Kyle XY is an American science fiction television series created by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber and produced by ABC Studios. The central character is a teenage boy (Matt Dallas) who awakens naked in a forest outside Seattle, Washington, with amnesia and no belly button. He is taken in by a family and given the name Kyle. The series follows Kyle as he tries to solve the puzzles of who he is and why he has no memory before that day. Although set in present-day Seattle, the series was filmed in the Vancouver, British Columbia area.

Kyle XY
Genre
Created by
Starring
Narrated byMatt Dallas
Music byMichael Suby
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes43 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Julie Plec
  • Charlie Gogolak
  • Curtis Kheel
  • Richard Heus
  • Chad Fiveash
  • S. Lily Hui
  • James Patrick Stoteraux
Running time44 minutes
Production companies
  • Two Cigarettes and One Match Productions (season 1)
  • Kyle XY Productions
  • BenderSpink Productions
  • ABC Studios[a]
Original release
NetworkABC Family
ReleaseJune 26, 2006 (2006-06-26) –
March 16, 2009 (2009-03-16)

The show premiered June 26, 2006, on the ABC Family cable channel. Episodes were also broadcast on the ABC network for the first season, but only for part of the second season, after which it was only seen on ABC Family.

After the 10-episode debut season on ABC Family during summer 2006, news reported a total of 23 new episodes were ordered for the second season, which started on June 11, 2007, with rebroadcasts on ABC beginning on June 15, 2007.[1] The second season's 13th episode, "Leap of Faith", aired on Monday, September 3, 2007; the remaining 10 began airing on January 12, 2008.

The German version was aired December 8, 2007.[2] The show started its second season in the UK on September 3, 2007. On April 5, the first season was broadcast in France on M6. On October 5, 2007, TV Guide reported that ABC Family had renewed Kyle XY for a third season of 10 episodes, which began airing on January 12, 2009.

On January 31, 2009, ABC Family announced that Kyle XY would not be returning for a fourth season.[3][4] The season finale of the show aired on March 16, 2009, leaving several unresolved dramatic cliffhangers. Following the last episode, writer Julie Plec revealed what had been planned for further seasons.[5] She revealed that the season three DVD would contain a "mini wrap-up" feature for the series.[6] The wrap-up, Kyle XY: Future Revealed, features the series' writers and actors explaining the plans for future episodes and how the series would conclude.

Cast and characters

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Kyle and the Trager family. Left to right: Stephen, Lori, Kyle, Josh, and Nicole.

Main

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Recurring

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Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
110June 26, 2006 (2006-06-26)August 28, 2006 (2006-08-28)
223June 11, 2007 (2007-06-11)March 17, 2008 (2008-03-17)
310January 12, 2009 (2009-01-12)March 16, 2009 (2009-03-16)

Home media

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Season DVD title Set details DVD release dates Special features
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
1 Kyle XY: The Complete First Season – Declassified
  • Discs: 3
  • Episodes: 10
May 22, 2007[7] August 4, 2008[8] December 3, 2008[9]
  • Alternate Premiere
  • Extended Season Finale
  • Kyle XY Declassified – "Kyle File"
  • Audio Commentaries
2 Kyle XY: The Complete Second Season – Revelations
  • Discs: 6
  • Episodes: 23
December 30, 2008 [10] N/A N/A
  • Alternate Ending
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Livin' with the X's
  • Audio Commentaries
  • The Science of Kyle XY
Kyle XY: The Complete Second Season – Revelations
  • Discs: 4
  • Episodes: 13[b]
N/A N/A March 11, 2009[11]
  • Alternate Ending
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Livin' with the X's
  • Facing the Future
  • Audio Commentaries
3 Kyle XY: The Complete Third Season – Full Disclosure
  • Discs: 3
  • Episodes: 10[c]
N/A N/A November 4, 2009[12]
  • Audio Commentaries
  • Deleted Scenes
  • The Science of Kyle XY
Kyle XY: The Complete Third and Final Season
  • Discs: 3
  • Episodes: 10
December 22, 2009[13] N/A N/A
  • Kyle XY: Future Revealed
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Audio Commentaries
  1. ^ Known as Touchstone Television for the first season
  2. ^ Comprises the first thirteen episodes of season two
  3. ^ Comprises the remaining ten episodes of season two

Reception

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Ratings

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Kyle XY was ABC Family channel's highest-rated original series from June 2006 to July 2008. The show lost its reign when the series premiere of The Secret Life of the American Teenager brought in 2.8 million viewers. According to the same press release, Kyle XY received a household rating of 2.1 and reached 2.6 million viewers.[14] The repeat showing of the first episode on sister broadcast network ABC had more than 5.2 million viewers.[15] Several news sources said low ratings is one of the reasons for the series' cancellation.[3][4]

The third-season premiere (in a new time slot, with high-viewership lead-in The Secret Life of the American Teenager) was 1.5 million total viewers, down 33 percent from the Season 2 opener,[4][16] and most ABC Family shows significantly outperformed the show.[4] The second episode slid to 1.426 million viewers.[17]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2006 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer Series Kyle XY Nominated
2007 Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Show: Drama Kyle XY Nominated
Choice TV: Breakout Matt Dallas Nominated
TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming Kyle XY Won [18][19]
Artios Award Best Children's TV Programming Robert J. Ulrich, Eric Dawson, Carol Kritzer, Wendy O'Brien, Coreen Mayrs and Heike Brandstatter (Canadian casting) Nominated [20]
Saturn Awards Best Actor in a Television Program Matt Dallas Nominated [21]
Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series Kyle XY Nominated
2008 Saturn Awards Best Actor on Television Matt Dallas Nominated [22]
Best Supporting Actress on Television Jaimie Alexander Nominated
Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series Kyle XY Nominated
GLAAD Media Award Individual Episode (in a Series without a Regular LGBT Character) "Free To Be You and Me" Nominated [23]

In other media

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Novels

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Two novels based on the series have been published, both written by S. G. Wilkins. The first, Kyle XY: Nowhere to Hide, concerns Kyle's first Halloween, while the second, Kyle XY: Under the Radar, concerns the school's election for student president, with Kyle as a candidate.

Novel # Title Pages Release Date
Novel #1 Kyle XY: Nowhere to Hide 192 August 30, 2007
Novel #2 Kyle XY: Under the Radar 189 January 1, 2008

Soundtrack and music

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Kyle XY: The Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedMay 22, 2007
GenreAlternative rock, Pop, pop rock
LabelMySpace

On May 22, 2007, a soundtrack for Kyle XY was released. It was released on the same day as the release of the first season. Track listing is as follows:

  1. "Hide Another Mistake" – The 88
  2. "Nevermind the Phonecalls" – Earlimart
  3. "Surround" – In-Flight Safety
  4. "I'll Write the Song, You Sing For Me" – Irving
  5. "Wonderful Day" – O.A.R.
  6. "Bug Bear" – Climber
  7. "Honestly" – Cary Brothers
  8. "So Many Ways" – Mates of State
  9. "Middle Of the Night" – Sherwood
  10. "Alibis" – Marianas Trench
  11. "It’s Only Life" – Kate Voegele
  12. "3 A.M." – Sean Hayes
  13. "Born On the Cusp" – American Analog Set
  14. "Will You Remember Me (Lori's Song)" – April Matson
  15. "Alley Cat (Demo)" – Sherwood (iTunes Bonus Track)

The music supervisor for the show is Chris Mollere. Michael Suby wrote the opening theme, and most of the score and cues. Neither the theme nor any of the score appear on the soundtrack CD.

Music from Kyle XY

Alternate reality game

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Kyle XY featured an online alternate reality game during the first season in which players were "invited" to help solve the mystery of Kyle's actual identity. ABC Family and Touchstone hosted a website by the fictional business The Mada Corporation[27] that served as the game's rabbit hole introducing players to the in-game universe, but the project ended during the second season.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Extended second season for 'Kyle XY'". Digital Spy. May 9, 2007. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
  2. ^ "Shows A-Z - kyle xy on abc family | TheFutonCritic.com". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Ausiello, Michael. "ABC Family Pledges More 'Greek,' 'Lincoln Heights,' Cancels 'Kyle XY'."". EW.com. January 31, 2009. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "Kyle XY: ABC Family TV Show Cancelled, No Season Four". TVSeriesFinale.com. January 31, 2009. Archived from the original on June 9, 2009. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  5. ^ "Writer/co-producer Julie Plec answers questions about the 'Kyle XY' finale". ABC Family. March 7, 2009. Archived from the original on March 20, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2009.
  6. ^ "Kyle XY will "mini" wrap-up on season three DVD". CliqueClack.com. September 11, 2009. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2009.
  7. ^ "Kyle XY: The Complete First Season (2006)". Amazon. May 22, 2007. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  8. ^ "Kyle XY – Complete Series 1 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. August 4, 2008. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  9. ^ "Kyle XY – The Complete 1st Season: Declassified (3 Disc Set)". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  10. ^ "Kyle XY: The Complete Second Season (2009)". Amazon. December 30, 2008. Archived from the original on August 11, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  11. ^ "Kyle XY – The Complete 2nd Season: Revelations (555 Disc Set)". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  12. ^ "Kyle XY – The 3rd Season: Full Disclosure (3 Disc Set)". EzyDVD. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  13. ^ "Kyle XY: The Complete Third and Final Season (2010)". Amazon. December 22, 2009. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  14. ^ "Millions of viewers tune-in to discover who is 'Kyle XY'" (PDF). ABC FamilyNet. June 27, 2006. Retrieved July 2, 2006. [dead link]
  15. ^ Becker, Anne (July 3, 2006). "Kyle XY Scores High in Double Play". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved July 11, 2006.
  16. ^ "Hibberd, James. "'Kyle XY' Debut Disappoints; 'Real Chance' Soars." The Live Feed. January 13, 2009". Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  17. ^ "Seidman, Robert. "Obama Inauguration, WWE RAW and Burn Notice Lead Weekly Cable Viewing." TVByTheNumbers.com January 27, 2009". TVbytheNumbers. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  18. ^ Adalian, Josef (July 22, 2007). "'Friday' takes a top TCA Award". Variety. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "TCA Awards The Office Top Comedy Prize". MTV. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  20. ^ Gretta Parkinson (October 3, 2007). "Casting Society unveils Artios noms". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  21. ^ Staff, M. W. (February 21, 2007). "Superman Returns Leads the 33rd Annual Saturn Awards with 10 Nominations". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  22. ^ Gregg Kilday (February 21, 2008). "'300' leads Saturn nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  23. ^ "GLAAD Announces Nominees for Annual Media Awards". www.advocate.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "'Kyle XY' Music Guide to 'It Happened One Night'". ABC Family. Archived from the original on January 17, 2009. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
  25. ^ "'Kyle XY' Music Guide to 'Psychic Friend'". ABC Family. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  26. ^ "'Kyle XY' Music Guide to 'Electric Kiss'". ABC Family. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
  27. ^ Mada Corporation website (fictional) Archived July 21, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
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