Life Unexpected - Season 1 & 2 [US] [** Spoilers**]

Richard Dower

Woot! , The CW's new mid season show Life Unexpected has been slated for a January 2010 broadcast, the show has received positive critical feedback from reviewers and bloggers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_UneXpected

You'll find a 5 minute promo on Youtube if you dare to indulge; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np_h7RW6lzc

The CW normally orders 13 ep., lets hope this show hits and is as good as the hype!

mikom

I get the feeling this is gonna be like a handbag full of rainbows.

Richard Dower

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_UneXpected

Read the reviews, it's all positive.

Richard Dower

It starts January 18th on The CW: http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/11/11/how-the-cw-will-shuffle-gossip-girl-and-one-tree-hill-when-life-unexpected-premieres-on-jan-18/33396

Richard Dower

http://popwatch.ew.com/2009/11/10/life-unexpected/

JP Liz

Shiri Appleby playing a mother :rolleyes:

Richard Dower

Loving all the positive buzz for this show!!

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/life-unexpected/life-unexpected-is-very-wb-33152.aspx

Life UneXpected, it adds, is the "sappiest and the smartest show to come out the netlet to date" because it is "effortlessly charming, stunningly empathetic and an all around a joy to watch."

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/tubetalk/a190227/2010-tv-preview-life-unexpected.html

Richard Dower

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/12/16/change-for-the-good-life-unexpected-now-life-unexpected/36513

LOL!....it's had a slight name change, but i'll still refer to it as LUX!

Richard Dower

Few more info links, interviews with the cast, DVD screeners of the pilot have been sent out for review, it's getting alot of critical praise from reviewers!

http://danielletbd.blogspot.com/2009/12/liz-tigelaars-leading-men-talk-life.html

http://www.daemonstv.com/2009/12/15/life-unexpected-on-the-cw-first-look/

http://lifeunexpected.co.cc/

Possible Spoilers!: http://www.fanforum.com/f15/life-unexpected-1-because-potential-awesome-62914070/[/url

Richard Dower

Few more tidbits about LUX, i deem myself to be unofficial Irish promoter to the show :-)

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/life-unexpected/life-unexpected-star-lots-of-s-33450.aspx

**severe spoilers*** --> review of the first three episodes, DVD screeners were sent out:

http://teendramawhore.com/2009/12/21/life-unexpected/

Richard Dower

Official website, also note that `Being Erica`'s Erin Karpluck will be a cast member!

http://cwlifeunexpected.com/

Richard Dower

Life Unexpected listed as top ten "must see" tv for 2010, includes positive review:

http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b159752_top_10_tv_premieres_in_2010_life.html

Richard Dower

New article: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100102/ENTERTAINMENT10/1020302/1005/entertainment/The-CW-s-Life-Unexpected-delivers-flawed-real-characters

YT has lots of tv spots and promo videos as well, but personally i am voiding such as i wanna watch it all fresh.....Shiny, will you be watching it? :-)

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/life-unexpected

JP Liz

Rich you have converted me and now i will def check it out

Richard Dower

JP Liz wrote: »

Rich you have converted me and now i will def check it out

YES! ...now if i can win over Elmo and Basquille it'll be a victory for tweens everwhere :P

S.M.B.

You're making me not want to watch it with all your posts.

Conor108

JP Liz wrote: »

Rich you have converted me and now i will def check it out

+1

Looks quite good! Also Shiri Appleby is hot. I'll watch:)

Richard Dower

WOO WOO!!!.....two days to go!, well excited...just hope it lives upto the hype.

Basquille, can you please modify the thread title? "Life Unexpected Season 1 [US] **spoilers** etc., this will be the primary LUX thread from now on....and you *know* i'll be posting away.

I hope you guys give it a shot, it's not typical CW girlie stuff, it's been acclaimed for it's old skool WB vibe in the vein of shows such as Gilmore Girls/Felicity/Everwood etc.

Just give it a shot, don't just dismiss it as CW crap....

pickarooney

Ok, if my some miracle this is watchable it goes straight into the thread below on surprisingly watchable shows.

Richard Dower

Under 24 hours to go!....i'm gonna ask the regular/respected posters to please watch it and post your thoughts, thank you.

Richard Dower

Almost here people!

Richard Dower

Life Unexpected posts solid opning numbers:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/19/new-cw-hit-life-unexpected-scores-largest-audience-in-hour-in-over-a-year/39316

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/19/tv-ratings-cbs-wins-how-i-met-your-mother-hits-season-highs-life-unexpected-premieres-solidly/39266

What did you guys think?....i really liked it, but gonna watch it again before posting a full review.

S.M.B.

Going to check it out now. Heard it's solid enough for what it is but I'm not sure it's my thing.

We will see I guess.

Richard Dower

I watched it three times now, the critical and viewer reviews have all been positive, "charming" is a word i see alot to describe it....and i agree. The basic premise is nothing new, but i think what sets it apart is the high quality acting and humour. It had alot of genuinely funny moments.

The chemistry and banter between Cate and Nate is great and very teen like, they seem to regress back to their high school days when they interact. Lux is a very charming girl with alot of snarky banter. She's quite mature for her years and despite her upbringing seems rather stable.

Liz Tegelaar pilot script is tight and well thought out, you're introduced to all the main characters quickly and the setup gets dealth with quickly....while alot of things do get wrapped up in the first ep. it dosen't feel rushed.

I definately got that old WB vibe from the show, a show with a bit of meat, not the usual CW fluff, it's got solid acting and a premise and characters with alot of plot potential as the series moves forward. With a 13 ep. order and a primetime slot and with the obvious backing of The CW one hopes it's numbers stay strong.

I think it will, it's target demographic i think will increase further as word spreads, if it can stay in the 2.5-3 million range has has strong 18-34 women demo numbers i feel it's a shoe in for a season 2.

It's early days though, i'd say myself Melrose Place will be cancelled and as such a slot opens up. Shirri Appelby and Brit Robbertson are very well cast, the support actors all seem fine as well, you've got a group of very likable characters that with good scripting and direction can only strenghten the show.

4/5.

Mr E

Sounds good, Rich... worth a look.

iguana

I've only seen the promo but why exactly did the white, blond, blue-eyed baby fail to get adopted? There would have been a list a mile long to adopt a baby of her description.

JP Liz wrote: »

Shiri Appleby playing a mother :rolleyes:

Well she is 31, so if she had the baby at 15 it's plausible. Though she'd have to have been knocked up at 14.

Basq

Good review Rich, but...

Richard Dower wrote: »

.. not the usual CW fluff..

This from someone who watches practically the entire CW schedule?!

Mr E

basquille wrote: »

This from someone who watches practically the entire CW schedule?!

He means Supernatural, Brian. Duh!

Richard Dower

iguana wrote: »

I've only seen the promo but why exactly did the white, blond, blue-eyed baby fail to get adopted? There would have been a list a mile long to adopt a baby of her description.



Well she is 31, so if she had the baby at 15 it's plausible. Though she'd have to have been knocked up at 14.

Why wasn't Lux adopted was explained in the pilot, she had a hole in the heart when she was born (which Cate didn't know about) she had multiple surgeries until she was 3, by that time she was hardly a brand spanky new baby that couples want to adopt.

Shiri....if you see the pilot she looks quite old, it shocked me as Shiri's youthful looks seem to have left the building.....you'd buy her as 31 and a mom

iguana

Richard Dower wrote: »

Shiri....if you see the pilot she looks quite old, it shocked me as Shiri's youthful looks seem to have left the building.....you'd buy her as 31 and a mom

Yeah but she is 31, looking 31 at 31 isn't a bad thing. I was born on the same day as Shiri Appleby.

Richard Dower

basquille wrote: »

Good review Rich, but...


This from someone who watches practically the entire CW schedule?!

Well most of the CW schedule is dismissed as fluff - GG/OTH/MP/90210/TVD etc.

When i say "meat" i mean it's got a bit more then the "lets create a show targeted at the 12-18 year old daddy credit card carrying white mallrat"

Richard Dower

iguana wrote: »

Yeah but she is 31, looking 31 at 31 isn't a bad thing. I was born on the same day as Shiri Appleby.

Shiri is still hot, just not that super cute girl i remember on Roswell....the march of time effects us all i guess.

I wanted to add as well, you know it's a good show when you get the sense the actors enjoy being part of the show, that they get on off screen, that they belive in the show....i got that watching LUX.

Basq

Yeah.. I enjoyed it.

Decent performances all round (particularly the three leads - Appleby, Polaha and Robertson, although Kerr Smith will always be "that gay lad from Dawson's Creek").

The script was a long way away from a Sherman-Palladino script (at their best), but the dialogue felt fresh and natural.. which is something I don't associate with The CW (besides 'Supernatural' obviously whose writing just gets stronger each season).

The one point that I have to disagree with Richard with is I did think the pilot felt slightly rushed. In the pilot, we get:

a) an introduction to a child in unhealty foster care
b) a woman and man on radio, who are subsequently in a relationship
c) a man who has regular one night stands, who is the father introduced child. Cue shock and subsequent brief bonding.
d) the woman and man on radio are moving in together, and get engaged. Woman gets called from man in point c. Oh.. cue nervous reaction from woman.
e) man and newly-discovered-daughter now bond and find mother
f) we get a brief exposition in a car ride on the problems the child had in the past.. and cue a weeping regretful mother.

..

And this is all within the first 15 - 20 minutes.. it did feel a tad rushed.. not necessarily a bad thing but it was a tad jarring.

Anyways, I'd recommend it. It's not gonna change your life but it's certainly engaging and well-written enough to be worth your time.

We'll see how the show develops in time..

Richard Dower

I conceed they did pack the first 20 mins with the whole plot, but i said it didn't "feel" rushed, not to say they didn't give you everything in 15-20 mins but that i didn't feel like i did with the first ep. of `V` which was very rushed.

They fleshed out certain scenes enough to give you a feeling of pace.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/20/life-unexpected-weathers-the-cw-repeat-gap/39340

iguana

Richard Dower wrote: »

Shiri is still hot, just not that super cute girl i remember on Roswell....the march of time effects us all i guess.

Considering the fact that Appleby was the same age when Roswell began as the woman playing Lux is now I think she looks good. I'd say the main issue is that she's dropped a dress size or two since then and it doesn't suit her.

Richard Dower

Final numbers are in; 2.83 million, very strong demo numbers....the repeat showing also had excellent numbers. The reviews universally have all been positive.

If you Google Life Unexpected and click news you'll see near a hundread critic reviews and blogs, they are all universally positive, spent some time reading them and the comments sections.....i think this show has a very good chance at success.

In fact, many reviewers say ep. 2/3 are actually much better then the pilot....they got DVD screeners of the first three eps.

Hope more of you guys give it a shot, i suspect TG4 and E4 will pick up this show.

Mr E

I was expecting the worst, but I really liked it. Good performances all round. As said before, it was a bit rushed (might have been better as a 90 min double episode leading up to the birthday). I'm going to keep watching.

How long before

Cate announces her next pregnancy? Bound to happen, right?

Could have done without the maudlin soundtrack though....

Richard Dower

^ glad you liked it Mr E. - now i need to get Shinny on board! :-)
Some of the episode titles are gas! "Bong Intercepted" ...ha!

Richard Dower

Second ep. dropped...if i'm honest, i didn't think it was as good as the first. Less charm and the introduction of Lux's friends didn't add a whole lot. Not as funny as last week, but i did think the blow up sheep bit was hilarious!

It was good, but just seemed a little unfocused and less charming as the pilot. They did actually mention the fact Lux is blonde born to dark hair parents...also addressed was Cate having a new hairstyle with a comedic touch....nice.

Still solid, but i do wonder if we'll see a drop in numbers this week, not sure...word of mouth may add to ratings based on the pilot. I'll be keeping an eye on ratings as the season progresses.

The chemistry between Nate and Cate is still strong, he's still a kid and she wants him to grow up and take responsiblity, but she's just as inept. - that opening sequence of her cooking breakfast was funny :-)

Did anyone notice Lux's boyfriend was called Bug?....Hughes/Uncle Buck refrence?

JP Liz V1

I enjoyed the first episode

Richard Dower

I had a feeling this would happen!:

Over on the CW, week two of Life Unexpected was down nearly 17 percent from its premiere to a 1.0 adults 18-49 rating and down nearly 22% with total viewers. It was fourth for the hour with CW’s target demogrpahic of women 18-34 (1.9 rating) besting NBC’s Heroes (1.2) by a wide margin, though still down nearly 21% even in that demographic versus last week’s premiere.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/26/tv-ratings-fox-wins-night-castle-sees-highs-chuck-steady/40154


Glad you like it JP, let us know what you thought of the second.

Richard Dower

Did anyone notice the new theme song in ep. 2? - well here is the full song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjX4XiExpA

It's actually a rather funky little number!

Richard Dower

Inflatable sheep!!!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sExMv9p7n0s

Richard Dower

Can LUX survive? - http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/26/can-life-unexpected-expect-to-survive/40184

Basq

Richard Dower wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhjX4XiExpA

It's actually a rather funky little number!

I haven't heard a more nauseating theme tune since 'Gilmore Girls'.. don't get me wrong, I love 'Gilmore Girls' but the theme tune was revolting.

Might watch episode 2.

Richard Dower

I liked it...to each his own, but...i prefered the pilot theme/intro.

iguana

The second episode was poor. It felt like a made for tv movie of the week.

basquille wrote: »

I haven't heard a more nauseating theme tune since 'Gilmore Girls'.. don't get me wrong, I love 'Gilmore Girls' but the theme tune was revolting.

The Gilmore Girls theme tune coupled with the fact that RTE aired it in the off-season Seventh Heaven slot ensured that I never watched it until last year. "Working" from home and E4 however let me see what I'd missed.

S.M.B.

Me Uninterested

Richard Dower

New Britt Robertson interview (may contain spoilers):

http://www.teentelevision.com/2010/01/29/exclusive-interview-britt-robertson-of-life-unexpe#comments

Richard Dower

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/02/02/tv-ratings-cbs-wins-night-as-the-big-bang-theory-tops-all-chuck-steady-ish/40807

CW Life Unexpected 1.0/2 2.07m


Appears to be a slight drop, but i don't think these are final numbers, it'll probably end up on par with last week, i'll post my thoughts on the third ep. later - i like to watch twice.

Richard Dower

The 3rd ep. was better the the 2nd., but still not as good as the pilot....we're introduced to Nate and Cate's family, i'm liking Abbey....Cates sister, i suspect her and Nate will sleep together at some point which should seriously piss off Cate :-)

Was that Cynthia Stevenson playing Cates mom?....always like her, here is a fresh article on LUX' chance of renewal or cancellation....the good people over at tvbythe have taken a real interest in the show:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/02/02/life-unexpected-medium-sized-expectations/40903