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 Pheonix. Sutton, unlike Emma, was adopted by wealthy parents and is seemingly living an ideal life. Emma runs away from Vegas to Pheonix 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

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References

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  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!
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