ABC Family unlocks 'Secret' of a teen hit.(American Broadcasting Companies Inc.'s The Secret Life of the American Teenager)

A BC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," easily the hottest rookie series on TV this summer, might have scored even more viewers if the network had kept the original title: "Sex Life of the American Teenager."

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That's the tongue-in-cheek comment of Brenda Hampton, the creator and executive producer of "Secret Life," who says the biggest problem with "Sex Life" in the title is that "when you Googled it, you'd call up a bunch of porno sites." ABC Family's parent, Walt Disney Co., would definitely not have approved.

But even without the exploitative title-and despite a lukewarm critical reception-"Secret Life" has generated the most eyepopping Nielsen numbers in ABC Family's history. After premiering with 2.8 million viewers July 1, the series has built its audience week after week, hitting 4.1 million Aug. 5.

In recent weeks, it has ruled as …