The TV Chick

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” »

Life Unexpected returns to the CW on September 14th, at 9 PM, and I absolutely cannot wait. The season premiere is titled “Ocean Uncharted,” and I am so glad the show is keeping up their “-ed” titles like Friends did with “The One Where…” So, to tide you over, check out some (fairly non) spoiler-y pictures from the season 2 premiere!

Life Unexpected season 2 will be here before you know it. Until then, check out this new trailer! It has some pretty great little clips from the upcoming season.

Life Unexpected returns Tuesday, September 14th!

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.

Last night’s penultimate episode of season 1 titled “Father Unfigured” (I am refusing to concede that there’s a possibility there might not be a season 2) focuses on family. The idea of family on this amazing show is unconventional, but it works. Lux/Cate/Ryan/Baze have become a family, as different as it may be. And I love it. The episode started off with Ryan and Cate bantering over their wedding e-vite. Baze (aka BeerDrinkr420) had not yet replied yet. Baze is agonizing over his decision and asking Bug for advice. He shares with Bug that Abby thinks he has a crush on Cate. He asks if it’s weird to want to smell someone, and clearly is in denial about his feelings. Bug tells Baze to keep his distance, until he figures things out.

In wedding preparation mode, Cate and Lux are searching through Cate’s mom’s attic for her grandmother’s broach (something old). In the midst of searching, Lux stumbles upon a bunch of old, unopened cards. It turns out they were birthday cards from her father, who she was led to believe left and didn’t care about her.

Back at the bar (or shall I say behind the bar), some of Bug’s old “friends” pay him a visit and beat him up, claiming he owes them money. Baze arrives and breaks up the fight, but not without a lecture. He tells Bug that these people better not come around the bar again or he won’t have a job anymore.  Whew, harsh words Baze, harsh words. Bug is trying to turn his life around!

Later, Cate confronts her mother about the cards. Cynthia Stevenson is really wonderful in this scene. She didn’t want to give Cate any false hope which is why she didn’t give her the cards. She only did what was best for her. Cate won’t let it go. Apparently her mom had told her that her dad was a womanizer and couldn’t hold down a job. Apparently she lied about his reasons for leaving the family, and Cate accuses her own mom of being the problem. Back at home, Cate is venting about her dad to Lux and Ryan. Lux wisely states that it’s not too late to have a relationship. Cate decides that before she is going to get married, she wants to go see her father in Lake Tahoe.

Lux shows up at Baze’s to find Bug amidst an incredibly trashed bar. Apparently, Bug’s “friends” did this as payback. Bug tells her he needs some time, he will fix up the bar, she just has to sidetrack Baze/shut down the bar for a few days. She decides to ask Baze to come on the road trip with her and Cate. She nicely plays both Cate and Baze, saying she’s never gone on a family road trip before, Ryan can’t come because he’s busy with wedding stuff, and they haven’t had a lot of family time together. Both Cate and Baze reluctantly agree, and Lux and Bug’s plan springs into action.

Road trip time! Bug helps them load the car and gets a nice speech from Baze about how much he appreciates his hard work. Ryan and Cate share a kiss filled goodbye, while Baze stares. (Bug catches him mid-stare). Baze shows Lux some tips on safe driving by State Farm insurance. Normally, I would hate this incredibly obvious product placement. However, it was rather unobtrusive and at this point, I don’t care what the show has to do to stay on the air (have an Apple iPad episode for all I care), because I would be so sad if it wasn’t given a second season. In any case, the road trip begins and Cate is preoccupied with wedding plans and constantly on her phone. Baze does everything in his power to get her off the phone: he turns up the music, swerves on the road…and then when she goes to pick up her phone, Baze smells her. He makes up some excuse about smelling feet. Of course, Lux sees everything and this just adds to the awkwardness…all while Starship plays in the background.

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What is a CW drama without a requisite stuck in the storm with people you don’t like but eventually bond with and come to terms with episode? Last night’s Life Unexpected “Storm Weathered” was just that. It set up some amazing storylines for the next few episodes (only 2 left in the season), and each character was stuck with someone or some people you wouldn’t necessarily expect.

The episode begins with Ryan and Cate in bed (whew) listening to themselves on the radio (pre-recorded Best of Cate and Ryan special) while the storm brewed outside. Cate brings Ryan “breakfast in bed” which is really her engagement ring and she asks him to marry her. He accepts, of course and she puts back on the ring. A few minutes later, Cate is in wedding mode (kind of quick but I get it) and looking at a wedding checklist. They are going over details, and on the checklist it says to choose the maid of honor. Cate asks Ryan if he thinks Lux would say yes. Cate asks Lux and she is thrilled and honored. Of course, she says yes. Abby calls for Cate, furious that she didn’t tell her the news and assumes that she is the maid of honor.

Back in Baze world, Math discovers that Baze is wearing a kaballah bracelet. Baze seems into Abby, but it appears more for show than anything else. Baze goes to the yoga class Abby teaches, and of course Cate is there, too. This leads to a rather hilarious exclamation on Cate’s part…after she sees that Abby is wearing Baze’s tee shirt, she yells quite loudly and the entire class turns around to look at her.

Meanwhile, Lux is at Jones’ party. The group is playing suck and blow (which I fondly remember from Clueless). This time, instead of Elton (ha!) it’s Jones. He kisses Lux, and she gets mad. He tells her she is hard to walk away from, even though she’s made it perfectly clear she doesn’t want him.
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After a major DVR fail last night, I woke up early to watch LUX. It really is the highlight of my Monday nights. Last night’s episode, appropriately titled “Family Therapized,” centered around trying to become a family. Lux, Cate and Baze are gearing up for an evaluation with the social worker. The radio show topic is about sleeping together — actually sleeping together — and we see montages of Baze and Abby and Lux and Bug in bed together. Cate and Ryan talk about her cold feet and it’s clear that Ryan still dreams about her and has feelings for her. Lux had snuck out to be with Bug and thought no one would notice because Baze was with Abby. Bug is still trying to change for Lux and tells her he needs to get a legitimate job to be able to afford rent. He has a gig that night handing out fliers outside a night club and Lux offers to help.

That night, Baze and Lux discuss her dating life. He doesn’t like Bug and doesn’t think he’s good for her. She asks him not to date Abby. He agrees if she won’t see Bug anymore. Her acceptance of this is more of a “whatever,” but Baze takes that as a yes. Of course, she proceeds to sneak out to help Bug distribute fliers. In the middle of the night, Cate gets a call from the social worker. Apparently, Lux broke her curfew. Baze and Cate explain they had no idea what was going on, but the social worker decides to move up their meeting by a week. The clan returns home to try and figure out what to do. Cate and Baze tell Lux she has to change but she aptly retorts, why is she the only one who has to change, they should change too.

Lux admits to Bug that she is really nervous about the evaluation and she does want to stay with Cate and Baze. Cate shows up at Bug’s (where Lux is) and basically offers him a job at the radio station…he just has to interview first. The interview with Alice doesn’t go so well, seeing as he doesn’t have a high school diploma or any work experience. After the interview, Cate tries to plead with Alice but Bug can’t get hired without a diploma. Lux is understandably pissed off at Cate, but Bug tries to be noble about it. They leave Cate feeling worse. She tried to save the day, but couldn’t.

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Last night’s Life Unexpected was full of discoveries: Cate’s sexual preferences, Lux isn’t a virgin, Math still loves Cate, and Ryan is not budging on the break up.”Formal Reformed” centered around Lux’s winter formal. She agrees to go with Jones, who asks her out on a real date (not prompted by Baze’s encouragement). Baze is thrilled by this news, and Math is still sulking about his obsession with Cate. Cate comes to the bar to speak to Lux, after Ryan tells her not to take no for an answer. This prompted a sad exchange between Cate and Ryan where Cate says she just has to accept no when it comes to their relationship. Baze informs Cate that she needs help with a dress and Lux reluctantly agrees even though they are still not technically on speaking terms.

Lux and Cate go shopping, and she tries to open up the lines of communication but Lux isn’t having it. Cate picks out a dress that Lux deems too expensive (I believe the witty words were – does this come with a limo?) but Cate says she wants to buy it for her. Cate bashes on Baze (which is sort of an every episode occurrence) and Lux storms out, telling Cate to pick whatever dress she wants.

In Baze world, he tries to get Math to forgive him and encourages him to go for it with Cate. This leads to a discussion about how Baze thinks parenting is easy because Lux is such a good kid. Math is surprised that Baze wants her to go to the winter formal because of what happened at their own dance. He says that what kids are doing these days is worse than what they did during high school. Math tells Baze to have “the sex talk” with Lux.

Lux gets back to Baze’s and discovers that Cate bought her the beautiful expensive pink dress. And then, Bug is back! I was a bit surprised at how soon this happened, but I knew he wouldn’t stay away for long. She confronts him and how he just left and is now acting like nothing happened. He kisses her and she pushes him away, telling him it’s not that easy. He explains that he didn’t want to be who he was being with her, he loves her and he wants to change. I loved this scene because it was so real. While Lux does fall into his arms fairly quickly, it isn’t without hesitation. She forces him to explain himself instead of just immediately taking him back. While Lux and Bug are — how do I put this mildly — getting it on, Math shows up at Cate’s and asks her to chaperone the dance with him. He does it in such a way as to make it seem like he is helping Cate go to the dance to see Lux in her dress and keep an eye on her. But at the end, he actually asks if it is a date, and Cate says yes.

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It was another heart-wrenching episode of Life Unexpected last night, which centered around the Cate/Ryan tension post-breakup. Of course, they still have to host a radio show and act like they are a happy couple. Ryan ends up taking shots at Baze and Cate implies (through a rather amazing sweatpants metaphor) that she is moving on. After the brutal show ends, Alice tells Cate that her and Ryan are signed up to host a bridal expo and they can’t back out of it.

Meanwhile, back at Lux and Baze’s new happy abode, Lux is quite depressed. She is spending hours on the phone with Tasha and moping around because of Bug. She’s also skipping school, which was only alluded to, but it made me think that Cate wouldn’t have stood for that. In any case, Baze runs into Jones outside his bar, who came to give Lux her homework. After he had just talked with Jamie and Math about Lux needing friends, he decides to enlist Jones. Jones agrees to ask Lux out, and one of the best moments of the show is when he does, and she says “Why?” Despite her hesitation, she says yes. He promises her that she will love what he has planned. She doesn’t know how he knows what she loves, but he explains that he has his sources.

Back in bridal hell, Cate and Ryan have to tell their engagement story to an entire audience. However, not before we get a hilarious story from a couple that may or may not have resulted in a green card wedding. When Cate and Ryan tell their story, it actually seems like they might reconnect in some way. Ryan had been very cold and harsh to Cate but it is during these small moments that we see him break. They miss each other, and they want to get back together but there is something (or someone) standing in the way.

But back to Lux and Jones’ “date,” that he picks her up at 9 am for. They are driving somewhere quite far and Lux is skeptical. However, they discover that they both have the same taste in music. (At first I thought that Baze told Jones what Lux likes, but it turns out that isn’t true). While Lux and Jones are on their date, Baze finds a text message from Ryan to Lux (she left her phone at home). Ryan is going to buy Lux a car, and Baze is none too pleased about this fact. Finally, Lux and Jones arrive at their destination and Tasha runs out of the house. Lux and Tasha embrace in an incredibly great moment. Jones is obviously a good guy. I am still wondering about Bug and if he will ever come back, but I like that there is another love interest for Lux. Lux and Tasha spend the whole day catching up, and Jones babysits the other foster kids. (Team Abercrombie?)

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