Life Unexpected
Encyclopedia
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
.
The CW declined to order the back 9 episodes for the show's second season, leaving the season's episode count at 13. On December 6, 2010, series creator, Liz Tigelaar made the TV show's cancellation official via Twitter
.
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."
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. According to Tigelaar, the title "tested way too sci-fi" 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 Upfront
s in May, the series was promoted as Parental Discretion Advised. 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.
) 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.
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
.
viewers, The CW
aired a crossover event involving both programs on October 12, 2010. 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
.
. The series has garnered mostly positive feedback, with many reviews favorably comparing the show to the critically acclaimed series Gilmore Girls
and Everwood
. Maureen Ryan, from the Chicago Tribune
, stated that the show "recall[s] the good things about shows like Gilmore Girls and Everwood," and similarly, Hank Stuever from The Washington Post
called it "a pleasant mix of a little Juno
hipitude and a lot of Everwood glow." Furthermore, the Chicago Tribune review called Life Unexpected a program "that parents and their older kids could enjoy together without feeling condescended to," and The Boston Globe
s Matthew Gilbert states that "the show works, in its own hokey, feel-good, alt-soundtrack way."
Show writer Liz Tigelaar (who has also worked on Brothers & Sisters, American Dreams
, and Once and Again
), has received much praise. A review in the Los Angeles Times
called Tigelaar's writing smart and insightful. Similarly, Randee Dawn, from The Hollywood Reporter
stated that Tigelaar "has a delicate, spot-on feel for dialogue." The Futon Critics Brian Ford Sullivan singled out writer Liz Tigelaar and director Gary Fleder for adeptly exploring Lux's perceived lack of love in her life.
On a negative note, a review in the Chicago Sun Times by Paige Wiser called the show "somewhat predictable" and The Posts Stuever adds that Life Unexpected "burns off its most interesting plot twist [...] in the first 20 minutes."
The show premiered on The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
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
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
.
The CW declined to order the back 9 episodes for the show's second season, leaving the season's episode count at 13. On December 6, 2010, series creator, Liz Tigelaar made the TV show's cancellation official via Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
.
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."
Production
Life Unexpected is produced by Best Day Ever Productions and Mojo Films in association with CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. TelevisionWarner Bros. Television
Warner Bros. Television is the television production arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment, itself part of Time Warner. Alongside CBS Television Studios, it serves as a television production arm of The CW Television Network , though it also produces shows for other networks, such as Shameless on...
with executive producers Liz Tigelaar
Liz Tigelaar
Liz Tigelaar is an American television writer, producer and author. She has worked on the series Brothers & Sisters, Melrose Place, American Dreams, and Once and Again. In 2010, she created and executive produced The CW series Life Unexpected. Until its cancellation in January 2011.Tigelaar has...
(Brothers and Sisters, What About Brian
What About Brian
What About Brian is an American comedy-drama television series created by Dana Stevens and co-produced by J.J. Abrams' company Bad Robot Productions. The series premiered on April 16, 2006, on ABC, as a midseason replacement and concluded on March 26, 2007...
), Janet Leahy (Boston Legal
Boston Legal
Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC...
, Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
), and Gary Fleder
Gary Fleder
Gary Fleder is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His most recently completed film, The Express, is based on the true story of football player Ernie Davis, and was released by Universal Pictures in October 2008....
(October Road
October Road (TV series)
October Road is an American television drama that debuted on ABC on March 15, 2007 following Grey's Anatomy. It follows Nick Garrett , who after a decade returns to his hometown, the fictional Knights Ridge, Massachusetts.The series is produced by ABC Studios and GroupM Entertainment; the latter is...
). 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. According to Tigelaar, the title "tested way too sci-fi" 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 Upfront
Upfront
In the North American television industry, an upfront is a meeting hosted at the start of important advertising sales periods by television network executives, attended by the press and major advertisers...
s in May, the series was promoted as Parental Discretion Advised. 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
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, most of the filming is done in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia. Scenes of Westmonte High are filmed at Sutherland Secondary School
Sutherland Secondary School
Sutherland Secondary School, is a public high school in North Vancouver, British Columbia and part of School District 44 North Vancouver.Sutherland Secondary School was at one time a junior high school. At the time, many students then went on to Carson Graham Secondary or Argyle Secondary...
in North Vancouver
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
and H. J. Cambie Secondary School
H. J. Cambie Secondary School
H. J. Cambie Secondary is a public high school in Richmond, British Columbia part of School District 38 Richmond. Cambie was the first secondary school in Richmond. When it first started in 1928, it was known as Richmond High. Later on it changed its name to Henry James Cambie Secondary School...
in Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
. The exterior of Baze's bar is located on Granville Island
Granville Island
Granville Island is a peninsula and shopping district in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located in False Creek directly across from Downtown Vancouver's peninsula, under the south end of the Granville Street Bridge....
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.
Plot
Teenager Lux (Britt Robertson) had been through the foster care system for almost her whole life. Cate Cassidy (Shiri ApplebyShiri Appleby
Shiri Freda Appleby is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her leading role as Liz Parker in the television series Roswell...
) 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
Emancipation of minors
An emancipated minor is a minor who is allowed to conduct a business or any other occupation on their own behalf or for their own account outside the influence of a parent or guardian. The minor will then have full contractual capacity to conclude contract with regard to the business. Whether...
, 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
Kristoffer Polaha
Kristoffer Caleb "Kris" Polaha is an American film and television actor who starred on the Fox TV series North Shore. He recently played Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile on the CW series Life Unexpected....
), 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
Drive time
Drive time is the daypart analog to prime time for radio broadcasting. It consists of the morning hours when listeners wake up, get ready, and/or head to work or school, and the afternoon hours when they are heading home and before their evening meal. These are the periods where the number of...
show at Portland radio station K-100 and Baze's former one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
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
Kerr Smith
Kerr Van Cleve Smith is an American actor best known for playing Jack McPhee on The WB drama series Dawson's Creek, Kyle Brody in The WB's, supernatural drama, Charmed and more recently Axel Palmer in My Bloody Valentine 3D...
), 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
Ksenia Solo
Ksenia Solo is a Latvian-born Canadian actress, best known for her roles as Tasha on Life Unexpected and as Kenzi on Lost Girl.- Career :...
), Lux's boyfriend Bug (Rafi Gavron
Rafi Gavron
Raphael Pichey "Rafi" Gavron is a British actor, known for his roles in the Anthony Minghella romantic-drama film Breaking and Entering , and the 2008 movies Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and the fantasy Inkheart....
), and Tasha's boyfriend Gavin (Rhys Williams
Rhys Williams (Canadian actor)
Rhys Williams is an actor and stunt performer who was born August 24, 1983 in Calgary, Alberta. During 2010, he appeared as Gavin in three episodes of the CW TV series Life Unexpected....
). 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
Alex Breckenridge
Alexandra "Alex" Breckenridge is an American film and television actress, photographer and voice artist. Noted for her role as Willa McPherson on the television series Dirt, she also had a supporting role on the short lived series The Ex List...
). Baze also slept with Ryan's sister Paige (Arielle Kebbel
Arielle Kebbel
Arielle Caroline Kebbel is an American model and actress. Arielle is perhaps best known for her roles in films such as American Pie Presents: Band Camp, John Tucker Must Die, Vampires Suck, and Aquamarine, as well as TV series including The Vampire Diaries, Gilmore Girls, and Life Unexpected, on...
) after a drunk incident in season two.
Cast and characters
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
Emma Caulfield
Emma Caulfield is an American actress best known for her role as ex-demon Anya Jenkins on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as Susan Keats, a love interest of Brandon Walsh's on the television series Beverly Hills, 90210.-Early life:Emma Caulfield was born Emma Chukker in San...
, Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, Pam Grier
Pam Grier
Pamela Suzette "Pam" Grier is an American actress. She became famous in the early 1970s, after starring in a string of moderately successful women in prison and blaxploitation films such as 1974's Foxy Brown. Her career was revitalized in 1997 after her appearance in Quentin Tarantino's film...
, Ben Lee
Ben Lee
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
, Rain Perry
Rain Perry
Rain Perry is a folk-rock singer/songwriter. Her song "Beautiful Tree" was the theme song for the CW Network series Life Unexpected. "Yosemite," her celebration of the pains of growing up, won the Grand Prize in the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest and has been recorded by Tom Russell and...
, Kate Voegele
Kate Voegele
Kate Elizabeth Voegele is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress. She is signed to Interscope Records. She is also known for her part as Mia Catalano in the CW TV series One Tree Hill.-Career:...
, Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti is an American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer.Galeotti is best known for her on screen portrayals of Michelle Bauer Santos on Guiding Light and Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill...
, Jaime Ray Newman
Jaime Ray Newman
Jaime Ray Newman is an American actress and singer. Newman is best known for starring as Kristina Cassadine in soap opera General Hospital, as Kat Gardener in ABC's Eastwick, and as Dr. Tess Fontana in Syfy's Eureka....
, Krista Allen
Krista Allen
Krista Allen is an American actress. She is best known for her work in the television series Days of Our Lives, Baywatch Hawaii, and What About Brian; and in the Hollywood films Liar Liar, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Anger Management, and The Final Destination...
, Shanica Knowles
Shanica Knowles
Shanica Channell Knowles is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Amber Addison on Hannah Montana.-Acting career:...
, and Keegan Connor Tracy
Keegan Connor Tracy
Keegan Connor Tracy is a Canadian actress known for her roles as the ill-fated Kat Jennings in Final Destination 2 and Dawn/Molly in Blackwoods .She was born in Sarnia, Ontario...
.
Awards
| Year | Result | Award | Category | Recipient(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Won | Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with... |
Choice TV Breakout Show | Life Unexpected |
One Tree Hill crossover
In an attempt to improve Life Unexpecteds ratings by attracting One Tree HillOne Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
viewers, The CW
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
aired a crossover event involving both programs on October 12, 2010. Beginning with One Tree Hill installment "Nobody Taught Us to Quit", Haley James Scott
Haley James Scott
Haley Bob James Scott is a fictional character on The CW television series One Tree Hill, portrayed by Bethany Joy Galeotti. Haley is initially introduced as Lucas Scott's best friend and eventual sister-in-law after her marriage to Nathan Scott in her junior year of high school...
(Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti
Bethany Joy Galeotti is an American actress, musician, director, writer, and producer.Galeotti is best known for her on screen portrayals of Michelle Bauer Santos on Guiding Light and Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill...
) and Mia Catalano (Kate Voegele
Kate Voegele
Kate Elizabeth Voegele is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actress. She is signed to Interscope Records. She is also known for her part as Mia Catalano in the CW TV series One Tree Hill.-Career:...
) 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
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, Ben Lee
Ben Lee
Benjamin Michael "Ben" Lee is an ARIA Award winning musician and actor. Lee began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, but focused on his solo career when the band broke up in 1995. He appeared as the protagonist in the Australian film The Rage in Placid Lake...
and Rain Perry
Rain Perry
Rain Perry is a folk-rock singer/songwriter. Her song "Beautiful Tree" was the theme song for the CW Network series Life Unexpected. "Yosemite," her celebration of the pains of growing up, won the Grand Prize in the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest and has been recorded by Tom Russell and...
whose song "Beautiful Tree" serves as the series' opening theme
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
.
Critical reception
Life Unexpected scored a 69 out of 100 on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. The series has garnered mostly positive feedback, with many reviews favorably comparing the show to the critically acclaimed series Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
and Everwood
Everwood
Everwood is an American drama television series that initially aired in the United States on The WB. The series is set in the fictional small town of Everwood, Colorado, and was filmed in Ogden, South Salt Lake, and Draper, Utah, except the series pilot which was filmed in Canmore, Alberta,...
. Maureen Ryan, from the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, stated that the show "recall[s] the good things about shows like Gilmore Girls and Everwood," and similarly, Hank Stuever from The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
called it "a pleasant mix of a little Juno
Juno
- Astronomy and space exploration :* 3 Juno, an asteroid** Juno clump, a probable asteroid family in the vicinity of 3 Juno* Juno , a NASA mission to Jupiter* Juno I, a satellite launch vehicle* Project Juno, a private British space programme...
hipitude and a lot of Everwood glow." Furthermore, the Chicago Tribune review called Life Unexpected a program "that parents and their older kids could enjoy together without feeling condescended to," and The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
s Matthew Gilbert states that "the show works, in its own hokey, feel-good, alt-soundtrack way."
Show writer Liz Tigelaar (who has also worked on Brothers & Sisters, American Dreams
American Dreams
American Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios...
, and Once and Again
Once and Again
Once and Again is an American television series that aired on ABC from September 21, 1999 to April 15, 2002. It depicts the family of a single mother and her romance with a single father...
), has received much praise. A review in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
called Tigelaar's writing smart and insightful. Similarly, Randee Dawn, from The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
stated that Tigelaar "has a delicate, spot-on feel for dialogue." The Futon Critics Brian Ford Sullivan singled out writer Liz Tigelaar and director Gary Fleder for adeptly exploring Lux's perceived lack of love in her life.
On a negative note, a review in the Chicago Sun Times by Paige Wiser called the show "somewhat predictable" and The Posts Stuever adds that Life Unexpected "burns off its most interesting plot twist [...] in the first 20 minutes."
U.S. Nielsen ratings
| 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 |
2009–2010 | #136 | 2.01 | The CW The CW Television Network The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB... |
||
| 2 | Tuesday 9/8c | 2010–2011 | #140 | 1.50 | |||
International distribution
| Country | Network | Premiere Date | Title Life Unexpected |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXN AXN AXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America... Happy TV Happy TV Happy TV is a Serbian television network with national frequency. It started as a children's television, then got national coverage, which it broadcasted across Serbia in time-sharing with TV Košava, who it later came together and made a one television.... |
April 6, 2010 (AXN) October, 2010 (Happy TV) and November 28, 2011 (rerun) |
Neočekivani život | |
| AXN AXN AXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America... |
April 6, 2010 | Neočekivani život | |
| Nepričakovano življenje | |||
| Превратностите на живота | |||
| Derült égből család | |||
| Ново семејство | |||
| Změna je život | |||
| LIV People+Arts Liv is an entertainment television channel in Latin America. It is jointly owned by Discovery Communications.The channel was launched in October 1997 as the local version of Travel Channel... |
April 12, 2010 | Life Unexpected | |
| Telecorporación Salvadoreña | TBA | ||
| Radio-Canada | |||
| YTV Canada (September 2010) | |||
| Canal+ Family Canal+ Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted... |
November 7, 2010 | ||
| Rai 2 | October 2, 2010 | ||
| RTÉ Two RTÉ Two RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of... |
August 2011 | ||
| Canal 11 Canal 11 (Honduras) Canal 11 is a television station in Honduras.-External links:**... |
TBA | ||
| sixx Sixx sixx is a German commercial television station specialised for women. The channel is distributed via cable and satellite and was launched on 7 May 2010 at 20:15.- Current Foreign series :* 90210* Brothers & Sisters... |
January 4, 2011 | ||
| TV 2 Bliss TV 2 Bliss TV 2 Bliss is a Norwegian television channel designed for a mostly female audience.... |
October 2010 | ||
| Dizimax DiziMax DiziMax is a series of Satellite television channels available on Turkish satellite television provider Digiturk. It consists of DiziMax, DiziMax HD, and DiziMaxMore and is available on Sinema Paketi .... |
June 2010 | ||
| FactoríaDeFicción | |||
| Hallmark Channel Asia Hallmark Channel (Asia) Diva Universal is an Asian cable and satellite television channel owned and operated by Universal Networks International. It has been available on most subscription television cable and Satellite platforms in Asia since 1 January 2008.-Operating Channels:... |
June 17, 2010 | ||
| Hallmark Channel Philippines | |||
| Velvet Velvet (TV channel) Velvet is a women-targeted general entertainment channel, owned by Creative Programs, Inc., an subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. It is currently on SkyCable channel 53.-Channel Information:... |
September 2010 | ||
| RTL 5 RTL 5 RTL 5 is the 2nd channel of the RTL Group in the Netherlands. The channel mainly broadcasts American films and hit series but also local productions including Jensen! and Holland's Next Top Model, a Dutch version of America's Next Top Model. RTL 5 recently started airing the Dutch version of... |
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| HOT3 | April 22, 2010 | חיים בלתי צפויים | |
| AXN AXN AXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America... |
April 24, 2010 | Viaţă Neaşteptată | |
| nVOD N (Poland) n is a Polish DTH platform. It was launched on October 12, 2006 and is owned by ITI Neovision. On June 30, 2011 the company had reached 826,000 subscribers.- Channels :There are currently:* 94 encrypted channels... |
April 12, 2010 | Nieoczekiwana szansa | |
| Fox Life Fox Life Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... |
August 11, 2010 | Vida Inesperada | |
| E4 E4 E4, E.IV or E-4 may refer to:In entertainment:* E4 , a digital television channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland* Every Extend Extra Extreme a video game from Q Entertainment* Entertainment for All video game expo... |
September 19, 2010 , Season 2 Daily from Thursday 27th January 2011 15.25 | Life Unexpected | |
| RTÉ Two RTÉ Two RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of... |
July 2011 | Life Unexpected | |
| RIK 2 | |||
| Kanal 11 Kanal 11 Kanal 11 is an Estonian TV channel. It is owned by the Kanal 2 company. The name of the channel is derived from a play on words; in the Estonian language, "Üksteist", the word for eleven, also means "each other"... |
April 7, 2011 | Elu keerdkäigud | |
| SET (Russia) | May 4, 2011 | Жизнь непредсказуема | |
| JOJ | May 8, 2011 | Zmena je život | |
| Network Ten Network Ten Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country... |
November 5, 2011 | Life Unexpected |