So Beautiful It Hurts: The Making of My So-Called Life

By Aaron Berman

Relive the Cult-Classic TV show My So-Called Life with cast and crew interviews for the first time ever, reuniting to discuss the teenage drama that shaped a generation with a FULL COLOR book.

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)

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GQSMXYW8
• ISBN13: 9798993203102
• Release Date: November 2026
• Publisher: Fayetteville Mafia Press
• Length: 250 Pages