Accidentally on Purpose (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Accidentally on Purpose is an American television situation comedy series starring Jenna Elfman
. It first aired on CBS
during the 2009–10 season. and was produced by the CBS in-house production arm
. The show is based on the book of the same name (ISBN 0061256927) by Mary F. Pols.
On May 18, 2010, CBS
cancelled the series after only one season.
), a San Francisco movie critic in her 30s. Billie meets Zack (Jon Foster
), an aspiring chef in his 20s, at a local bar and they have a one-night stand
. She soon finds out that she is pregnant, and decides to keep the baby. She must simultaneously deal with her boss and ex-boyfriend, James (Grant Show
), who finds himself jealous of Zack. Before the story began, she had hoped that James would ask her to marry him, but he told her that he was not ready because he was married once before.
Thanks to this unexpected arrival, Billie and Zack have agreed to live together platonically, since the only place that Zack has called home was his van. While Billie receives encouragement and advice from her party girl best friend Olivia (Ashley Jensen
) and her conventional, younger, married sister Abby (Lennon Parham
), she also has to deal with Zack's freeloading friend Davis (Nicolas Wright
), among others, when they start turning her place into a frat house, leaving Billie to question whether she is living with a boyfriend, a roommate, or a second child to raise.
and the cancellation of Gary Unmarried
. However, after the ratings slipped CBS elected not to renew the series and on May 18, 2010, made the cancellation official; the cancellation was part of CBS' decision to eliminate all of its Wednesday night comedies in favor of trying a Thursday-night block.
, while scoring a 6.2/10 with viewers. The New York Times, in a review of the show's first episode, called Grant Show's performance "graceful" and said Elfman is as "funny as the script allows, in that broad, robo-comic way you may remember from Dharma & Greg
."
The series had an average of eight million viewers per episode while airing on Mondays after How I Met Your Mother
, but fell to an average of 5.5 million of viewers per episode while airing on Wednesdays after The New Adventures of Old Christine
, which was also canceled in 2010.
Jenna Elfman
Jennifer Mary "Jenna" Elfman is an American television and film actress. She is known for her role as Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg and as Billie on the short-lived CBS sitcom Accidentally on Purpose....
. It first aired on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
during the 2009–10 season. and was produced by the CBS in-house production arm
CBS Productions
CBS Productions is the production arm of the CBS television network now a part of CBS Corporation, formed in 1952 to produce shows in-house, instead of relying solely on outside productions. Its first production was CBS Television Workshop, a drama anthology series...
. The show is based on the book of the same name (ISBN 0061256927) by Mary F. Pols.
On May 18, 2010, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
cancelled the series after only one season.
Plot
Accidentally on Purpose follows Billie (Jenna ElfmanJenna Elfman
Jennifer Mary "Jenna" Elfman is an American television and film actress. She is known for her role as Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg and as Billie on the short-lived CBS sitcom Accidentally on Purpose....
), a San Francisco movie critic in her 30s. Billie meets Zack (Jon Foster
Jon Foster
Jon Foster is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the 2004 film The Door in the Floor, the 2006 horror movie, Stay Alive, and co-starring opposite Jenna Elfman in the CBS comedy Accidentally on Purpose.-Personal life:Foster was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of...
), an aspiring chef in his 20s, at a local bar and they have a one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
. She soon finds out that she is pregnant, and decides to keep the baby. She must simultaneously deal with her boss and ex-boyfriend, James (Grant Show
Grant Show
Grant Alan Show is an American actor best known for his role on Melrose Place as Jake Hanson, which he played from 1992 to 1997.-Early life:...
), who finds himself jealous of Zack. Before the story began, she had hoped that James would ask her to marry him, but he told her that he was not ready because he was married once before.
Thanks to this unexpected arrival, Billie and Zack have agreed to live together platonically, since the only place that Zack has called home was his van. While Billie receives encouragement and advice from her party girl best friend Olivia (Ashley Jensen
Ashley Jensen
Ashley Jensen is a Scottish actress who is best known for her roles in the television series Extras for which she was nominated for an Emmy, and ABC's Ugly Betty...
) and her conventional, younger, married sister Abby (Lennon Parham
Lennon Parham
Lennon Parham is an American actress and comedienne best known for co-starring on the sitcom Accidentally on Purpose from 2009–2010.-Early life:Parham attended high school at Parkview High School....
), she also has to deal with Zack's freeloading friend Davis (Nicolas Wright
Nicolas Wright
Nicolas Wright is a Canadian actor. Wright has performed on stage, television and film. In 2004, he received the "most promising newcomer" award at the Just for Laughs film festival in Montreal for his short film, Toutouffe...
), among others, when they start turning her place into a frat house, leaving Billie to question whether she is living with a boyfriend, a roommate, or a second child to raise.
Theme song
The theme song for the show is "Birds of a Feather", written by David Fagin of the indie-rock band The Rosenbergs. The song is on their album Department Store Girl.History
On November 3, 2009, CBS ordered an additional five episodes of the series, bringing the total to 18. In early 2010 CBS moved Accidentally on Purpose to Wednesday nights from Mondays, to accommodate the midseason return of Rules of EngagementRules of Engagement (TV series)
Rules of Engagement is a sitcom that debuted on CBS on February 5, 2007, as a midseason replacement, immediately following Two and a Half Men, in the time slot that was occupied by now-cancelled The New Adventures of Old Christine...
and the cancellation of Gary Unmarried
Gary Unmarried
Gary Unmarried was an American sitcom created by Ed Yeager, which ran on CBS from September 24, 2008 to March 17, 2010. The series focuses on a recently divorced couple sharing custody of their kids while starting new relationships...
. However, after the ratings slipped CBS elected not to renew the series and on May 18, 2010, made the cancellation official; the cancellation was part of CBS' decision to eliminate all of its Wednesday night comedies in favor of trying a Thursday-night block.
Critical reception
Accidentally On Purpose received mixed reviews, scoring a 49/100 on MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, while scoring a 6.2/10 with viewers. The New York Times, in a review of the show's first episode, called Grant Show's performance "graceful" and said Elfman is as "funny as the script allows, in that broad, robo-comic way you may remember from Dharma & Greg
Dharma & Greg
Dharma & Greg is an American television sitcom that aired from September 24, 1997, to April 30, 2002.It starred Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson as Dharma and Greg Montgomery, a couple who married instantly on their first date despite being complete opposites...
."
The series had an average of eight million viewers per episode while airing on Mondays after How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
, but fell to an average of 5.5 million of viewers per episode while airing on Wednesdays after The New Adventures of Old Christine
The New Adventures of Old Christine
The New Adventures of Old Christine is an American comedy series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus which ran for five seasons on CBS from March 13, 2006, to May 12, 2010...
, which was also canceled in 2010.
Cast
- Jenna ElfmanJenna ElfmanJennifer Mary "Jenna" Elfman is an American television and film actress. She is known for her role as Dharma on the ABC sitcom Dharma & Greg and as Billie on the short-lived CBS sitcom Accidentally on Purpose....
as Billie Chase - Jon FosterJon FosterJon Foster is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the 2004 film The Door in the Floor, the 2006 horror movie, Stay Alive, and co-starring opposite Jenna Elfman in the CBS comedy Accidentally on Purpose.-Personal life:Foster was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of...
as Zack - Ashley JensenAshley JensenAshley Jensen is a Scottish actress who is best known for her roles in the television series Extras for which she was nominated for an Emmy, and ABC's Ugly Betty...
as Olivia - Nicolas WrightNicolas WrightNicolas Wright is a Canadian actor. Wright has performed on stage, television and film. In 2004, he received the "most promising newcomer" award at the Just for Laughs film festival in Montreal for his short film, Toutouffe...
as Davis - Grant ShowGrant ShowGrant Alan Show is an American actor best known for his role on Melrose Place as Jake Hanson, which he played from 1992 to 1997.-Early life:...
as James - Lennon ParhamLennon ParhamLennon Parham is an American actress and comedienne best known for co-starring on the sitcom Accidentally on Purpose from 2009–2010.-Early life:Parham attended high school at Parkview High School....
as Abby Chase - Pooch HallPooch HallMarion H. "Pooch" Hall, Jr. is an American television and film actor from Taunton, Massachusetts. He is perhaps best known for his role as professional football player Derwin Davis on the BET comedy-drama series The Game....
as Ryan
Crew
- Claudia LonowClaudia LonowClaudia Lonow is an American actress, comedian and performer turned television writer and producer.-Early life:Claudia Lonow was born and raised in New York City, where she attended the High School of Music and Art, and began studying acting.Born Claudia Rapaport, she is the daughter of JoAnne...
– Writer - Lloyd BraunLloyd BraunLloyd Braun is a television and Internet media executive who currently runs the entertainment firm BermanBraun.-Early life and career:Braun earned his B.A. from Vassar College in 1980, and his law degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1983...
– Executive Producer - Gail BermanGail BermanGail Berman is the former president of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Company and the former president of Viacom's Paramount Pictures.She graduated from the University of Maryland in 1978...
– Executive Producer - Jack RudyJack RudyJack Rudy is an American tattoo artist notable for his reinvention of the 'Black and Gray' style of tattooing, realistic portraits, and single-needle use. He is considered to be one of the top tattoo artists in the world.-Career:...
– Music Supervisor
Episodes
| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (in millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
International releases
| Country / Region | Network(s) | Premiere |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Citytv Citytv Citytv is a Canadian English language television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications under its Rogers Broadcasting Ltd. division... |
September 2009 2009–2010 Canadian network television schedule The 2009-10 Canadian network television schedule indicates the fall prime time schedules for Canada's major English and French broadcast networks... |
| Croatia | Fox Life Fox Life Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... |
|
| Australia | Network Ten Network Ten Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country... |
December 2009 |
| The Netherlands | NET5 | June 8, 2010 |
| Ireland | TV3 Ireland TV3 Ireland TV3 is a free-to-air commercial television network in the Republic of Ireland. Launched on 20 September 1998 it was Ireland's first commercial broadcaster. The channel is owned by TV3 Group a subsidiary of Doughty Hanson & Co.-The TV3 Group:... |
July 3, 2010 |
| Brazil | Sony Entertainment Television Sony Entertainment Television Sony Entertainment Television is a series of general entertainment television channels, owned by Sony Pictures Television. At least 9 International versions of this channel exist:*Sony Entertainment Television Asia... |
February 4, 2010 |
| Latin America Latin America Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area... |
Sony Entertainment Television Sony Entertainment Television Sony Entertainment Television is a series of general entertainment television channels, owned by Sony Pictures Television. At least 9 International versions of this channel exist:*Sony Entertainment Television Asia... |
March 4, 2010 |
| United Kingdom | E4 | June 17, 2010 |
| Philippines | Studio 23 Studio 23 Studio 23 is a Filipino television network owned by the ABS-CBN Corporation. The network is named for its flagship station in Metro Manila, DWAC-TV, which is carried on UHF channel 23... , Velvet Velvet (TV channel) Velvet is a women-targeted general entertainment channel, owned by Creative Programs, Inc., an subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corporation. It is currently on SkyCable channel 53.-Channel Information:... , Star World STAR World STAR World is an Asian English language cable and satellite television network owned by Star TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation. The channel is the successor of STAR Plus, a subsidiary of News Corporation... |
TBA, June 4, 2010, June 7, 2010 |
| Israel Israel The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... |
Yes Stars Comedy Yes Stars Comedy Yes Comedy is an Israeli television channel carried by the Israeli satellite television provider - yes, which broadcasts American and British TV shows of the sitcom, dramedy and comedy genres... |
April 2010 |
| Italy | Fox Life (Italy) Fox Life (Italy) Fox Life is a television channel in Italy owned by Fox International Channels Italy. The channel primarily targets women.Two time-shifted versions of the channel, called Fox Life +1 and Fox Life +2, broadcast the same programming an hour later or two hours later.-Programming:The schedule contains... |
March 11, 2011 |
| Macedonia | Fox Life Fox Life Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... |
September 2010 |
| Japan | Fox Life Fox Life Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... |
April 2010 |
| Poland | Comedy Central Comedy Central Polska Comedy Central Poland is a Polish language channel focusing on comedy which was launched on October 19, 2006. It was the first channel outside the United States to use the Comedy Central name and the fourth channel launched by MTV Networks International in Poland.The channel broadcasts some local... |
May 17, 2010 |
| Portugal | Fox Life Fox Life Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... , Fox Life HD Fox Life Fox Life is a television network, launched by the Fox Broadcasting Company, which airs across Latin America, Europe and Japan . Its basic programming include numerous television series, sitcoms and movies, among others, which includes some original programming in certain regions... |
June 27, 2010 |
| New Zealand | C4 | August 3, 2010 |
| Slovenia | TV3 Slovenia TV3 Slovenia TV3 is a television channel in Slovenia owned by Modern Times Group . The channel was also known as Prva TV from 1 November 2004 to 1 October 2006.... |
October 18, 2010 (Weekdays at 6pm) |
| Denmark | TV2 Zulu | December 2010 |
| Norway | TV2 | December 29, 2010 |
| Slovakia | TV JOJ TV JOJ -About TV JOJ:It was launched on 2 March 2002 as a successor of the TV Global, which was broadcasting since March 2000. TV Joj was built by former head of Czech Republic channel TV Nova, Vladimír Železný, when he was at war with TV Nova’s U.S. investor Central European Media Enterprises... |
February 20, 2011 |
| South Africa | SABC 3 SABC 3 SABC3 is a commercial South African Broadcasting Corporation television channel that carries programming in English and, as of April 2009, Afrikaans.... |
June 27, 2011 |
| Greece | Skai TV Skai TV Skai TV is a Greek TV station, based in Pireus, Athens. It is part of the Skai Group one of the largest media groups in Greece. It was relaunched in its present form on April 1, 2006 in Athens and gradually managed to spread its coverage nationwide. Besides analog over-the-air transmission, it is... |
September 13, 2011 |
External links
- Accidentally on Purpose at CBS's website
- Mary F. Pols' website