After a season of lackluster ratings, The CW took a chance last May and renewed Life Unexpected for year two. They hoped that the audience would grow this season but it certainly hasn’t.
Season one of Life Unexpected averaged 2.0 million viewers and a 1.6 rating in the network’s target demographic of women 18-34. This season, the show’s lost more than half of the demo audience, averaging just a 0.7 rating with 1.53 million viewers.
As the network’s lowest rated show, CW execs asked for a couple additional scripts but didn’t order them into production. Life Unexpected is the only series on the network that’s been limited to 13 episodes this season.
While The CW has not officially cancelled Life Unexpected yet, it’s impossible to imagine that they’d renew it for season three. The ratings have just gone too low. Series creator Liz Tigelaar thinks so too. She told the TV Addict back in September that she believed that, if they didn’t get an order for a full season, the show was finished.
The season (likely series) finale will air in January. Deadline is reporting that the writers are treating it like the series finale and will wrap up many of the ongoing storylines.
Tigelaar was skeptical about how fulfilling the end could be. In September, she said, “Obviously if you were doing the end of this story, what I feel the fans want are Cate and Baze together, so that would be a natural series end in someway. Unfortunately, that is not going to to happen by episode 13, at least I don’t think in an artful way. So we’re just going to hope for more and if 13 ends up being our last one we will have some closure, it will feel good and the end, but it won’t be the true end.
What do you think? Should The CW have renewed or canceled Life Unexpected last spring? Why have so many viewers stopped watching? How would you like the series to end?
Image courtesy The CW.
I love this show! And I thought it was odd that it was the season finale in January and when I watched the end of the episode right now in was wondering if it was they series finale. I am devastated that it is being canceled because it was the only show out there with such a unique story line. I do agree that the Tuesday time slot sucks bc I also have to play around with the dvr. But I always choose to DVR life unexpected so I can fast forward thru commercials bc it is so good!!
I can not believe that 1.5 millions viewers is not enough to keep a show on the air! I am 46 years old, obviously past the demographic target, my 16 year old daughter and I absolutely loved this show and we watch a lot of series on the CW and other channels but this one had real content and kept us coming back for more! I’m in radio and am familiar with ratings ect… I just really wish they could find a way to save this show, it really hasn’t had enough marketing, so many people didn’t know about it.… Read more »
I absolutely love this show! I hope they bring it back for another season, i will be SO upset if they don’t. ugh don’t get me wrong tonights episode was great but I’d definitely like to see more, like how Cate and Baze are, how Lux is doing in college and what she’s doing in college, how her and Jones are… There’s so much that’s left up in the air. Bring the show back!!!
OMG here I’ve been waiting for a new show to air instead of all of these reruns and tonight when I saw that it was new I was soooooo excited! Now to find out it was the season finale……………………needless to say – I’m bummed! I along with my teenage daughter loved the show along with quite a following at work. Why do all the good shows get cancelled and all the moronic reality shows stay on! I don’t get it.
I’m surprised at how it ended. I think it would have been better to just end it how it was before the whole “two years later” thing. You can’t end on such a good note and Ryan having gotten that chick knocked up then just throw everyone together with someone else and mess everything up and just…. That’s it… I’ve never really been into a TV show like I have been with Life Unexpected and sad to say but I’m kinda irritated. Grrrr at you CW! You should have promoted the show better!!! Shame Shame on you!!!
There aren’t many shows that touch upon these issues. It may of had a small audience, but it meant something to the people watching it.
It reminds me of the canceled My So Called Life.; another mistake by big bussiness.
Shiri is one of my favorie actresses, and Lux was a breakout star.
It wasn’t meant to suit mass audiences, but was enjoyed by some.
I hope that it is renewed for next season.
I love this show I record it on dvr u can’t cancel it. I love the story line and love the characters. I watch only a few shows on cw and this one is deffinentely one of my favs. I’ve watched one tree hill from the very begining and love it and this show is right up there. Kerr smith is great. Ever since he played jack on dawsons creek he’s had great talent. I have to say that they say that they not getting good ratings but I’m 22 and I watch the show lol even if I have… Read more »
I love love love this show, so sad to see it go! Great storyline!
I really enjoyed this series. I thought it explored a lot of different issues that our society deals with. I thought the cast was outstanding! Disappointed that it is being discontinued and that Gossip Girl thrives.
I loved this show, as did everyone else who took the time to look up whether the show was canceled or not after that season finale. I looked forward to it every week and hated the weeks it took off. Although a hot topic I loved Eric and Lux, probably b/c I loved Eric, but their relationship seemed very real for what it was. I like Lux and the Quarterback but felt really bad for Tasha at the end. Thank goodness they got Kate and Bayz together, obviously they always should’ve been together! But in the end I think that’s… Read more »
Please don’t cancel Life Unexpected. It will be a huge mistake. I have never before had any interest in watching ANYTHING on CW, but once I saw this show.. I gave it a chance. I completely fell in love with it. I am a huge fan of Life Unexpected.. and I will just be heartbroken if it is canceled. So someone please do something! The CW better renew it..
This was a very good show for teens and parents to watch together. I am saddened to learn that it is being cancelled. There are not many show on television these days that tell such a story with such class. I will miss it!!!
Is anyone else sick and tired of networks just cancelling a show on a whim? It makes me not want to watch tv anymore. How do boring shows like One Tree Hill last forever yet Gilmore Girls gets the boot or Jersey Shore gets 3 seasons and Life Unexpected gets a rushed 2nd season and lame finale??!!!? It baffles me. I’m so sad and I truly enjoyed this series however brief it might’ve been 🙁
I love this show…wish they would save it…take the money wasted on hellcats and order more episodes of this truly original show. At least the writers cared enough about it to wrap it up the right way…thanks for getting cate and baze together in the end…sad to see the show go…one of my faves for sure
This is one of the BEST shows on T.V.!! CW should NOT cancel this show. My mom and I watch it every week and at the end of the hour we are upset it is over. PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!!!