Friends with Better Lives: Cancelled CBS Sitcom Pulled

It looks like the short run of Friends with Better Lives just got even shorter. CBS has decided to pull the already cancelled comedy from their schedule effective immediately.

Friends with Better Lives follows the lives of six young people who are at various stages of their lives — married, divorced, newly engaged, and single — with each wondering if the others have it better. The cast includes Majandra Delfino, Kevin Connolly, Brooklyn Decker, Rick Donald, Zoe Lister-Jones, and James Van Der Beek.

The network cancelled the show after five episodes had aired but it seemed like they planned to let all 13 installments run. Execs have now replaced future airings with reruns of Mom, a freshman sitcom that’s been renewed for a second season.

Friends with Better Lives was the network’s highest-rated show last Monday night and has been consistently drawing better numbers than its lead-in of 2 Broke Girls reruns.

It would seem that CBS has decided there’s more value in airing reruns of a show that’s coming back next fall than burning off original episodes of a show that’s been cancelled.

Here are the descriptions of two of the five episodes that may never air:

KATE TRIES TO PROVE JULES AND LOWELL WRONG WHEN THEY SAY SHE IS “UN-SET-UP-ABLE,” ON “FRIENDS WITH BETTER LIVES,” MONDAY, MAY 26

Horatio Sanz Guest Stars as Andi and Bobby’s Neighbor

“No More Mr. Nice Guy” – When Kate persuades Jules and Lowell to set her up with their friend and promises to give him a chance, she wants to prove them wrong when they call her “un-setup-able.” Meanwhile, after hearing that their neighbors don’t like her and Bobby, Andi goes on a crusade to get involved in the neighborhood, on FRIENDS WITH BETTER LIVES, Monday, May 26 (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Horatio Sanz guest stars as Andi and Bobby’s neighbor.

SERIES REGULARS:
Kevin Connolly (Bobby)
Majandra Delfino (Andi)
James Van Der Beek (Will)
Zoe Lister-Jones (Kate)
Brooklyn Decker (Jules)
Rick Donald (Lowell)

GUEST CAST:
Horatio Sanz (Craig)
Ben Lawson (Doug)
Mary Gallagher (Lisa)
Cade Sutton (Henry)
Wayne Alon Scott (Mover # 1)
Billy Malone (Mover # 2)

WRITTEN BY: Stephanie Darrow and Kate VanDevender

DIRECTED BY: Bob Koherr

RATING: TV14

ANDI AND BOBBY ATTEMPT TO GO ON A “BABY MOON” AND WILL HOOKS UP WITH A MUCH OLDER WOMAN, ON “FRIENDS WITH BETTER LIVES,” MONDAY, MAY 26

Beverly D’Angelo Guest Stars as Will’s Drunken Hook-Up and Mark Feuerstein Guest Stars as A Man Who Interests Kate

“Something New” – Andi and Bobby try to take a last-minute “baby moon,” but when Andi misses Charlie and ruins the mood, Bobby complains to Lowell about the pitfalls of marriage, giving Lowell cold feet for his upcoming nuptials. Meanwhile, Will gets very drunk and hooks up with a woman who he realizes is much older than he thought, on FRIENDS WITH BETTER LIVES, Monday, May 26 (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Beverly D’Angelo guest stars as Will’s drunken hook-up and Mark Feuerstein guest stars as a man who interests Kate.

SERIES REGULARS:
Kevin Connolly (Bobby)
Majandra Delfino (Andi)
James Van Der Beek (Will)
Zoe Lister-Jones (Kate)
Brooklyn Decker (Jules)
Rick Donald (Lowell)

GUEST CAST:
Beverly D’Angelo (Gretchen)
Mark Feuerstein (Simon)
Brooke Lyons (Linda Altman)
Josh Casaubon (Michael)
Jackson Brundage (Brandon)
Peter Mackenzie (Jim)
Lauren Rose Lewis (Young Gretchen)
Andi Ridings (Jackson)
Paul Mabon (Russell)
Bunny Levine (Estelle Markowitz)
Devin Hennessy (Bartender)

WRITTEN BY: Michael Markowitz and Justin Nowell

DIRECTED BY: Phil Lewis

RATING: To Be Announced

What do you think? Are you sorry that CBS has pulled Friends with Better Lives? Would you watch them at another time? Would you buy a DVD set?