A young teenager named Leo Dooley lives a normal life until the day his mother Tasha marries billionaire inventor Donald Davenport, with whom they move in. While trying to find his bedroom, Leo accidentally discovers teenage siblings with bionic superpowers living in his new basement. The series follows the bionic teens as they unravel in adventurous situations in an attempt to live life like a normal family in the fictional town of Mission Creek, California.
As the series progresses, the series introduces various new characters, including Davenport's younger brother Douglas and Douglas' android son Marcus; Krane and his bionic soldiers Taylor, formerly known as S-1, and Sebastian, formerly known as S-3; and scientist Giselle and her android Troy West. In the third season, Davenport opens up a bionic academy on a bionic island to train Krane's soldiers to be the world's new bionic heroes.
On May 10, 2010, Disney XDgreen-lit a pilot under the title of Billion Dollar Freshmen, created by Chris Peterson and Bryan Moore, as executive producers alongside Mark Brazill.[1] The pilot was filmed in the summer of 2010.[2][3] On July 13, 2011, Disney XD officially ordered Lab Rats, with production to begin in September 2011 in Hollywood for a 2012 premiere. Starring in the series are Tyrel Jackson Williams as Leo, Billy Unger as Chase, Spencer Boldman as Adam, Kelli Berglund as Bree, and Hal Sparks as Davenport.[4]
On May 18, 2012, Disney XD renewed the series for a second season.[5] On July 26, 2013, Disney XD renewed the series for a third season.[6] On May 9, 2014, Disney XD renewed the series for a fourth season.[7] On June 25, 2015, Kelli Berglund stated in an interview that the fourth season would be the final season.[8]
The series originally premiered on Disney XD on February 27, 2012,[9] and on Disney Channel on March 2, 2012.[10] In Canada, it first aired on Disney XD on February 24, 2012. It later stopped airing on Disney XD in Canada and moved to Disney Channel due to DHX Media losing Disney rights. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it first aired as a preview on March 29, 2012, and officially premiered on April 19, 2012. In South Africa, it premiered on Disney XD on June 10, 2012. In Australia and New Zealand, it first aired on Disney Channel on December 31, 2012, and officially premiered on January 10, 2013.
Reception
Critical
Variety television critic Brian Lowry knocked the series' one-hour premiere for failing "to exhibit basic elements of coherence" and for featuring "too many lapses in logic".[11]
Ratings
The series launch of Lab Rats in February 2012 was the most-watched series premiere in Disney XD history,[12] drawing 1.27 million viewers and performing well in key demographics.[13] The followup encore of the premiere that aired on Disney Channel on March 2, 2012, ranked as the number-one telecast in kids 2–11 for the week of February 27–March 4, 2012, drawing 2.3 million viewers in the demographic.[10]
