Accidentally on Purpose (TV series)

Accidentally on Purpose is an American sitcom television series created by Claudia Lonow, that ran on CBS from September 21, 2009, to April 21, 2010, during the 2009–10 season.[1] The series stars Jenna Elfman, Jon Foster, Ashley Jensen, Nicolas Wright, Grant Show, and Lennon Parham and was produced by BermanBraun and CBS Television Studios. It was based on the book of the same name by Mary F. Pols.[2]

Accidentally on Purpose
GenreSitcom
Created byClaudia Lonow
Based onAccidentally on Purpose
by Mary F. Pols
Starring
Opening theme"Birds of a Feather"
performed by The Rosenbergs
ComposerJohn Swihart
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
  • Claudia Lonow
  • Gail Berman
  • Lloyd Braun
  • Eugene Stein
Camera setupFilm; Multi-camera
Running time20-21 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkCBS
Original releaseSeptember 21, 2009 (2009-09-21) –
April 21, 2010 (2010-04-21)

On May 18, 2010, CBS cancelled the series after one season.

Plot

Accidentally on Purpose follows Billie (Jenna Elfman), 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 is his van. While Billie receives encouragement and advice from her alcoholic 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.[3]

Theme song

The theme song for the show is "Birds of a Feather", written by David Fagin of the indie-rock band The Rosenbergs.[4] The song is on their album Department Store Girl.[5]

History

On November 3, 2009, CBS ordered an additional five episodes of the series, bringing the total to 18.[6] In early 2010 CBS moved Accidentally on Purpose to Wednesday nights from Mondays, to accommodate the midseason return of Rules of Engagement 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.

Critical reception

Accidentally on Purpose received mixed reviews, scoring a 50/100 on Metacritic, while scoring a 6.2/10 with viewers.[7] 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."[8]

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.[9]

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Pilot"Pamela FrymanClaudia LonowSeptember 21, 2009 (2009-09-21)8.91[10]
Billie (Jenna Elfman) meets Zack (Jon Foster), an aspiring chef in his 20s, at a local bar and they have a one-night stand at his friend's apartment. She soon finds out that she is pregnant from the fling and decides to keep the baby. She must simultaneously deal with her boss and ex-boyfriend, James, 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 is his van. While Billie receives encouragement and advice from her party girl best friend (and fellow journalist) 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.
2"Memento"Pamela FrymanGregg MettlerSeptember 28, 2009 (2009-09-28)8.02
When Billie tries to learn more about Zack, he becomes evasive. While snooping through Zack's belongings, Billie discovers a note addressed to her that he never finished writing. Meanwhile, Zack gets an offer that may mean having to leave Billie and his unborn child.
3"One Night Stand"Ted WassVince CalandraOctober 5, 2009 (2009-10-05)7.17[11]
Billie's pregnancy causes bodily and hormonal changes in her, causing men to hit on her. Meanwhile, Zack refuses to have sex with Billie after she tries to have sex with him, due to a very embarrassing reason.
4"The Date"John PasquinCynthia GreenburgOctober 12, 2009 (2009-10-12)7.73[12]
Billie and Zack discuss their feelings on dating and agree to see other people. However, Billie's pregnancy gets in the way of any potential love connections and Zack's date does not go as planned.
5"The Love Guru"Andrew D. WeymanBill Kunstler & Alison McDonaldOctober 19, 2009 (2009-10-19)8.26[13]
Billie tries to live vicariously through Zack and Davis by offering up dating advice to them. However, things take a turn when the objects of the boys' affection reveal their true intentions. Meanwhile, James tries to hook up with teenagers by pretending to be one himself. Abby ends up irritating Olivia after she sends a friend request to the latter on Facebook.
6"Fight Club"Andrew D. WeymanBill KunstlerNovember 2, 2009 (2009-11-02)8.08[14]
Billie and Zack have their first big argument after Zack tries to surprise Billie by installing a low flow toilet. Billie becomes the butt of jokes when her waxing appointment is halted due to Zack and Davis. Billie's baby kicks for the first time.
7"The Godfather"David TrainerVince Calandra & Cynthia GreenburgNovember 9, 2009 (2009-11-09)7.89[15]
Billie unintentionally causes Abby and Nick to break up when she asks them to be godparents. However, after a fun night on the town with Davis goes too far, Billie must stop Abby before she does something she will regret. Also, Billie has to work with Sullivan "Sully" Boyd, a fellow worker, which does not please Zack or James, as both think that Sully has a thing for pregnant women.
8"The Third Man"John PasquinMike DieffenbachNovember 16, 2009 (2009-11-16)7.27
When Billie starts dating a colleague from her newspaper, Zack is unable to hide his jealousy.
9"Working Girl"Ted WassAndrea Abbate & David HoldenNovember 23, 2009 (2009-11-23)7.89[16]
Billie is threatened when James hires another film critic at the paper and sets out to prove how valuable she is. Meanwhile, Abby tries to make Olivia pay her share of tab.
10"Class"Barnet KellmanFranklyn Hardy & Shane KosakowskiDecember 7, 2009 (2009-12-07)7.91[17]
Billie and Zack take instructional parenting classes separately due to their schedules. Zack intends to meet some other fathers as most of his other friends are not at this stage of life yet, but instead makes friends with a lesbian couple. Billie goes with Olivia and Abby. While Zack shines in his class, Abby outshines Billie at all the tasks. The lesbian couple guides Davis to another lesbian couple to help him get laid, which yields unexpected results. Abby starts taking pole dancing lessons.
11"It Happened One Christmas"Gail MancusoGregg Mettler & Claudia LonowDecember 14, 2009 (2009-12-14)8.81[18]
Worried that she will ruin Christmas, as she has in previous years, Billie tries to hide from her parents the fact that Zack is living with her. Zack spends Christmas with Davis and realizes that Billie is the coolest woman he has ever met. When he returns to the apartment he proposes to Billie. Meanwhile, Abby's husband, Nick, tries to impress their father.
12"The Odd Couples"Ted WassMike Dieffenbach & David HoldenJanuary 11, 2010 (2010-01-11)8.43[19]
Zack tries to get along with Nick, but Nick is too strange for him. When Billie tells Abby that Zack doesn't like Nick, they fight and Abby decides not to arrange Billie's baby shower. Davis pretends to be Dave Grohl's younger brother to impress a girl. Billie and Zack discover the gender of their child – thanks to Abby.
13"The Rock"Andrew D. WeymanAlison McDonald & Andrea AbbateJanuary 18, 2010 (2010-01-18)9.56[20]
Billie and Sully have to work on a story, but due to her embarrassing him previously, Sully is reluctant. Billie forces Olivia to flirt with Sully until their story is printed. Everybody gets a shock when James is axed and tells them that any one of them could be next. Zack begins a new business venture with Davis as his partner, while Olivia is caught on the newspaper's security camera.
14"Attack of the 50 Foot Woman"Ted WassClaudia Lonow & Bill Kunstler & David HoldenFebruary 1, 2010 (2010-02-01)8.42
Billie is happy when the baby's crib arrives, until she finds that neither Zack nor Davis is keen to assemble it. Her efforts to manipulate Zack create an even bigger mess, eventually leading to a fight between her and Zack. Meanwhile, Davis is working in a gay bar (pretending to be gay) to get some extra cash. An unsuspecting Zack is pulled into his charade when a bar patron takes interest in Davis.
15"Back to School"David TrainerFranklin Hardy & Shane KosakowskiFebruary 8, 2010 (2010-02-08)9.10[21]
Billie invites herself to Zack's high school reunion but worries that she can't compete with his hot ex-girlfriend Melissa. Meanwhile, Olivia helps Abby host a party where they try to sell Abby's miracle youth juice. Davis reveals a dirty secret about Melissa to Billie, but it turns out that it was not exactly a secret for Zack. Ryan crashes Zack's reunion pretending to be a student, but gets some painful memories at the reunion.
16"Face Off"Ted WassJenn Lloyd & Kevin BonaniApril 7, 2010 (2010-04-07)6.03[22]
Zack is upset when Billie hires a baby nurse without consulting him. Davis and Ryan soon find out that Zack is right to be concerned. Meanwhile, Abby tries to mend the fences between Olivia and her less than ideal mother.
17"Speed (Part 1)"Ted WassDavid Rosenthal & DJ NashApril 14, 2010 (2010-04-14)5.90[23]
Billie pretends to go into labor to save Zack from getting a traffic ticket after they're pulled over for speeding. Meanwhile, Olivia and Davis end up sleeping together. Nick and Abby get an opportunity to go to a star-studded premiere that Billie missed, but Abby isn't as happy with the opportunity as she thought she would be.
18"Speed (Part 2)"Ted WassClaudia LonowApril 21, 2010 (2010-04-21)5.22[24]
After faking labor pains to get Zack out of a speeding ticket, Billie goes into labor – for real. Unfortunately, things take a turn when Zack gets busted by the officer they had initially lied to and is hauled off to the police station. Abby goes to bail Zack, but ends up with him as well. In the end, it is Olivia who unexpectedly saves the day. Billie gives birth to her baby, Henry, and agrees to marry Zack.

References
  1. Matt Mitovich (June 24, 2009). "Fall TV: CBS Announces Premiere Dates". TV Guide Online. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2009.
  2. Carter, Bill (May 18, 2009). "Upfronts: CBS to Add Six Shows". The New York Times.
  3. "Breaking News – CBS Confirms Six Newcomers". TheFutonCritic.com. May 18, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  5. Department Store Girl Archived September 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine at the Rosenbergs' website
  6. Schneider, Michael (November 3, 2009). "CBS picks up more 'Purpose'". Variety.
  7. "Accidentally on Purpose – Season 1 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  8. Hale, Mike (September 20, 2009). "Older Woman, Younger Man and Baby Makes Three". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
  9. Exton, Emily (May 18, 2010). "Breaking: CBS cancels 'Ghost Whisperer' and 'Old Christine' | Inside TV | EW.com". Insidetv.ew.com. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  10. "CBS wins Premiere week in viewers and adults 25–54". CBS PressExpress. September 29, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  11. Monday night broadcast national final Nielsen numbers Archived October 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers October 6, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  12. CBS wins Monday in Key demos. CBS PressExpress October 13, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  13. The Biggest Bang Yet!. Tv by the Numbers October 20, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  14. Monday Broadcast Finals: Castle doesn't drop; Heroes, Trauma do Archived November 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers November 3, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  15. Monday Finals: House, Gossip Girl, Big Bang and others up, Castle, DWTS down a tick Archived November 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers November 10, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  16. Monday Broadcast Finals: Castle holds season-high adults 18–49 rating Archived November 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers November 24, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  17. Monday Finals: Big Bang Theory drops a tick, Castle drops two ticks Archived December 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers December 8, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  18. Monday Broadcast Finals: CBS 8pm Hour Loses a Bit, "Find My Family" drops Archived December 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers December 15, 2009. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  19. Monday Broadcast Finals Plus Chuck Quarter Hour Detail Archived January 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers January 12, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  20. "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory" are the week's top two scripted programs in viewers and key demographics. CBS PressExpress January 26, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  21. Super Night for CBS's comedy power hour. CBS PressExpress February 9, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  22. Wednesday Finals: "CSI: NY" Dips Further + "South Park," "In Plain Sight" and More Archived April 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers April 8, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  23. Wednesday Broadcast Finals: The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town Adjusted Up; Ugly Betty Down Archived April 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers April 15, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  24. Wednesday Broadcast Finals: Idol, L&O: SVU Adjusted Up; Accidentally On Purpose Down Archived April 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Tv by the Numbers April 22, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
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