| Life Unexpected | |
|---|---|
Intertitle |
|
| Also known as | Light Years Parental Discretion Advised LUX |
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | Liz Tigelaar |
| Creative director(s) | Gary Fleder |
| Starring | Britt Robertson Shiri Appleby Kristoffer Polaha Austin Basis Kerr Smith Arielle Kebbel |
| Opening theme | "Beautiful Tree" by Rain Perry |
| Composer(s) | David Baerwald Pieter A. Schlosser |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 26 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Liz Tigelaar Gary Fleder Janet Leahy |
| Location(s) | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Best Day Ever Productions Mojo Films CBS Television Studios Warner Bros. Television |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | The CW |
| Original run | January 18, 2010 – January 18, 2011 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Life Unexpected is an American television series that ran for two seasons, from 2010 to 2011.
The show premiered on The CW on Monday, January 18, 2010. The 13-episode first season run ended on April 12, 2010. The series was picked up for a second season, which premiered on September 14, 2010, airing on Tuesdays at 9/8c following One Tree Hill.[1][2]
The CW declined to order the back 9 episodes for the show's second season, leaving the season's episode count at 13.[3] On December 6, 2010, series creator, Liz Tigelaar made the TV show's cancellation official via Twitter.[4][5]
On December 3, 2010 Warner Bros. reported that the show's two seasons would be released on DVD as a "Complete Series" set; but, on December 24, 2010 this was changed and the set was renamed "The Complete 1st & 2nd Seasons."[6]
Contents |
Life Unexpected is produced by Best Day Ever Productions and Mojo Films in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television with executive producers Liz Tigelaar (Brothers and Sisters, What About Brian), Janet Leahy (Boston Legal, Gilmore Girls), and Gary Fleder (October Road). Gary Fleder directed the pilot.
The CW announced the series in January 2009 under the working title of Light Years because the main character Lux's name means Light.[7] According to Tigelaar, the title "tested way too sci-fi"[8] and it was changed to LUX (the name of one of the lead characters) in April. This was quickly changed again into Life Unexpected, but at The CW Upfronts in May, the series was promoted as Parental Discretion Advised.[9][10] That June, the network reverted to the name Life UneXpected, again highlighting the name of the main character in capital letters. Initial advertising for the series in fall 2009 listed it without the capitalized "X", which became the final version as it appears now.
While the show is set in Portland, Oregon, most of the filming is done in Vancouver, British Columbia. Scenes of Westmonte High are filmed at Sutherland Secondary School in North Vancouver and H. J. Cambie Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia. The exterior of Baze's bar is located on Granville Island and the Ironworks Building in Vancouver. North Shore Studios, formally Lionsgate, was used as the primary studio for season one while Coast Mountain Film Studios housed the show for the second and final season.[11][12]
Teenager Lux (Britt Robertson) had been through the foster care system for almost her whole life. Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby) had given birth to her while still a teen but gave her up for adoption believing a better home could be found for her. Most likely because of her heart problems as a baby, Lux was never adopted. On her 16th birthday, she decides that it's time for her to become an emancipated minor, but before that occurs, she has to get signatures from her unknown birth parents. First she encounters former High-School Football Quarterback, Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile (Kristoffer Polaha), her birth father and owner of the Open Bar. He lives a semi-fraternity boy lifestyle above the drinking establishment with two lazy roommates, and sleeps with many women. However, even when he signs the papers, Baze discovers that he is bonding with his newfound daughter, and realizes that she has his eyes. He introduces Lux to her mother Cate, co-host of the "Morning Madness" drive time show at Portland radio station K-100 and Baze's former one-night stand from high school. Lux has been listening to Cate's voice on the radio as long as she can remember, so she feels an instant connection with the mom she's never met. Baze takes Lux to meet Cate, who is shocked and saddened to learn that Lux has grown up in foster care instead of the adoption she believed would take place and is reluctant to commit to her daughter. Eventually, Cate wants to be a part of Lux's life, and she shows that she really does care. When a judge decides that Lux isn't ready for emancipation and unexpectedly grants temporary joint custody to Baze and Cate, they agree to try to get past the awkwardness. Cate, due to her job as a radio host, and the fact that she has a suitable house, is given primary custody of Lux. Ryan Thomas (Kerr Smith), her radio broadcast partner, as well as her fiance, also takes to Lux.
As the series progresses, though, Baze becomes more responsible, and works harder to get the bar and the living space above it in shape so that Lux can be able to visit and stay with him. Due to their close bond, Baze, the one that was considered to perhaps be more of a slacker, had proven that when the chips are down, he inevitably comes through for Lux, giving her support and love. Cate, despite her constantly disappointing Lux, still means well. Ryan, in some ways jealous and insecure because of Baze's constant presence in his fiancee's life, gets resentful and has physically fought Baze. Ryan, finally fed up with Baze's continual interference, breaks it off with Cate. Eventually though, Ryan and Cate reconnect, and their engagement is back on. He also relents a bit towards Baze after the two have drinks and Baze explains that all he is to Cate is the father of Lux, and nothing else. Lux has several friends from her old life, including best friend Tasha (Ksenia Solo), Lux's boyfriend Bug (Rafi Gavron), and Tasha's boyfriend Gavin (Rhys Williams). She must decide whether she can continue to have her old friends in her life as she attempts new friendships. Sometimes, Bug is known for doing things which brings him in trouble with the law, and that sometimes imperils Lux's life with Baze and Cate. Baze also incurs Cate's wrath when it is discovered that he is sleeping with her sister and Lux's aunt, Abby (Alex Breckenridge). Baze also slept with Ryan's sister Paige (Arielle Kebbel) after a drunk incident in season two.
Lux Cassidy is the main protagonist. Catherine "Cate" Cassidy-Thomas is Lux's birth mother and primary caregiver. Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile is Lux's father, who lives above the bar he owns called the Open Bar. Matthew "Math" Rogers is Baze's best friend, who lives with him and Jamie above the bar. Ryan Thomas is Cate's former morning drive-time partner on the Morning Madness radio show, as well as her fiance.
Guest stars have included Emma Caulfield, Sarah McLachlan, Pam Grier, Ben Lee, Rain Perry, Kate Voegele, Bethany Joy Galeotti, Jaime Ray Newman, Krista Allen, Shanica Knowles, and Keegan Connor Tracy.
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Won | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Breakout Show | Life Unexpected |
In an attempt to improve Life Unexpected's ratings by attracting One Tree Hill viewers, The CW aired a crossover event involving both programs on October 12, 2010.[13] Beginning with One Tree Hill installment "Nobody Taught Us to Quit", Haley James Scott (Bethany Joy Galeotti) and Mia Catalano (Kate Voegele) traveled to Portland (where Life Unexpected is set) to perform at the Sugar Magnolia Music Festival hosted by K-100. Haley and Cate meet in the crossover and are "surprised to learn that they share a similar back story [as] mothers." "Music Faced," the Life Unexpected episode of the crossover, also featured Sarah McLachlan, Ben Lee and Rain Perry whose song "Beautiful Tree" serves as the series' opening theme.
Life Unexpected scored a 69 out of 100 on Metacritic.[14] The series has garnered mostly positive feedback, with many reviews favorably comparing the show to the critically acclaimed series Gilmore Girls and Everwood.[15][16][17][18][19] Maureen Ryan, from the Chicago Tribune, stated that the show "recall[s] the good things about shows like Gilmore Girls and Everwood,"[17] and similarly, Hank Stuever from The Washington Post called it "a pleasant mix of a little Juno hipitude and a lot of Everwood glow."[18] Furthermore, the Chicago Tribune review called Life Unexpected a program "that parents and their older kids could enjoy together without feeling condescended to,"[17] and The Boston Globe's Matthew Gilbert states that "the show works, in its own hokey, feel-good, alt-soundtrack way."[20]
Show writer Liz Tigelaar (who has also worked on Brothers & Sisters, American Dreams, and Once and Again),[21] has received much praise. A review in the Los Angeles Times called Tigelaar's writing smart and insightful.[19] Similarly, Randee Dawn, from The Hollywood Reporter stated that Tigelaar "has a delicate, spot-on feel for dialogue."[22] The Futon Critic's Brian Ford Sullivan singled out writer Liz Tigelaar and director Gary Fleder for adeptly exploring Lux's perceived lack of love in her life.[23]
On a negative note, a review in the Chicago Sun Times by Paige Wiser called the show "somewhat predictable"[16] and The Post's Stuever adds that Life Unexpected "burns off its most interesting plot twist [...] in the first 20 minutes."[18]
| Season | Timeslot | Original Airing | Rank | Viewers (in millions) |
Network | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Premiere | Season Finale | TV Season | |||||
| 1 | Monday 9/8c January 18 – March 1 Monday 8/7c March 8 – April 12 |
January 18, 2010 | April 12, 2010 | 2009–2010 | #136[24] | 2.01[24] | The CW |
| 2 | Tuesday 9/8c | September 14, 2010[25] | January 18, 2011[26] | 2010–2011 | #140 | 1.50[27] | |
| Country | Network | Premiere Date | Title Life Unexpected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | AXN Happy TV |
April 6, 2010 (AXN) October, 2010 (Happy TV) and November 28, 2011 (rerun) |
Neočekivani život |
| Croatia | AXN | April 6, 2010 | Neočekivani život |
| Slovenia | Nepričakovano življenje | ||
| Bulgaria | Превратностите на живота | ||
| Hungary | Derült égből család | ||
| Macedonia | Ново семејство | ||
| Czech Republic | Změna je život | ||
| Brazil | LIV | April 12, 2010[28] | Life Unexpected |
| El Salvador | Telecorporación Salvadoreña | TBA | |
| Canada | Radio-Canada | ||
| Canada | YTV Canada (September 2010) | ||
| France | Canal+ Family | November 7, 2010 | |
| Italy | Rai 2 | October 2, 2010 | |
| Ireland | RTÉ Two | August 2011 | |
| Honduras | Canal 11 | TBA | |
| Germany | sixx | January 4, 2011 | |
| Denmark | DR HD | 2011 | |
| Norway | TV 2 Bliss | October 2010 | |
| Turkey | Dizimax | June 2010 | |
| Spain | FactoríaDeFicción | ||
| Hong Kong | Hallmark Channel Asia | June 17, 2010 | |
| Singapore | |||
| Malaysia | |||
| Indonesia | |||
| Philippines | Hallmark Channel Philippines | ||
| Velvet | September 2010 | ||
| Netherlands | RTL 5 | ||
| Israel | HOT3 | April 22, 2010 | חיים בלתי צפויים |
| Romania | AXN | April 24, 2010[29] | Viaţă Neaşteptată |
| Poland | nVOD | April 12, 2010 | Nieoczekiwana szansa |
| Portugal | Fox Life | August 11, 2010 | Vida Inesperada |
| United Kingdom | E4 | September 19, 2010 , Season 2 Daily from Thursday 27th January 2011 15.25 | Life Unexpected |
| Ireland | RTÉ Two | July 2011 | Life Unexpected |
| Cyprus | RIK 2 | ||
| Estonia | Kanal 11 | April 7, 2011 | Elu keerdkäigud |
| Russia | SET (Russia) | May 4, 2011[30] | Жизнь непредсказуема |
| Peru | |||
| Slovakia | JOJ | May 8, 2011 | Zmena je život |
| Australia | Network Ten | November 5, 2011 | Life Unexpected |