Make It or Break It

Gymnastics has always been one of my favorite Olympic events.

It’s fascinated me for years — from recent gold medalist and “Dancing with the Stars” champ Shawn Johnson all the way back to legends like Kerri Strug and, even though she was before my time, Nadia Comaneci.

I even tried out the sport in my younger years but, with my poor coordination, it just wasn’t meant to be.

Instead, I channeled that love into the very niche genre of gymnastics movies, like 1986’s “American Anthem” and, more recently, “Stick It.”

It’s been awhile since a fictional Olympic tale has captured our attention.

Well, friends, that drought is now over.

ABC Family’s new series “Make It Or Break It,” which premieres at 9 p.m. Monday, centers on a group of Olympic hopefuls training at a Colorado gym.

Look, by no means is this show great.

The acting is spotty among the younger set, and some of the characters fall into clichéd archetypes. But it’s still a fun show that totally taps into my fascination with the sport. It’s already been added to my DVR’s season pass.

The gym in question is the Rocky Mountain Gymnastics Training Center, where the trio of Payson Keeler, Kaylie Cruz and Lauren Tanner have always dominated when it comes time for big competitions.

But their standing is threatened when newcomer Emily Kmetko receives a scholarship to train at the elite gym after being discovered working out at a YMCA.

Lauren is your typical mean girl who, feeling threatened, tries to turn everyone against Emily and even resorts to sabotaging her new rival.

Thankfully, Kaylie and Payson aren’t reduced to simply being Lauren’s followers. Kaylie is at times, but comes around by the first episode’s end, while Payson, who has devoted her entire life to gymnastics, is quick to befriend the newbie and compliment her skills.

There’s a similar range among the girls’ parents, who are required to put in face time at practice as part of their contract with the gym.

Lauren’s father is basically a big jerk — shocking, considering his bratty daughter’s behavior. In a cool sidenote, his assistant/girlfriend is played by Candace Cameron Bure, in her first series role since ”Full House.”

Kaylie’s parents are your typical pushy stage parents, constantly setting up photo shoots and endorsement deals for her, while Emily’s single mom is flighty and irresponsible. (Emily has to take a job at a local pizza joint to help keep the family afloat; the good news is she meets a cute coworker there, and it probably won’t be long before sparks fly between them).

Payson’s parents are refreshingly real and behave the way one would hope most sports parents do.

Played by Peri Gilpin (“Frasier”) and Brett Cullen (“Lost”), the Keelers worry if they’ve done the right thing by making gymnastics their entire life. They also make Payson do chores, which I’m sure the spoiled Lauren would never even consider.

“Make It Or Break It” isn’t just about the behind-the-scenes drama; there are actually extended montages of the girls at practice and, in the pilot’s final act, an in-house competition that will determine who goes to nationals in Boston.

Then, just as I was starting to wonder where the show would go, a twist turns our overachieving gymnasts into underdogs.

The gymnastics junkie in me can’t wait to see what happens next.