This script will pull an 'unread count' from your gmail inbox.

Gmail Unread

#!/usr/bin/env python -tt
import sys 
import curses
import imaplib
import warnings

def main():
  imap_server = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL("imap.gmail.com",993)
  imap_server.login('username', 'password')                                                                                                                             
  imap_server.select('INBOX')
  status, response = imap_server.status('INBOX', "(UNSEEN)")
  unreadcount = int(response[0].split()[2].strip(').,]'))
  print unreadcount
  imap_server.logout()

# This is the standard boilerplate that calls the main() function.
if __name__ == '__main__':
  main()