Mixology

Mixology
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Jon Lucas Scott Moore
Starring	Adam Campbell Adan Canto Alexis Carra Craig Frank Ginger Gonzaga Blake Lee Vanessa Lengies Andrew Santino Frankie Shaw Katie Simses
Theme music composer	Adam Gibbons and Mikael Sandgren
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13
Production
Executive producer(s)	Adam Sher Jon Lucas Nina Wass Ryan Seacrest Scott Moore
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	21-22 minutes[1]
Production company(s)	Lucas & Moore Ryan Seacrest Productions ABC Studios
Distributor	Disney–ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original network	ABC
Picture format	720p (HDTV)
Audio format	Dolby Digital
Original release	February 26 – May 21, 2014
External links
Website

Mixology is an American sitcom that aired during the 2013–14 television season on ABC. The series was co-created by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, who also serve as co-executive producers with Ryan Seacrest and Nina Wass for Ryan Seacrest Productions and ABC Studios. The series was green-lit by ABC for a series order pick up on May 10, 2013.^[2]

On November 19, 2013, it was announced that the series would premiere on February 26, 2014.^[3]

On May 8, 2014, ABC canceled Mixology after only one season.^[4]

Synopsis

The series takes place all over the course of one night at a Manhattan bar called "Mix", where five women and five men meet up for more than just a casual conversation and a drink. Each episode follows two or three characters as they meet each other for the first time and from there determine the outcome in the finale, which is the end of the night.

Cast and characters

Main

• Adam Campbell as Ron, a failed internet entrepreneur who is British, ends up alone. He was born in 1983 in Bath, England to parents who were alcoholics. When Ron was old enough, his parents shipped him off to an expensive boarding school. He became a hustler and moved to New York City where he became an internet entrepreneur. He, just like his parents, was the life of the party. He lost millions of dollars in investments when he used the money to buy things for himself, which is illegal.
• Adan Canto as Dominic, a dark and mysterious bartender, ends up alone. Dominic was more into superficial relationships. Ever since he was born, he was the hottest guy. He moved to New York City where he was instantly offered job to a bar he had mistakenly stumbled into. He earns more money than a normal person does, while having sex with random women. For the first time in his life he didn't get what he wanted, a successful music career. His last name is Veracruz.
• Alexis Carra as Jessica, a single mom with two kids; a son and a daughter. She was born in a bar. Ever since she was a kid, Jessica dreamed of being a fashion designer with her best friend Fab. However, she got pregnant with the lead singer in a band. At the beginning of the night, she goes to the bar to meet Ron, who promptly throws up in her purse. She later ends up friends with Bruce. In her online profile, her last name is shown to be Genser.
• Andrew Santino as Bruce, a fast-talking man and one of Tom's best friends. He was born 18 pounds and 9 ounces. He has two older brothers; Kyle and Doug who were athletic and popular but Bruce wasn't. At School, he met Dawn who he feel in love with but Dawn just saw him as a friend. He ends up becoming friends with Jessica.
• Blake Lee as Tom, a man recently dumped by his fiancée who hasn’t been out on the town in a decade, ends up with Maya. Tom was born in 1986 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Tom's father left him and his mother behind at the age of six, however he didn't realize it until he was nine years old. Tom met Laura at a college party. After graduating college, they moved into a "very white" part of Brooklyn where they got engaged however she dumped him. His last name is Svencen. Tom, just like Maya, hates Hawaiians.
• Craig Frank as Cal, a handsome and confident man who is one of Tom's best friends, ends up with Kacey. He was born in Green Tree, Ohio and was delivered by a Mail man. His parents praised him for everything he did, even for just eating breakfast. This made him very optimistic and he quickly got married three times, to a women who liked coffee yogurt, his dentist and a sex addict who he all divorced soon after of them because they turned out to be different people than who Cal thought. His last name is Harris.
• Frankie Shaw as Colleen "Fab", Jessica's gorgeous and stylish frenemy. She is a fashion designer and ends up with a Hawaiian man. She moved to Paris to fulfill her and Jessica's dream since childhood, while Jessica raised two kids. Her whole life has been a struggle, beginning with her 32-hour birth. Her parents fought constantly during her childhood, and her move to Paris turned out to be a disaster. Hours of work amounted to little to nothing, French guys were awful, and she got fired by Nicole Scherzinger as soon as she had gotten her first big break. Her last name is Dawson.
• Ginger Gonzaga as Maya, an attorney who’s as beautiful as she is brutal, ends up with Tom. Maya was born in 1984 in the front seat of her father's pick-up truck. She had her first beer one minute later. She the third of six girls. However her father didn't like girls, so he treated her like a boy, teaching her basketball and fighting for no reason. She earned a basketball scholarship. She dates professional athletes because she considers them "real" men, like Keyshawn Johnson who she dated for a couple of months. She is from Pittsburgh. Because she is constantly assumed to be Hawaiian, she hates them because of their restaurants and flip flops as well as their short alphabet and their sensitivity to Don Ho.
• Kate Simses as Liv, Maya’s friend who was engaged to Jim who she wants to tell him the engagement is off in favor of Ron. Liv since birth was always a happy child and didn't cry until she was seven. She has an older brother who is the exact opposite of her in every way. She was always into safe guys especially ones who wear helmets. Liv met Jim at the 59 street Cat adoption. She just like Jim, likes scrapbooking, cheese, the entire CBS comedy lineup.

• Vanessa Lengies as Kacey, a bubbly cocktail waitress from West Green Tree, Ohio. She starts off the series dating Dominic and later meets Cal. She was an only child delivered by a fireman right before he put out a fire. She met her ex-boyfriend Brad at a cheerleading practice. They moved to New York City and got jobs at Planet Tan in Chelsea. Their dream was to open up a discount tan place for poor people who still wanted to be tan, but Brad turned out to be gay. Later in the night, Kacey was legitimately shocked when Dominic agreed they should take their relationship to the next level, but he didn't know what that meant.

Recurring

• William Sturtevant as Bar Patron
• Sarah Wright as Laura Johnson, Tom's self-centered ex-fiance.
• Jonathan Spencer as Carl, a very quiet man who works with Maya and Liv at their law firm. He gives Liv love advice when she gets engaged to Jim.

Special guests

• Nicole Scherzinger as herself, she makes an appearance in the episode "Fab & Jessica & Dominic" when Fab receives an opportunity to dress and make clothes for her.
• Alexi Lalas as himself, he makes an appearance in the episode "Jessica & Ron" where he is the couple of the girl Bruce was hitting on. Bruce immediately recognizes him, and idolizes him as the best known ginger athlete of all time.

Development and production

Mixology, which is the first television project for film writers Lucas and Moore, was the subject of a bidding war among the networks in October 2012, resulting in ABC eventually picking up the project with a put pilot commitment.^[5] In February 2013, Seacrest's production company became a joint partner on the project and Wass was added to the production staff.^[6]

Casting

Of the 10 cast members who were added during the project, one of the members who was first added when it was announced, Mercedes Masöhn, decided to exit the production in March 2013 to seek other projects.^[7] She was replaced by Ginger Gonzaga a week later.^[8]

Also, in main publicity shots of the entire cast, Sarah Bolger is seen as an original cast member, but after exiting the production was replaced by Frankie Shaw.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.S. viewers (millions)
1	"Tom & Maya"	Larry Charles	Jon Lucas & Scott Moore	February 26, 2014	4.98[9]
In the series opener, Tom, after breaking up with his fiancée, Laura, is forced by into the dating world by his best friends, Cal and Bruce. Tom's first encounter is with an attorney named Maya. Despite crying about his breakup to Maya, he successfully asks for her number. The bubbly cocktail waitress Kacey breaks up with Dominic due to him being to dark and her being a positive person. Jessica has a date with Ron who she met on the internet until Ron vomits in her purse. Guests: Keyshawn Johnson as himself
2	"Liv & Ron"	Michael McDonald	Jon Lucas & Scott Moore	March 5, 2014	4.64[10]
Since Liv has had an encounter with internet entrepreneur, Ron, outside the bar the two had instant chemistry. Meanwhile, Jessica and Fab, start a competition to win the affections of the bartender Dominic. Even though he is infatuated with Maya, Cal and Bruce convince Tom to keep trying to pick up women, even though he fails the first several times, he eventually makes a breakthrough.
3	"Bruce & Jessica"	Adam Davidson	Ira Ungerleider	March 12, 2014	4.29[11]
Jessica, a single mom from New Jersey, is targeted by Bruce because he believes she is easy. However, Jessica rejects Bruce causing him to want her more Meanwhile, Liv gets into some trouble with Ron. Maya is hit on by group of Hawaiian men because they believe she is one too due to the Blue Hawaiian cocktail.
4	"Cal & Kacey"	Richie Keen	Patti Carr & Lara Olsen	March 19, 2014	3.66[12]
After hitting off over a conversation about their hometown of Green Tree, Ohio, Cal and Kacey believe they are meant to be together due to being hopeless romantics. Meanwhile, Liv breaks more rules.
5	"Fab & Jessica & Dominic"	John Fortenberry	John Enbom	March 26, 2014	4.85[13]
Jessica and Fab compete for Dominic's affections; Tom wants to make a move on Maya; Cal and Bruce go to another part of the bar. Ron forgets the time he spent with Kacey and offends her, however, Kacey mistakes Ron as someone else. Liv and Maya also find out how many women Ron has slept with. Guests: Nicole Scherzinger as herself
6	"Tom & Maya II"	Richie Keen	Vali Chandrasekaran	April 2, 2014	4.33[14]
Things are going with Tom and Maya, until Laura, Tom's ex-fiancé, enter the bar. They try to make a quick exit strategy but when their plan fails. Meanwhile, Liv is interested Jessica and Fab's ability to flirt with guys, so she asks for some pointers, and Kacey and Ron have a run in with a group of attractive firemen.
7	"Bruce & Fab"	Michael McDonald	Gloria Calderon Kellett	April 9, 2014	3.65[15]
Bruce and Fab hated each other, but as the night continues, thinks might change. Meanwhile, Tom accidentally gets into a fight with a group of guys at the bar and Jessica shows Liv and Maya a very well-endowed photo of Ron that leaves Liv wanting more.
8	"Jessica & Ron"	Eyal Gordin	Aeysha Carr	April 16, 2014	3.86[16]
Jessica now regrets sending a nude photo to Ron after realizing she barely knows him. Meanwhile, Liv complicates things between Jessica and Ron. Maya hits it off with an attractive guy. Bruce's chance to hook up comes when he meets a woman who is into red-heads, but things quickly begin to look grim. Guests: Alexi Lalas as himself
9	"Dominic & Kacey"	Scott Ellis	Jared Miller	April 23, 2014	4.32[17]
After countless meaningless sex, Kacey decides to confront Dominic about their relationship status but is shocked when Dominic wants to take the relationship to the next level. However, he doesn't even knows what that means. Dominic turns to Tom for advice. Meanwhile, Liv, who has been drinking all night, is confront by Maya and Fab who try to help her. And the chance of hooking up with someone is being ruined for Bruce and Cal as they fend off a unwanted guest.
10	"Liv & Jim"	Alex Hardcastle	John Blickstead & Trey Kollmer	April 30, 2014	3.78[18]
Bruce gets into a argument with Tom and Cal after he finds out they watched the third season of "Downton Abbey" without him because of his constant disparaging remarks. Bruce takes offense and finds a new group of guys to hang out with, but they also start to call him out for being a terrible person. Meanwhile, Liv is forced to face her actions when her finacee shows up.
11	"Bruce & Maya"	Jeffrey Walker	Dave Horwitz & Maria Pinson	May 7, 2014	3.84[19]
The night is about to end and nobody wants to go home alone once it's last call. Bruce enlists Maya to fake flirt with him to get Jessica's attention, but when things start to get serious between them, Tom comes to the conclusion that he's flirting with disaster. Meanwhile, Fab spots her attractive gynecologist.
12	"Last Call"	Elliot Hegarty	Matt Donnelly	May 14, 2014	3.99[20]
Tom finds himself bonding with Liv but in the process, Liv and Tom can't help but realize they might actually be meant for each other instead. Bruce starts to panic when he realizes Jessica is probably going to go home with Dominic, so he sets out to find a backup girl he can take home.
13	"Closing Time"	Jon Lucas & Scott Moore	Jon Lucas & Scott Moore	May 21, 2014	4.04[21]
On the series finale, the night is coming to an end and it's Tom's last chance to ask Maya to go home with him. Meanwhile, Bruce has to decide whether or not to be with Jessica, Liv finds herself in a situation in which she must make a decision that will ultimately affect her happiness. Kacey comes to conclusion after learning some troubling information about Cal and has to decide if she still wants to keep her date with him.

Reception

Ratings

The pilot episode "Tom & Maya" debuted on American Broadcasting Company (ABC) on February 26, 2014, to an audience of 4.98 million viewers, it would become the most watched episode of the series.^[9] The second episode "Liv and Ron", one week later, drew 4.64 million viewers.^[10] The least watched episode of the series is the seventh episode "Bruce & Fab", which drew 3.65 million viewers.^[15] The finale episode of the series "Closing Time" which aired on May 21, 2014, to an audience of 4.04 million viewers.^[21]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	48/100[22]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Entertainment Weekly	B[23]
Newsday	B[24]
New York Daily News	[25]

Brian Lowry of Variety gave a score of 80%, and wrote, "Maintaining this sort of rat-a-rat patter is no small feat, but the series gets off to such a promising start as to bode well for future installments. Moreover, the shifting pairings from episode to episode create a semi-serialized element that deftly builds off the groundwork laid the previous week, conjuring questions about who’s going to wind up with whom."^[26] Karen Valby of Entertainment Weekly gave the series a "B" grade, and wrote, "If you like--or like zoning out to--slick and shiny romantic comedies in the vein of New Year's Eve and Valentine's Day, Mixology is the show for you. But underneath the glossy, Ryan Seacrest-produced banner, this cocktail actually has some genuine sweetness and originality."^[23] Diana Werts of Newsday gave the series a grade of "B", and wrote, "Some twisty situations, some unexpected heart, some nuanced acting. Some serious single-camera potential. Could be worth awaiting last call to see who goes where, and why."^[24]

David Wiegand of the San Francisco Chronicle gave a positive review, saying, "The show is funny enough, although you might wonder where it would go in a second season, but here's the dirty little secret of Mixology: It's intelligent and poignant as well as being entertaining".^[27] Vicki Hyman of the Newark Star-Ledger gave a mixed review, saying, "Only intermittently funny but unceasingly crass."^[28] Matt Roush of TV Guide gave a mixed review, saying, "While some of the flirtatious banter in these random odd couplings can be witty and even winsome, after a few rounds (I made it through three episodes), I was ready to close out my tab."^[29] David Hinckley of the New York Daily News gave the series 2 out of 5 stars, and wrote, "At the end of the night, Mixology doesn’t have a lot of fizz".^[25] Robert Lloyd of the Los Angeles Times gave a mixed review, saying, "There is something mechanical and arbitrary about the plotting, as if a mess of gears that didn't actually go together had been smashed into some semblance of a working order."^[30]

Maureen Ryan of the The Huffington Post gave a negative review, saying, "In its first few episodes, "Mixology" loudly and repeatedly makes the case that women (who are judged on their adherence to very limited set of rules regarding appearance, dress, behavior, etc.) are objects to be won, that men must employ elaborate stratagems to obtain sex (and only sex) with these female objects, and that even if the facade of "game" drops on occasion, sincerity and kindness are usually things to be mocked."^[31] Dan Fienberg of the HitFix gave a negative review, saying, "Nearly every character is introduced in the most repulsive way possible and then the show tries to backtrack, sell the characters out and make it seem like they're all just marshmallows."^[32] Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter gave a negative, and wrote, "Mixology is a tone-deaf, poorly executed, badly written series that, in the parlance of the show, kind of rapes comedy."^[33]

References

1. "Mixology, Season 1". iTunes. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
2. Rose, Lacey; Goldberg, Lesley (May 10, 2013). "ABC Orders Ryan Seacrest's 'Mixology,' Sofia Vergara's Killer Women, 'Once' Spinoff, More". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
3. Kondolojy, Amanda (November 19, 2013). "ABC Releases Midseason Schedule: 'Betrayal' in Limbo, 'Revenge' Moves to 10PM, + 'Suburgatory' Premieres January 15". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
4. Goldberg, Lesley (May 8, 2014). "ABC Cancels Freshman Comedies 'Trophy Wife,' 'Mixology'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
5. Andreeva, Nellie (October 23, 2012). "Comedy From 'Hangover' Writers Jon Lucas And Scott Moore Lands At ABC As Put Pilot". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
6. Andreeva, Nellie (February 5, 2013). "ABC's 'Mixology' Casts A Regular, Adds Ryan Seacrest's Company". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
7. Andreeva, Nellie (March 5, 2013). "Mercedes Masohn Exits ABC Pilot 'Mixology'". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
8. Andreeva, Nellie (March 14, 2013). "Ginger Gonzaga Lands Vacant Lead In ABC Comedy Pilot 'Mixology'". Deadline.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
9. Kondolojy, Amanda (February 27, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol' & 'Nashville' Adjusted Up; 'Survivor', 'The Middle', 'Mixology', 'Suburgatory' & 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
10. Bibel, Sara (March 6, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Modern Family', 'Mixology' & 'Nashville' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
11. Kondolojy, Amanda (March 13, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Middle', 'Suburgatory' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
12. Bibel, Sara (March 20, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor' Adjusted Up; No Adjustment for 'The 100'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
13. Kondolojy, Amanda (March 27, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'American Idol', 'Modern Family' & 'Suburgatory' Adjusted Up; 'Mixology' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
14. Bibel, Sara (April 3, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor', 'The Middle', 'Suburgatory', 'Modern Family' & 'Criminal Minds' Adjusted Up; 'CSI' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
15. Kondolojy, Amanda (April 10, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Law and Order: SVU' & 'Mixology' Adjusted Up; No Adjustment for 'The 100'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
16. Bibel, Sara (April 17, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor' Adjusted Up; 'The 100' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
17. Kondolojy, Amanda (April 24, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor', 'The Middle', 'Suburgatory' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
18. Bibel, Sara (May 1, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor', 'American Idol' & 'Suburgatory' Adjusted Up; 'Revolution' & 'CSI' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
19. Kondolojy, Amanda (May 8, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'The Middle', 'Arrow', 'American Idol', 'Modern Family', 'Law & Order: SVU' & 'Suburgatory' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
20. Bibel, Sara (May 15, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Revolution', 'Arrow', 'Survivor', 'Suburgatory', 'Modern Family' & 'Law & Order: SVU' Adjusted Up; 'Chicago P.D.' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
21. Kondolojy, Amanda (May 22, 2014). "Wednesday Final Ratings: 'Survivor', 'The Middle' & 'Modern Family' Adjusted Up; 'Survivor' Reunion Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
22. "Mixology : Season 1". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
23. Valby, Karen. "Mixology (2014)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
24. Werts, Diana. "'Mixology' review: Worthwhile new show". Newsday. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
25. Hinckley, David. "'Mixology': Television review: ABC sitcom follows 10 people in one bar for a night; while the premise is decent, the execution is a little tired and forced". New York Daily News. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
26. Lowry, Brian. "TV Review: 'Mixology'". Variety. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
27. Wiegand, David. "Mixology review: Attractive sitcom knows the Score". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
28. Hyman, Vicki. "'Mixology' review: Setting the bar really low". Newark Star-Ledger. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
29. Roush, Matt. "Wednesday Review: The Americans, Mixology and a New Survivor Twist". TV Guide. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
30. Lloyd, Robert. "Review: In 'Mixology,' it's all a matter of taste". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
31. Ryan, Maureen. "'About A Boy,' 'Mixology' And 'Growing Up Fisher' Reviews: One Possible Keeper In The Bunch". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
32. Fienberg, Dan. "TV Review: ABC's 'Mixology' is a toxic". Retrieved 30 July 2014.
33. Goodman, Tim. "Mixology: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 July 2014.

External links

• Mixology at the Internet Movie Database