The Lying Game

Last updated
The Lying Game
TheLyingGameIntertitle.jpg
Genre
Based on The Lying Game by Sara Shepard
Developed by Charles Pratt, Jr.
Starring
Opening theme"Gun for a Tongue" by Butterfly Boucher
Composers Pieter A. Schlosser
Brian Adler (pilot)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes30 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Randy Sutter
  • Carol Dunn Trussell
  • R. Lee Fleming Jr.
Camera setup Red Two; single-camera
Running time42 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network ABC Family
ReleaseAugust 15, 2011 (2011-08-15) 
March 12, 2013 (2013-03-12)

The Lying Game is an American teen drama mystery television series developed by Charles Pratt Jr. It premiered on ABC Family on August 15, 2011, and ended on March 12, 2013. The series was produced by Pratt Enterprises, Alloy Entertainment, and Warner Horizon Television and is loosely based on a series of books of the same name by Sara Shepard. It stars Alexandra Chando, playing as the twin sisters Sutton Mercer and Emma Becker. On July 15, 2013, Chando confirmed the series was canceled by the network after two seasons. [1] [2]

Contents

Series overview

The series follows Emma Becker, a kind-hearted foster child in Vegas who learns she has an identical twin sister named Sutton Mercer in Phoenix. Sutton, unlike Emma, was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. Emma runs away from Vegas to Phoenix to meet Sutton after wrongful accusations about her were made. [3] After their initial meeting, Sutton talks Emma into stepping into her life for a few days while she pursues a lead on the mysterious identity of their birth mother. After Sutton inexplicably fails to return to the girls’ designated meeting place, Emma must decide whether to come clean about her identity and risk her own safety in the hope of uncovering her twin sister's whereabouts, along with the truth about why they were separated in the first place.

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 20August 15, 2011 (2011-08-15)March 5, 2012 (2012-03-05)
2 10January 8, 2013 (2013-01-08)March 12, 2013 (2013-03-12)

Cast and characters

The main cast of The Lying Game. TheLyingGameCast.png
The main cast of The Lying Game.

While the television series shares many of the same characters as the book series of the same name, there are important differences (chief among them that Sutton is deceased in the books): [4]

Main

Recurring

Production

ABC Family green-lit a pilot for The Lying Game, which was written and executive produced by Charles Pratt Jr. and which was based upon the then upcoming novel by Pretty Little Liars author Sara Shepard, in October 2010. [7] [8] Alexandra Chando was cast in the dual lead role in November 2010. [9] ABC Family ordered The Lying Game to series in February 2011. [10] [11] It premiered on Monday, August 15, 2011, after an episode of The Secret Life of the American Teenager , [12] drawing 1.4 million viewers. [13] ABC back-ordered an additional 10 episodes of season 1 in September 2011, [14] [15] which premiered in January 2012 [16] drawing a series high 1.8 million viewers. [17]

The Lying Game was renewed for a second season by ABC Family in April 2012, with production to take place during summer 2012 for a winter premiere. [18] Charisma Carpenter, who had been recurring in season 1, was promoted to the main cast for season 2 in July 2012. [19] [20] Season 2 premiered on January 8, 2013, [21] drawing 1.55 million viewers; [22] the final episode of season 2 aired in March 2013. ABC Family took an unusually long time to decide whether or not to renew The Lying Game beyond season 2, and the cast's contract options lapsed in April 2013 with only Chando signing a new option. [23] ABC Family finally confirmed the cancellation of The Lying Game in July 2013, [1] after Chando had herself announced the news on Twitter and Instagram. [2] [24]

Home media and streaming

The series is available to stream on The CW's free digital-only network, CW Seed. [25] [26]

Reception

Critical response

TV Fanatic writer 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." [27] 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." [28] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's writer Rob Owen compared the show as a "lighter, better executed version of the fall CW pilot Ringer ."

Ratings

SeasonTime slot (ET)# Ep.PremieredEndedTV seasonViewers
(in millions)
DatePremiere
Viewers
(in millions)
DateFinale
Viewers
(in millions)
1 Monday
9:00 pm
20
August 15, 2011
1.39 [29]
March 5, 2012
1.24 [30] 2011–12 1.38 [31]
2 Tuesday
9:00 pm
10
January 8, 2013
1.55 [32]
March 12, 2013
1.11 [33] 2013 1.27 [34]

See also

Related Research Articles

Alexandra Chando is an American actress and director. She is known for her role as Maddie Coleman in the CBS soap opera, As the World Turns and for her dual role as identical twins, Emma Becker and Sutton Mercer in the ABC Family drama series, The Lying Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Shepard</span> American author

Sara Shepard is an American author. She is known for the bestselling Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game book series, both of which have been turned into television shows on Freeform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allie Gonino</span> American actress and singer

Alyssa Gonino is an American actress and singer. She is known for her regular role as Laurel Mercer in The Lying Game and her recurring role as Michelle in 10 Things I Hate About You, both of which were ABC Family series. Gonino was a member of the American girl group the Stunners between 2007 and 2011. Gonino is currently in the band the Good Mad, who were featured in The Lying Game, in which Gonino also starred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanna Marin</span> Character in Pretty Little Liars book series

Hanna Olivia Marin is a fictional character created by Sara Shepard for the Pretty Little Liars book series, and later developed for the Freeform television series adaptation by I. Marlene King. The character has also appeared in the spin-off series Ravenswood.

The Lying Game is a series of books by Sara Shepard published by HarperTeen. The first book in the series, The Lying Game, was released in hardcover on December 7, 2010. A television series adaptation was loosely based on the books debuted on ABC Family in 2011.

<i>Jane by Design</i> 2012 American comedy-drama television series

Jane by Design is an American comedy-drama television series on ABC Family. The series follows the life of Jane Quimby, a teenager who is mistaken for an adult, as she finally gets her fashion dream job working with a world-famous designer, Gray Chandler Murray. She has to juggle between two secret lives: one in high school, and one in high fashion.

<i>The Lying Game</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of The Lying Game, based on the book series of the same name by Sara Shepard. The series premiered on August 15, 2011 and concluded on March 5, 2012 on ABC Family. It follows long-lost twins Emma Becker and Sutton Mercer. Separated under mysterious circumstances, Sutton was adopted by the wealthy Mercer family in Phoenix, while Emma grew up in the foster system. When the twins reunite as teenagers, they keep it a secret. While Sutton goes in search of the truth, Emma takes over her life and discovers more secrets and lies than she could have imagined.

The second and final season of The Lying Game, based on the book series of the same name by Sara Shepard, premiered on January 8 and concluded on March 12, 2013 on ABC Family. As the twins' saga continues in season two, there are more surprises, secrets and lies. The girls' recently revealed birth mother Rebecca lures Sutton into her plans for the Mercer family. Emma grows closer to Thayer, while still being drawn to Ethan, who has started to reconnect with Sutton. Kristin feels betrayed after Ted came clean about his long ago affair with Rebecca, but Ted might be hiding even more shocking revelations. And Mads connects with a mysterious new guy in town who brings a whole new level of secrets with him.

Baby Daddy is an American sitcom created by Dan Berendsen that premiered on June 20, 2012, on ABC Family (Freeform). The series follows Ben, a man in his twenties, who gets the surprise of his life when a one-night stand leaves his baby at his doorstep. Ben decides to raise his daughter with the help of his brother, Danny, his two close friends, Riley and Tucker, and his sometimes-overbearing mother, Bonnie. The show is based on and inspired by the American film Three Men and a Baby (1987), and serves as the third installment overall in the titular franchise. Six seasons were produced in total, with the 100th and final episode airing on May 22, 2017.

<i>Twisted</i> (TV series) 2013 television series

Twisted is an American teen drama mystery-thriller television series. The pilot episode aired on March 19, 2013, and the show's remaining 10 episodes resumed airing on June 18, 2013.

<i>Playing House</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

Playing House is an American sitcom that premiered on April 29, 2014, on the USA Network. Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair created and star in the series, which is inspired by their real-life friendship.

Chasing Life is an American drama television series that aired on ABC Family from June 10, 2014, to September 28, 2015. The series is adapted from the Televisa Spanish-language Mexican television series Terminales. Ordered for 13 episodes, on November 27, 2013, an additional seven episodes were added to the series order, bringing the season to 20 episodes. On July 15, 2014, ABC Family ordered another episode to air as a Christmas special, bringing the episode order to 21.

The 2018–19 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2018 to August 2019. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2017–18 season.

The 2019–20 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2019 to August 2020. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2018–19 season.

The 2020–21 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2020 to August 2021. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2019–20 television season.

The 2022–23 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2022 to August 2023. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2021–22 television season. The schedule was affected by strikes undertaken by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, marking the first television season since the 1959–60 season that was affected by two simultaneous strikes; however because the strikes commenced in May and July, respectively, programming impacts on the 2022–23 season itself were limited in comparison to previous television seasons affected by Hollywood labor disputes as the next season was affected even more.

The 2021–22 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2021 to August 2022. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2020–21 television season.

References

  1. 1 2 Lesley Goldberg (July 15, 2013). "ABC Family Cancels 'The Lying Game'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  2. 1 2 Alexandra Chando [@alexandrachando] (July 15, 2013). "To our awesome #lyinggame fans, thank you for these two amazing seasons. Unfortunately, ABC Family has... https://www.instagram.com/p/byvM6mqA_K/" (Tweet). Retrieved 2016-05-19 via Twitter. Full Instagram message (at https://www.instagram.com/p/byvM6mqA_K/): To our awesome #lyinggame fans, thank you for these two amazing seasons. Unfortunately, ABC Family has decided not to bring us back for a third season. We so wanted to do 10 more for you guys! Thanks for your support and keep up with the cast to see what's next for us!
  3. "The Lying Game / Characters". TV Tropes. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  4. Robyn Ross (August 14, 2011). "The Lying Game: Who's Who and How Is It Different From the Books?". TV Guide . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  5. "The Lying Game / Characters". TV Tropes. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  6. "The Lying Game / Characters". TV Tropes. Retrieved 2024-04-15.
  7. Cynthia Littleton (October 8, 2010). "ABC Family orders four more pilots". Variety . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  8. ""Melissa & Joey" Receives Episode Back Order to Complete First Season Plus: ABC Family greenlights pilots for "Untitled Brenda Hampton Project," "What Would Jane Do," "The Lying Game" and "The Great State of Georgia."" (Press release). ABC Family. October 8, 2010. Retrieved 2016-05-19 via The Futon Critic.
  9. "Development Update: Monday, November 1". The Futon Critic . November 1, 2010. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  10. Cynthia Littleton (February 22, 2011). "ABC Family in 'Lying Game' pact". Variety . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  11. Nellie Andreeva (February 22, 2011). "It's Official: ABC Family Picks Up 'The Lying Game' To Series, Keeps 'Jane' In Contention". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  12. "ABC Family's "Secret Life" to Wrap 24-Week Run on September 5, "Lying Game" to Get Earlier Slot in Fall". The Futon Critic . August 12, 2011. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  13. Nellie Andreeva (August 17, 2011). "Soft Start For ABC Family's 'Lying Game'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  14. Sam Thielman (September 16, 2011). "ABC Family renews 'Lying Game,' 'Break It'". Variety . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  15. Nellie Andreeva (September 16, 2011). "UPDATE: ABC Family Renews 'Make It Or Break It', Gives Back Order To 'Lying Game', Picks Up 4 Pilots, Cancels 'State Of Georgia'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  16. "ABC Family's Original Series "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Lying Game" Return With All New Episodes Starting on Monday, January 2nd" (Press release). ABC Family. November 28, 2011. Retrieved 2016-05-19 via The Futon Critic.
  17. Nellie Andreeva (January 4, 2012). "ABC Family's 'Pretty Little Liars' Down In Return, 'The Lying Game' Posts Series Highs". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  18. Michael O'Connell (April 24, 2012). "ABC Family Renews 'The Lying Game' for Season 2". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  19. Stuart Levine (July 9, 2012). "Carpenter promoted at 'The Lying Game'". Variety . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  20. "Charisma Carpenter Joins the Cast of the Hit Drama Series "The Lying Game"" (Press release). ABC Family. July 10, 2012. Retrieved 2016-05-19 via The Futon Critic.
  21. "ABC Family Sets Premiere Dates for Its Hit Returning Series All Premiering in January" (Press release). ABC Family. October 22, 2012. Retrieved 2016-05-19 via The Futon Critic.
  22. "Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Justified" Tops Viewers, "Liars" Leads Demos". The Futon Critic . January 9, 2013. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  23. Nellie Andreeva (April 19, 2013). "Future Of ABC Family's 'The Lying Game' In Limbo As Cast Options Expire. What About 'Bunheads'?". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  24. "Chando: ABC Family Has Canceled "The Lying Game"". The Futon Critic . July 15, 2013. Retrieved 2016-05-19.
  25. "CW Seed Bulks Up – More Than 300 Additional Hours of Programming to Be Rolled Out Through the Remainder of The Year". CW Seed. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2020 via The Futon Critic. To date, CW Seed had added more than 350 hours of content including the complete seasons of the... teen mystery drama THE LYING GAME
  26. "The Lying Game on CW Seed" . Retrieved June 9, 2020 via CW Seed.
  27. The Lying Game Pilot Review: A New Hit? By Leigh Raines, TV Fanatic
  28. ‘The Lying Game’ Series Premiere Review: Pilot By Melody Simpson, Buzz Focus
  29. 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. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  30. "Monday's Cable Ratings: No Stopping "Pawn Stars" on History". The Futon Critic. March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  31. "The Lying Game: Season One Ratings". TV Series Final. September 3, 2012.
  32. "Ratings - Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Justified" Tops Viewers, "Liars" Leads Demos". TheFutonCritic.com. 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  33. "Ratings - Tuesday's Cable Ratings: "Tosh.0" Reclaims Demo Crown, "Liars" Tops Viewers". TheFutonCritic.com. 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  34. "The Lying Game: Season Two Ratings". TV Series Final. March 13, 2013.