex; it’s not trying to, it doesn’t have to.  It is a little bit of a cautionary tale, which it should be in dealing with the subject matter.  You don’t see that often.  I’m really actually proud to be a part of something that is very frank, very candid and is not trying to make it look too appealing.  Do you know what I mean?

Question: What’s been your favorite part of working on this project?

Kenny: Honestly, every bit of it is just amazing.  It’s a dream job; I’ve said that before.  I’ll continue to say it.  The cast, I love them.  It really blows my mind every day how well we all get along, which I think is relatively rare in the world of TV and film.  But being able to work with the different directors, really it all boils down, for me it all boils down to the material and just really being able to flesh out this character, Ben, and it’s such an honor to do that and to collaborate with this wonderful cast.  I show up every day and I can’t call it work; I just can’t because it’s amazing.

Question: You mentioned that the cast gets along really well.  Do any of you guys hang out off screen?

Kenny: We hang out on weekends and when we have days off.  We get together very often.  Again that joke pops up all the time.  Why is this happening?  This isn’t normal; we shouldn’t be hanging out.  We should be at each other’s throats already, but who knows?  We absolutely hang out on the weekend off set all the time.

Question: Do you feel like you’re reliving your high school years through Ben?

Kenny: Absolutely.  Like I said, high school for me was a little bit different, but there are those social connections that I made that are very, very close to a lot of the relationships portrayed in the show.  I would say that a few years ago and still to this day I’m very similar to Ben.  At least I feel very similar to him quite often.  So yes, it’s interesting.  I am kind of like replaying through high school.  I’m just doing an alternate version and it’s exciting.  It’s very interesting.  Luckily I didn’t have to deal with falling in love with a pregnant girl, but of course now I’m dealing with it and like I said, this show’s very frank and candid and there’s nothing wrong with that.  He loves who he loves regardless of her journey.

Question: Do you actually shoot at a high school or are you on a sound stage?

Kenny: We have shot at Grant High in North Hollywood quite a few times.  But for the majority of the shooting are on a sound stage.

Question: So this question is taking away from discussing the show for a minute.  You mentioned, I think in response to my earlier question, your writing.  I believe I also read you’re into some of the other arts.  So I was wondering if you could elaborate a little bit on those.

Kenny: In my “free time” I really enjoy writing.  That is yet another one of my passions.  I see myself writing till the day I die.  Also I really enjoy photography.  Photography’s quite a challenge for me, which is very nice.  It’s wonderfully technical as well, which I like learning, like to pursue that side.  So between photography, writing and also I really enjoy design, graphic design, Web site design and hopefully very soon I will be starting two lines of T-shirts, which I’m designing now, talking to printers now.  I’m just trying to keep myself busy, trying to keep as well versed as possible.  But design and photography and writing, certainly, as well as acting are all passions of mine.

Question: It sounds like you keep yourself busy.  Do you think with your interests in photography and writing you might have a future behind the camera down the line?

Kenny: I wouldn’t say no to anything.  Certainly I would like to give everything a try once.  Absolutely directing and certainly writing; I’m working on that now.  Directing is kind of another class, but I would definitely, definitely, definitely love to try it all.  I’m open to everything and I would like to learn as much as possible.

Question: Are there any actors that you admire, or of whom you consider yourself a fan?

Kenny: Yes.  Probably my two favorite actors would be Daniel Day Lewis, who every time I see him perform completely blows my mind and really makes me strive to be as good as I can and work as hard as I can.  The guy’s just in a class of his own.  And of course, Leonardo DiCaprio and I also really admire his career path, too, because he has branched out into behind the scenes and starting his own production company and working on material and collaborating with directors like Scorsese for multiple projects and I really, really respect both of their career paths and all of their work.

Question: Can talk about what it’s been like working with Brenda Hampton and does she actually come to the set during filming or is she kind of off in the office somewhere just overseeing things?  How does that work?

Kenny: Brenda is very hands-on.  She is behind the camera; she is on set all the time.  I talk to her every day on the set.  She goes back to the office back and forth to write and do, of course, all of the responsible things that she has to do on the show.  But she’s very hands-on and she’s wonderful.  She has made the actors feel at home completely.  Really she’s just so nice and wonderful and creative and giving.  Like I said it just adds to the wow, this is my job?  This is what I do?  This is incredible.

Question: What’s a typical day on the set like for you?  What time do you get there and just how does your day go, a general day?

Kenny: I’d say about 70% of the time, my call time is around 6:00 a.m., which is of course a little painfully early, but no complaints here.  And you show up on set and grab a quick breakfast, you get in hair and makeup and probably within 30, 45 minutes you’re on set shooting.  And generally most of my days are finished pretty early.  I generally shoot maybe one or two hours after a half-hour to an hour lunch and I’m done.   Everyone is just so on their game on the set and really just plowing through and doing everything incredibly efficiently.  So it really rolls by quite fast.  I can’t believe I’m already on episode nine.  It’s insane; the time just flows by.

Question: Since you’re almost wrapped up what do have planned after the final episode of this season films?

Kenny: There are definitely things in the works and depending upon the network decision for the show we’ll see.  There may be more to come.  That’s of course what everyone’s hoping, but I’m not too worried about much.  I’m just going to plan on maybe taking a little breather and just spending time with family and friends and if more work comes either through this venue or another venue so be it.  But yes, I’m not too worried.  I’m just looking forward to just a little rest and relaxation with family and stuff.

Question: What would you say to or tell them someone who hasn’t seen it about the show that might bring them in as a viewer for the rest of the season?

Kenny: I would tell them that to me, this show really represents a very frank, honest cross section of American high school life.  It really is completely honest and like I said, doesn’t try to glamorize anything.  So if people are interested in seeing some really frank, candid drama then go for it.  I would love for new people to be brought into the show and of course, I totally believe and all the actors believe and everyone working on the show believes in it so give it a shot.  I’m really proud to be working on it.

Question: Would you say there are any aspects of teenage life that this show has made you learn about that you didn’t already know?

Kenny: I would say that particularly for me this show really brings to life the incredible nuance that is involved in just every day teen interaction.  As far as Teen A talks to Teen B, Teen B talks to Teen C and suddenly the whole school knows and how rumors spread, how information is spread, how various personalities deal and cope with various bits of information.  It really does remind me of just how incredibly complex the social web is at just a normal everyday high school.  And the fact that these adolescent kids have to worry about their education also have to deal with this.  It really blew my mind to realize that full circle again because you’re not very aware of it when you’re in that web.  But when you’re outside of it looking in it is really, truly so complex and socially, it’s really an incredible experience.

credit: MediaBLVD . com

Or if you saw the same fellow in the premiere episode of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and thought, “Don’t I know that guy?” you could be correct.

Kenny Baumann, the actor in question, grew up in Abilene and attended schools in the Wylie Independent School District. At age 18, Baumann has done what thousands of hopefuls dream about every day — he’s landed a regular part on a television series.

Baumann co-stars on the new cable TV series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” which debuted Tuesday on ABC Family (cable Channel 28 in Abilene).

The show revolves around a group of high school students dealing with the hormone-driven, angst-inducing challenge of growing up, including the unexpected pregnancy of character Amy Juergens (Shailene Woodley). Baumann plays Ben Boykewich, the “self-proclaimed wiseguy” who pines for her. But, rest assured, he’s not the one responsible for her plight.

“He’s a very sweet guy,” Baumann said in a telephone interview from his California home. “In the first episode, he’s really focused on (having sex) and getting in the cool crowd in high school. But then he changes his path and falls really hard for her.”

Baumann’s own path to television stardom began when he was 10 and attended a model search in Abilene. He ended up with an agent in Dallas and modeled in a number of print ads for Dillard’s and JC Penney among other companies. He also acted in plays produced by Abilene Community Theatre and the defunct Abilene Actors Guild.

When he was 14, his mother, Vicki Baumann, started taking him to Los Angeles to audition for commercials and acting roles. They came out for six weeks the first time, then two months, and then six months. Then they moved to California full-time, leaving Kenny’s father, Robert, and sister in Abilene. Kenny’s sister Demi has now followed Kenny into acting.

“It’s been hard to have the family apart,” Vicki Baumann said. “But we support our children and their passions. I just feel like we’re doing what we need to do for Kenny.”

The cross-country relocation worked. Kenny landed roles in a couple of television pilots the first episode of a new series that is shown to networks with the hopes of landing a slot on the prime time schedule. Notably, he landed a role on a proposed show starring sitcom veterans Alan Ruck (“Spin City,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”) and Kristen Johnson (“Third Rock from the Sun”), though none of Kenny’s previous pilots made it onto a network schedule.

“It’s very frustrating to put in three to four weeks (making a pilot) and not have it picked up,” he said.

But that isn’t the case with “Secret Life.” It has a guaranteed 10-episode run, which constitutes a first season on cable’s ABC Family.

“It was a relief to know I had 10 episodes to build a character and flesh him out and really get to know him,” Baumann said. “It’s a very honest, heartbreaking show. It’s hard to find that on television. It’s really frank. The material really rings true.”

The show also features a couple of actors familiar with the young adult genre. Former teen queen Molly Ringwald (“Sixteen Candles,” “Pretty in Pink”) and “Melrose Place” actress Josie Bissett also star in the show. Each has made the move to the adult roles, playing mothers of the teenage characters.

Besides working with Ringwald and Bisset, Baumann recently guest-starred on “Eli Stone.” There, he met and worked alongside Jonny Lee Miller, who plays the eponymous character and is also known as the first husband of Angelina Jolie. Baumann said the “Eli Stone” experience was so much fun, he felt depressed when it was over.

But there’s no sitting around moping for this young man.

He spends a lot of his spare time writing. He’s searching for a publisher for a book he’s written. He also helped found BRAIN (wearebrain.org), an artists’ collective, to support and encourage fellow artists, among other goals.

Baumann also counts photography among his talents. Before being cast on “Secret Life,” he took head shots of other actors. Once he got the show, he decided to put that aspect of photography aside and focus on the “fine arts” side of the medium.

He uses the word “passions” when he speaks about acting, writing and photography. Baumann likes to keep busy and plans to launch a line of T-shirts soon.

In the meantime, he can be seen on ABC Family for at least nine more episodes. But he thinks the show will be around for longer than that. Not only does “Secret Life” portray a realistic group of teenagers, the cast works well together, he said, and that tends to come across on-screen.

Baumann said he feels lucky to be a part of this cast. They often hang out together on the weekends, a situation he said they all find unusual.

“We all get along so well, we’re really baffled,” he said with a chuckle. “We don’t think that happens very often. I could do this forever. This is really a dream job.”

cred: reporternews.com