Life UneXpected

While we love Gossip Girl and Vampire Diaries as much as the next television fan, neither of those shows tugs on the proverbial heart strings like former CW hits such as Gilmore Girls.

But the network is about to launch a new series that reverts back to its old formula of fun, emotional family viewing.

Life UneXpected premieres on January 18, taking over Gossip Girl's Monday night time slot for six weeks.

The show centers on a teen named Lux (Britt Robertson) that tracks down her biological parents: Cate (Shiri Appleby), a talk radio personality, and Baze (Kristoffer Polaha), a bar owner.

They haven't seen each other since high school and, in many ways, Lux is more mature than the adults that brought her into the world. Watch an official, extended preview for Life UneXpected below:

We've already posted a few Life UneXpected quotes to get viewers in the mood. This looks like a hit.

One of the most critically-acclaimed shows of the new season finally has a release date.

Life UneXpected will debut on The CW on Monday night, January 18.

We've seen Life UneXpected and will review the pilot episode soon. But any fan of Gilmore Girls should already be setting his/her DVR. This is a classic CW drama, one that blends humor with emotion and great acting.

Reportedly, the new series will take over for Gossip Girl. No, Serena and company haven't been canceled (despite terrible third season ratings).

Instead, Gossip Girl will go on hiatus for a bit and return to air its final 12 episode consecutively.

Life UneXpected stars Kerr Smith and Shiri Appleby. It follows a teenage foster girl that reunites with her biological parents.

We have no idea why The CW has chosen to title its most promising new shows Life UneXpected.

But instead of questioning the network's sanity, we'll just be grateful that the pilot for this program was picked up in the first place.

While it won't air until early 2010, Life UneXpected - which hasn't received nearly the same hype as other CW offerings, such as The Vampire Diaries - has already received rave reviews from critics that received a screening of its first episode. It stars Britt Robertson, Kristoffer Polaha, Shiri Appleby and Kerr Smith.

Let's take a look at the synopsis for its pilot:

Two days prior to her 16th birthday, Lux only wants one thing: to be emancipated. A perennsial foster child, she must track down her birth parents and have them sign away their rights to her in order to have this goal accomplished.

Lux sets out and meets Nate "Baze" Bazile, a total slacker. This is Lux's father?!? She can't believe it. Her mother, meanwhile, turns out to be a popular radio show host in Portland, Cate Cassidy.

While bother father and mother are willing to sign her documents, the judge won't allow it. Instead, he orders Lux into the temporary joint custody of Baze and Cate. How will they handle this unexpected twist in their lives? That's where the series really begins.