The TV Chick

Some shows come to an end way before their time. Life Unexpected is certainly one of them. It started as the little show about a atypical family that earned its way very quickly into critics’ and fans’ hearts alike. It premiered in January of 2010 and pulled off some pretty decent ratings for the CW. But it took a lot of campaigning (myself included) to get this show back for a 2nd season. In between season one and two, there was a lack of promotion, a non-existent DVD and Liz Tigelaar (show creator) has now said that there were notes from the network to change up season 2 and make it less about the Cate/Baze/Ryan triangle. All of these things contributed to lower ratings in season 2. That triangle was the core of the show and while I loved the second season a lot you could see it went in a slightly different direction. No matter what the CW did wrong, I want to move on to all the lovely and wonderful and amazing things I have to say. Because really, this review is less of a review and more of a love letter as the title implies.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Series Finale of Life Unexpected AKA My Love Letter to Life Unexpected” »

I have sung Life Unexpected’s praises time and time again, and I will continue to do so throughout this season. The season premiere tonight is nothing short of amazing. We meet a few new characters. Shaun Sipos is a new heartthrob in town who meets Lux at Baze’s bar. Amy Price-Francis plays Kelly, who wreaks havoc at the radio station until Alice comes back. And Arielle Kebbel (remember her from The Vampire Diaries and Gilmore Girls?) is a new bartender, who also may stir up some trouble.

Continue reading “ADVANCE REVIEW: Season 2 Premiere of Life Unexpected “Ocean Uncharted”” »

Life Unexpected returns tonight (to the CW at 9 pm) for its second season premiere and I will say it is quite sizzling. Last season, it quickly earned a top spot on my TV schedule and I am incredibly excited for tonight. One thing that stuck out for me from the beginning was just how invested I became in these characters and how every week I laughed and cried along with them. The CW would have been absolutely insane if they didn’t pick it up for a second season. Liz Tigelaar is the amazing and brilliant creator behind the show with so much heart. Every episode has her signature style on it and I admire her so much as a storyteller. All of the cast has sung her praises and I can absolutely see why. I recently had the chance to chat with her and we talked about everything from Baze’s evolution from douche bag to caring father, guest stars, Sarah McLachlan (who appears in an upcoming episode), her wonderful friendship with Julie Plec (Executive Producer of The Vampire Diaries) and what the show is really about at its core.

Continue reading “INTERVIEW: Liz Tigelaar (Creator) of Life Unexpected Talks about Season Two” »

Life Unexpected quickly earned a place on my TV and in my heart when it premiered last year. When I saw it as a pilot (with a different title), I was instantly reminded of the WB days of my youth. It made me laugh, cry and become a part of this little wonderful world for an hour. The show centers around Lux, a 16 year old who decides to emancipatcase herself from foster care and in the process, finds a family in her real parents — Cate and Baze. Baze lives in a loft above a bar that he owns with friends Jamie and Math, and Cate lives with her now husband Ryan. Their stories are poignant, and week after week intertwine in an incredible way. Last year there was a risk of the show not being renewed, and every review I wrote or mention of the show that I posted, I pleaded with Dawn Ostroff (head of programming over at CW) to renew this show. A lot of fans and critics and bloggers alike did the same, and it worked! Life Unexpected has its second season premiere tomorrow night and I could not be more excited. The season premiere is amazing, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it. I recently caught up with Austin Basis, who plays Math, and we talked about just how great the show is, the chemistry between the cast and what he hopes is in store for Math this season. Also, I will have a lot more coverage tomorrow and throughout the season so look out for that.

Continue reading “EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Austin Basis (Math) talks about the greatness of Life Unexpected” »

Last night’s Life Unexpected was truly heartbreaking for a number of reasons. Cate and Baze finally officially adopt Lux, and during the picture, Baze and Cate are holding hands. There are still feelings there, quite obviously. Lux tries to get Baze to admit that he loves Cate, and for Cate to realize this. At the rehearsal dinner, we meet Ryan’s family and all of their family and friends make ridiculous speeches that aren’t exactly glowing. In addition, Alice wants Ryan and Cate to both to sign a 5 year contract for the radio show but Ryan seems uncertain. When she can’t sleep that night, Cate goes over confront Baze about his feelings, but he tells her he doesn’t love her. A tearful Cate leaves, confused about what to think, with her wedding to Ryan happening in several hours. 

The next morning, Lux and Ryan have a heart to heart and he tells her he saw how happy she was Cate and Baze adopted her. He noticed that Lux was giving him the cold shoulder. If she’s not ready for them to get married, he can accept that but she has to tell Cate. I can’t explain how much this scene pulled at my heartstrings. Ryan really is a saint but at the same time, he has flaws. He was nervous to get married too. Lux goes to do just this and learns that Baze didn’t come clean about his feelings. After hearing this, she tells Cate that she loves Ryan and she needs to marry him. Lux is so wise, yet I wish that she had known the whole story.

Baze confronts his demons — in the form of his father — and admits that he’s the reason why he can’t step up and admit he loves Cate. His dad seems completely unfazed by the entire thing, but redeems himself later by showing up at Baze’s bar. As if we hadn’t already had enough tear enducing moments, Baze’s dad tells Baze that he loves him, and he doesn’t know why he berates him all the time. This is the spark that Baze needs to go tell Cate the truth, but of course, there is awful traffic and Baze gets to the church afterCate and Ryan say “I Do,” and right before the moment when Cate kisses Ryan. If ever there were a moment to be on Team Baze, this is it right here. I’m not saying I wanted him to completely ruin the wedding and for Cate to run off with him “The Graduate” style, but I wanted him to get his chance. I wanted Cate to be able to decide between Ryan and Baze without any mixed messages.

What a cliffhanger to end season 1! This episode was filled with so many intense, emotional moments. There was even a toast to bong lamps! So here’s what I’m going to say to the CW. Life Unexpected has good numbers. They even beat some other CW shows which have already been renewed. It has a loyal fanbase that wants to see more. In just 13 episodes, it has TV Critics and bloggers alike talking about how much they love it. Personally, I think it represents a return to the CW/WB Network dramas that I fell in love with. At first, it reminded me of Gilmore Girls and it still has those touches of quirky-ness and human emotion that you only see in a show that is well written and incredibly well done. I want to see more. I want to see more bong lamps, road trips, Starship singing, Baze messing up and redeeming himself, turtle racing, radio show bantering, and the forming of a truly unique family. There are a lot of shows out there that don’t deserve to be on, let alone to be saved. CW, if you don’t renew this show, you will be disappointing a lot of people (myself included, of course). Life Unexpected has worked its way into my heart, and I don’t want the last I see of it to be Cate getting married to the wrong guy (at least at the wrong time if it’s not the wrong guy). I want to commend Liz Tigelaar on an absolutely amazing season and I can’t wait to see more. Because right now, I’m counting on a season 2.

It’s Monday and that means a brand new Life Unexpected. Tonight’s episode is titled “Crisis Unaverted,” and given how things were left in the last episode, I can’t wait to see what this week brings. Here are some video previews and clips from tonight’s episode!

Episode Preview:

Clip #1:

Clip #2:

Clip #3:

Be sure to tune in tonight at 9 pm to the CW for Life Unexpected “Crisis Unaverted.” I know I look forward to it every Monday night!

Last night’s episode of Life Unexpected was quite amazing. So many important things happened, and so many things were left unresolved. The title “Truth Unrevealed” fits perfectly with the episode, which showcased the incredible acting ability of the entire cast. The episode centered around the Baze/Cate/Ryan love triangle. At the beginning of the episode, Cate wakes up to find Baze using their bathroom because he stayed over again. Of course, this pisses off Ryan who tells Cate that it has to stop. Lux is getting ready for Bug’s hearing, which Baze told her she could skip school for. Later, Jamie accuses Baze of losing his touch with women. Jamie identifies a girl in a coffee shop he should try to pick up, and he fails miserably. Baze admits to Jamie that he slept with Cate about a month ago, and Jamie accuses him of having a thing for her (which he denies of course).

At the radio station, there is much confusion amongst the callers about Cate’s former and present love life. Everyone seems to like Ryan but not Cate. After their show, Corporate shows up to hold a meeting about their ratings and likeability. It turns out one of the ”corporate” bosses is Trina, who Baze tried to pick up in the coffee shop. (The scene between Baze and Trina is pretty hilarious). Trina tells Ryan and Cate that Baze will be their co-host the next day to clear up the confusion about Cate’s life. The next day, Baze joins the two of them in the studio and it turns into a Cate bashing session, where he shares with listeners that she dated her dictionary in high school. It then comes out that something happened between Baze and Cate post high school, and Ryan questions Cate about it. She tells him nothing happened and that she also wants less Baze in her life. Cate goes to tell Baze this, and walks in on him shirtless (I can’t say I didn’t love this moment) about to have sex with Trina on the pool table. She storms out, and Baze follows her. She says there is nothing between them despite Baze claiming otherwise and asking her why she continues to lie every day to her fiancee.

Meanwhile, in Lux world, she goes with Bug to his hearing and his lawyer encourages him to take a plea where he would only spend 6 months in jail as opposed to 2 years. Lux encourages him to take the deal, but he insists that he isn’t guilty and doesn’t want to comply. She tells him to do it for them, so they don’t have to put their relationship on hold for 2 years. He tells Lux to talk to Jones so he can drop the charges. At school, Lux talks to Jones who says he will drop the charges if Bug gives him his motorcycle. She explains that he won’t give it up, his dad gave it to him, but Jones will only drop the charges under those conditions. Bug reluctantly agrees, and after school, Lux notices Jones having trouble starting the bike. She helps him and shows him where Bug grew up. Bug’s dad was abusive, his mom was an addict and he still has nothing. In a sweet moment, Jones tells Lux that Bug has her. He agrees to give the bike back and still drop the charges, but not without trying to kiss Lux first. They return to Cate’s house where Bug is waiting. Bug gets incredibly defensive and insults Lux telling her to go be with Abercrombie (kind of a great nickname for Jones if you ask me) and that “White Bread” just wants to know what it’s like to be with damaged goods. (I believe my mouth dropped open at this line). Lux tries to explain that nothing happened and that Jones is giving his bike back, but he won’t have any of it. Bug punches Jones, and Cate pulls up in the nick of time and orders Bug off her property.

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In the haze of the Olympics (which I do love), many new shows have been in reruns. Thankfully, there have been new episodes of the CW show “Life Unexpected.” By now, you know how much I love this show. It has only gotten better since the pilot and that is a hard feat since it started out so wonderfully. Tonight’s episode, titled “Truth Unrevealed,” features Baze filling in for Ryan as a co-host on the radio show. Here are some great video previews of tonight’s episode!

Liz Tigelaar (the amazing creator) previews the episode:

Clip #1 from “Truth Unrevealed:”

Clip #2 from “Truth Unrevealed:”

Clip #3 from “Truth Unrevealed:”

Be sure to tune in tonight to the CW at 9 pm for “Truth Unrevealed.”

Sure, I will be watching the Olympics pair skating long program tonight as well, but I am really excited for a brand new episode of Life Unexpected. Check out a few clips from “Turtle Undefeated,” and be sure to tune in tonight to the CW at 9 pm! I adore this show so much.

Liz Tigelaar (awesome creator) previews “Turtle Undefeated”:

Check out a couple of preview clips:

If you read my site, you know that Life Unexpected is a show I have been looking forward to for a long time. It centers around Lux (Britt Robertson) who wants to emancipate herself from the foster care system at age 16. She finds her biological parents (played by Shiri Appleby and Kris Polaha) and through unforeseen circumstances, ends up with the family she never had.

I recently had the chance to chat with Liz Tigelaar, the absolutely brilliant creator of the show, who has put her heart into this wonderful series. Here is what she had to say about her passion project, the casting process, and what we can expect from its freshman season.

What was your inspiration behind creating Life Unexpected?
The show is very close to my heart.  I’m adopted and I’ve always had questions about who my birth parents were and had a fantasy about who I imagined they were.  In a weird way, even though I have the best adopted family any person could ask for, I’ve kind of been searching for them my entire life — going from person to person, wondering “Are you like my birth mom?  Are you like me?  Essentially, searching for someone who’s just like me…”  This pilot is about that search and how you don’t always get the answers you’re expecting — sometimes you get better than you ever imagined, other times you’re disappointed.  The show is also about what it means to be a grown up and in your thirties today.

When I first saw the pilot back in September, I thought it reminded me of the Old School CW/WB at it’s best. What does it mean to you to be on this network?
It means a lot.  My first job was on Dawson’s Creek on the WB.  I’ve always had an affinity for that type of show so it means a ton to be back here, eleven years later.  I feel like I’ve come full circle.  If anyone had told me when I was a P.A. on Dawson’s Creek, sitting around with people like Mike White, Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec that I’d be here, I never would’ve believed it.

The show has also been compared to Gilmore Girls (it reminded me of the show as well). Do you like that comparison? Did you watch the show?
I didn’t watch Gilmore Girls regularly but I watched it enough to know I love the comparisons.  I can only hope we’re a fraction as successful as that show was.  I appreciate being mentioned along side of a show like that, absolutely.

The show has a great mix of incredibly poignant and funny moments. And one thing that really shines through is that it has a ton of heart. Did you draw from any of your personal experiences to create and write the show?
The show is incredibly personal to me.  Each character is a part of me, especially Cate and Lux.  I struggle myself with knowing I’m a grown up but feeling like a kid, knowing I could be a parent now but wishing someone would still take care of me.  All Cate’s fears, insecurities, neuroses and skewed logic come from me so I love writing Cate.  She’s flawed and damaged and authentic and just herself, kind of take it or leave it.  But there’s a lot of Lux in me, too.  I’m not as bold as Lux but what she throws out there, the way she looks at things, the way she calls people on things… I probably aspire to be Lux when I grow up.  I also always pictured Lux to be blond.  For some reason, that was important to me.  Probably because I’m blond too and I just saw myself in her.  Is that lame?  We also have the same taste in music and fashion sense.

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