'Life Unexpected' sets January 18 premiere date

By James Hibberd

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The CW's "Life Unexpected" has a premiere date, January 18, where it will temporarily replace "Gossip Girl" as part of a strategy to keep original episodes airing on Monday nights.

"Unexpected" will take the place of "Gossip Girl" for its run, then "Gossip" will return for another 12 episodes. The logic is that "Gossip" performs stronger when aired with fewer interruptions. Last year the show dropped significantly in the ratings during the early part of the year as the network cycled in repeats.

"Life Unexpected" stars Britt Robertson ("Swingtown") as a teenager who seeks legal emancipation from her foster family and uncovers her real parents in the process.