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. 
After the first episode, we get to meet Cate and Baze’s family. Will we meet Ryan’s family?
We won’t meet Ryan’s family until the end of the season. But we do meet a “family” of Lux’s…
In the next couple episodes, we see a different, perhaps not as innocent side to Lux. Will we see more of that?
Yes, absolutely. There’s a limit to how edgy we can make her. Believe me, I’d go as dark and real as they’d let me but what we learn is that this kid had other plans than just getting emancipated and living on her own. We also see how deep her damage runs and little bits of her past start to come out. That’s such an important part of the show to me. Hugely important.
In the screeners, there are no opening credits. Will there be a “theme song?” Have you finalized the opening credits yet?
We haven’t finalized them yet. I have some ideas, we have a great person working on it.. we’ll know soon. I miss the days of long main titles like Dawson’s.
What was the casting process like? You worked on Dawson’s Creek. Did you have Kerr Smith or anyone else in mind?I didn’t. I was open to anyone and everyone. Kerr came in and I was so happy to see him. We didn’t really know each other on Dawson’s so it’s been awesome getting to know him. I’d met Shiri a long time ago (at Dawson’s Creek actually) but she doesn’t remember.
Brittany Robertson is fantastic, but she also looks nothing like Kris and Shiri. Was that intentional?
No, that wasn’t. We cast the best people for the part. We didn’t want to be dictated by hair color and because Lux means Light, it was important to me to keep Britt’s natural color. Weirdly, hair color aside, I think Britt actually looks somewhat like Kris and even a little like Shiri. Believe it or not, two brunettes can have a blond kid… we researched it knowing people would get hung up on it.
Have you directed any episodes of Life Unexpected or do you have any plans to?
Oh my god, no. I’d make a mess of it. But if the show stays on for a few seasons, I’d love to. I’ve always wanted to direct and am trying to learn. Being in editing helps a lot… now if I could just be on set more…
I loved your episode of Melrose Place. Do you plan on working more with that show in the future?
Aw, thanks. I only worked there for about a month. It was great — the nicest writing staff and showrunners ever. If L.UX. didn’t come back and Melrose did, I could conceivably go back if they wanted me. You’d have to ask Todd and Darren…
Can you give us a little teaser/spoiler of what’s coming up this season. Are there any big surprises that we might not see coming?
Our surprises are more emotional surprises than plot point surprises but as far as what’s coming up… look for Baze to intrude on Cate and Ryan, look for the secret of the pilot to come out, look for Lux’s other “family” to bump up against her new family… oh, and Lux has a boyfriend. Named Bug.
And you are a creator of this great show, but what are your favorite shows?
My favorite show, hands down, is Friday Night Lights. It’s the best show ever. Coach Taylor is a modern day “Pa Ingalls” I’ve decided (Little House is my other favorite show). American Dreams was one of my favorite shows and right now, I’m obsessed with Glee.
Be sure to tune in this Monday (January 18th) at 9 pm on the CW for the series premiere of Liz Tigelaar’s wonderful show Life Unexpected. And in the next few days, I will be posting interviews with Kris and Britt!
