Jump to content

The Lying Game

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 123.3.237.27 (talk) at 04:34, 6 January 2013 (→‎Cast and characters). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Lying Game
Intertitle
GenreDrama
Created bySara Shepard
Developed byCharles Pratt, Jr.
StarringAlexandra Chando
Allie Gonino
Alice Greczyn
Blair Redford
Andy Buckley
Helen Slater
Charisma Carpenter
Kirsten Prout
Sharon Pierre-Louis
Christian Alexander
Opening theme"Gun for a Tongue" by Butterfly Boucher
ComposerPieter Schlosser
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersCharles Pratt, Jr.
Leslie Morgenstein
Gina Girolamo
Fred Gerber
(episode 11 onward)
Running time42 minutes
Production companiesPratt Enterprises
Alloy Entertainment
Warner Horizon Television
Original release
NetworkABC Family
ReleaseAugust 15, 2011 (2011-08-15) –
present

The Lying Game is an American teen drama television series produced by Pratt Enterprises, Alloy Entertainment and Warner Horizon Television for ABC Family.[1] The show is based on a series of novels of the same name by Sara Shepard. The network green-lighted the series in February 2011 with a 10 episode order,[1] with the series premiering on August 15, 2011.[2] On September 15, 2011, ABC Family gave the series a 10 episode back order bringing the first season to 20 episodes.[3] The second half of the season began airing on January 2, 2012. On April 24, 2012, ABC Family announced it has been renewed for a second season, slated for a winter premiere.[4] Season two was revealed to premiere on January 8, 2013, right after the premiere of the second half of Pretty Little Liars' third season.[5]

Series overview

Main article: List of The Lying Game episodes

Filmed in Austin but set in Scottsdale, Arizona, the series is about Emma (Alexandra Chando), a foster child who finds out she has an identical twin sister, Sutton (also played by Chando). The girls were separated at birth, with Sutton being adopted by wealthy parents and seemingly living an ideal life. Meeting prior to the pilot episode, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues information about their birth mother in Los Angeles. Initially excited to do this favor for her sister, Emma soon learns that Sutton has many hidden secrets. Now Emma must continue to cover as Sutton continues her search for their birth mother. When Sutton reclaims her identity, Emma's future is unknown, as the twins, along with some of their closest friends, attempt to sort through the secrets of the people around them.

Cast and characters

The main cast of The Lying Game.

Regular characters

  • Alexandra Chando as Sutton Penelope Mercer and Emma Becker. Sutton was adopted by a wealthy family, while her identical twin sister Emma grew up in the foster care system. Rebecca is their biological mother, and Sutton has known all along.
  • Allie Gonino as Laurel Mercer. Laurel is Sutton's adoptive sister and biological daughter of the Mercers. She bonded with Emma (as Sutton).
  • Blair Redford as Ethan Whitehorse. He is initially Sutton's boyfriend, but soon falls for Emma after realizing that Sutton was ashamed of their relationship. He later cheated on Emma with Sutton, and Emma breaks up with him.
  • Andy Buckley as Dr. Ted Mercer. Ted is the father of Sutton (adoptive) and Laurel (biological). He went to school with Annie and Rebecca. He and Alec have secrets regarding Annie, Rebecca and the twins. He is most likely the twins' biological father.
  • Helen Slater as Kristin Mercer. Kristin is the mother of Sutton (adoptive) and Laurel (biological). She went to school with Annie and Rebecca, but it oblivious to Sutton's biological history. She becomes friends with Rebecca when she returns to town, but remains suspicious of her past with Ted.
  • Alice Greczyn as Madeline "Mads" Margaux Rybak. Mads is the daughter of Alec and younger sister of Thayer. She is initially one of Sutton's best friends, but ends their friendship after finding out that Sutton came onto her boyfriend. She then becomes friends with Emma after learning the truth.
  • Charisma Carpenter as Annie Rebecca Sewell (Season 2, recurring previously)[6]. Rebecca is Phyllis Chamberlin's estranged younger sister and Char's aunt. She returns to town after many years, now going by her middle name. She is involved in Ted and Alec's secrets. She married Alec in the season one finale. She is the twin's birth mother and has been in contact with Sutton for some time.
  • Kirsten Prout as Charlotte "Char" Chamberlin (Season 1, regular for episodes 1–10, recurring afterward). Char is the daughter of Phyllis Chamberlin and niece of Rebecca Sewell, making her Sutton and Emma's cousin. In the episode "When We Dead Awaken", Char moves to Florida to live with her father.
  • Sharon Pierre-Louis as Nisha Randall (Season 1, episodes 1-10), Sutton's rival. She goes to Arroyo with Sutton, Char and Mads. Although listed as a main character in the first ten episodes, Nisha only appeared in five episodes.

Recurring characters

  • Christian Alexander as Thayer Rybak, son of Alec and older brother of Mads. He has had feelings for Sutton since childhood, and gets involved with her in L.A. When he realized Sutton didn't want him, he moved back to Scottsdale and met Emma. He has since been helping Emma, and they have become close.
  • Adrian Pasdar as Alec Rybak, the father of Thayer and Mads. He is Ted's best friend. His ex-wife Caroline has been mentioned, although no one knows what happened to her. In the season one finale, he marries Rebecca, and is then arrester for the murder of Derek Rogers.
  • Tyler Christopher as Dan Whitehorse, a police officer and Ethan's older brother. He used to work for Alec, but turned against him when Alec tried to have Ethan charged with murder.
  • Ryan Rottman as Jordan Lyle (Season 2), a mysterious new guy in town, bringing a whole new level of secrets with him. He piques the interest of Mads and Laurel.
  • Yara Martinez as Theresa Lopez, Dan's ex-girlfriend and an attorney. Dan calls her to defend Ethan when he is on trial for murdering Derek. She wins Ethan's case due to lack of evidence. She and Dan resume dating.
  • Randy Wayne as Justin Miller, Laurel's ex-boyfriend. In episode 13, it is revealed that his mother died during an operation due to Ted's carelessness. Laurel ultimately breaks up with him when she finds out he used her to get close to her father.
  • Ben Elliott as Derek Rogers (Season 1), Alec's accomplice and Charlotte's ex-boyfriend. Alec hired him to get information on Sutton. He was the one in Sutton's car the night she drove into a lake. He is found dead the morning after Ethan and Sutton interrogate him about what happened.
  • Sydney Barrosse as Phyllis Chamberlin, Char's mother and Rebecca's sister. She is an alcoholic. After she left Sutton's birthday party drunk and got a DUI, Rebecca tells Alec to put Phyllis on mandatory lockdown at a rehab facility.
  • Rick Malambri as Eduardo Diaz, Mads and Char's ballet teacher who had a secret affair with Mads. When Alec learned about Mads and Eduardo, he paid Eduardo to leave town. He was in an accident on his way out of town and fell into a coma before being transferred to a new hospital.
  • Misha Crosby as Ryan Harwell, one of the students at Arroyo High. He has a "bad boy" reputation and has been dating Mads. It was revealed that he had hooked up with Sutton a few years ago.
  • Adam Brooks as Baz, part of the band where Laurel plays. Laurel kissed him after she and Justin broke up.

Reception

Critical

TV Fanatic's Leigh Raines rated the pilot episode five out of five stars. She went on to say "If the mark of a good show is when it leaves you wanting more, The Lying Game definitely accomplished that goal."[7] Melody Simpson of Buzz Focus, also reviewed the pilot and stated, "While this is not exactly a series one would watch with the entire family, the older audiences will surely enjoy this series as much as the younger audiences."[8] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Rob Owen compared the show as a "lighter, better executed version of the fall CW pilot Ringer."

Ratings

The pilot episode scored a 0.5 adults 18-49 rating and 1.39 million viewers.[9] The second episode scored another 0.5 adults 18-49 rating, steady versus the pilot episode, but was up 98,000 viewers to 1.47 million.[10] The 13th and 14th episodes reached series highs of 0.7 in adults 18-49.[11]

International distribution

Country Channel Premiere date
 South Africa MNet December 16, 2011[12]
 Canada ABC Spark January 26, 2012
 United Kingdom 5*
5USA 		January 30, 2012 [13]
September 29, 2012[14]
 Israel Yes Drama February 11, 2012
 Norway FEM April 16, 2012
 Philippines ETC June 2, 2012
Latin America Boomerang July 22, 2012
 Mexico Televisa Regional April 2012
 Turkey Dizimax Entertainment 2012
 Lithuania TV1 Coming soon
 Australia Fox8 (Pay Tv, Foxtel) December 7, 2012
 Italy Rai 2 January 13, 2013

References

  1. ^ a b "ABC Family Picks Up "The Lying Game"". The Futon Critic. February 22, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 7, 2011). "ABC Family Expands Schedule To 3 Nights Of Original Programming". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  3. ^ "The Lying Game Gets More Episodes!". September 16, 2011. - ABC Family
  4. ^ "The Lying Game Returns to ABC Family for a Second Season". April 24, 2012. - ABC Family
  5. ^ http://www.wetpaint.com/the-lying-game/articles/when-will-season-2-of-the-lying-game-premiere?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wetpaint%2Flatest%2Fexcerpt+(Wetpaint+Network+(Excerpt))
  6. ^ Levine, Stuart (July 9, 2012). "Carpenter promoted at 'The Lying Game'". Variety.
  7. ^ The Lying Game Pilot Review: A New Hit? By Leigh Raines, TV Fanatic
  8. ^ ‘The Lying Game’ Series Premiere Review: Pilot By Melody Simpson, Buzz Focus
  9. ^ Seidman, Robert (August 16, 2011). "Updated Monday Cable Ratings: 'Pawn Stars,' Jets-Texans, 'WWE RAW' Top Night + 'Closer,' 'Rizzoli,' 'Warehouse 13' & Much More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  10. ^ Seidman, Robert (August 24, 2011). "Monday Cable: Bears-Giants Preseason Wins + 'WWE RAW,' 'Rizzoli,' 'T.O. Show,' 'Alpha's' & Much More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  11. ^ Seidman, Robert (January 24, 2012). "Monday Cable Ratings: 'Pawn Stars' Rules, 'Pretty Little Liars,' Love & Hip Hop' Rise + 'Being Human,' 'Lost Girl,' 'WWE RAW' & More". TV by the Numbers.
  12. ^ "The Lying Game | M-Net". Mnet.dstv.com. 2011-12-12. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
  13. ^ "C5 plays Lying Game". C21Media.net. 2011-12-09.
  14. ^ "The Lying Game pulled by 5Star again!". Retrieved 20 September 2012.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Lying_Game&oldid=531567229"