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?
Two broke girls, really????????
Oh please bring it back!! After a long hard day at work I looked forward to watching the show each week and have a good hard laugh. I am so disappointed. Please reconsider!!
I’m very disappointed that FWBL has been cancelled. I really thought it would follow in the footprints of it’s popular predecessor Friends. I really don’t appreciate networks canceling shows before they’ve given their a fair chance.
i absolutely loved friends with better lives. i hope some other network picks it up.
I thought it was a funny show with a pretty good story line. Like, it definitely was a run-off of HIMYM, but it had different elements… CBS you’re making a mistake cancelling it.
This is ridiculous FWBL was a great show and I was looking forward to watching it! CBS is stupid for canceling such a hilarious show. Maybe it’s time to cancel CBS!
One can’t help but wonder if the whiny feminist Zoe Lister-Jones will try to blame the cancellation on sexism like she did when “Lola Versus” bombed at the box office and was panned by critics. (Not to be mean but DAMN, how did anyone with a face like Jones’s make it onto t.v. or movies for that matter in the first place? If ever anyone had a face for radio it’s her.) How many more of her projects have to end up as crap before she perhaps finally realizes it’s not sexism, it’s not the rest of the world that’s… Read more »
This is ridiculous! FWBL was hilarious and clever. I am amazed they would cancel it, very frustrated and disappointed!!
Bu-but WHY? I loved this show, if it had high ratings why would it get cancelled? Where’s the sense in that? So dissapointed.
I would watch it at anytime. Can’t believe they pulled it, but I would like to know the real reason and not the stuff they release online.
Really? CBS is so stupid for canceling FWBL! It was such a funny and entertaining show! Why would you pull a show that’s pulling in big numbers? ? Doesn’t make any sense! Very disappointed!
One of the funnier shows on tv, and they cancel it!?!!!?? CBS=can’t be serious
FWBL should not of been cancelled
Dear CBS,
I think you’re making a huge mistake canceling Friends With Better Lives. My entire family watched it every Monday and died laughing at it. Review websites state that it was consistently pulling in better numbers, and it is understandable why.
This was a mistake on your part.
Sincerely,
An Unhappy Fan
I will buy the episode please give it a chance