While today’s NBC infront presentation brought good news for fans of struggling shows like Heroes and Parks and Recreation. Those who enjoy Life weren’t so lucky.
Life revolves around detective Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis), a man who served a dozen years for murders that he didn’t commit. He lost all that was dear to him but survives thanks to his studies of Zen philosophy. He eventually rejoins the LAPD but is a very different man. Others in the cast include Sarah Shahi, Adam Arkin, Brent Sexton, Donal Logue, Brooke Langton, Robin Weigert, Jennifer Siebel, Victor Rivers, and Jessy Schram.
The NBC drama debuted in September 2007 to 10.15 million viewers and a 4.1/11 rating/share of the 18-49 demographic. Later episodes sank to a low of 5.72 million and a 2/6. If not for the writers strike, NBC would have cancelled Life after one year. The execs instead decided to give it another try and renewed the series for a second season.
Unfortunately, the next round of episodes didn’t perform any better than the first. NBC needs fewer shows next season because of their Jay Leno experiment but, even if they didn’t, Life wouldn’t be coming back with such poor ratings.
NBC’s co-chair, Ben Silverman, made it official today and confirmed that Life won’t be coming back next season. Thankfully, the last episode of the series gave viewers some closure and answers to ongoing questions. These days, that’s a luxury that few other shows are given.
Image courtesy NBC.
I echo what many of the folks have already said, Life was one of the better shows on TV in my opinion, great writing, great acting and a pretty good story line. I too looked forward to every episode. First the Unit and now Life. Good TV goes away and poor TV remains.
Stuff that you couldn’t pay me to watch is still on the air and they cancel something that is well written and well acted? Way to go NBC. And they wonder why their ratings are so bad. That was the only show we watched on that network so I guess now we can skip it altogether.
This is crazy how many good shows been cancelled 1st big mistake was Serenity, NOW life, the unit all great shows. You know these guys made a mistake when they cancelled Serenity and then it goes on to being a major movie. It’s all about the dollar bill.
Please bring back LIFE!!!!!!! LIFE was the best show on tv. My wife and I never missed
an episode. It was just a great great change in a cop show it was a dramedy and we miss
it so much. NBC BIG MISTAKE
My husband and I do not like the same shows. Life was the only one that we liked to watch together. I could really do without a lot of the shows that are on these days. I was really looking forward to season 4. I think NBC has made a mistake!
Life was my ABSOLUTE favorite show and my whole family got it into. We own the season one DVDs and plan to buy the season two set next. The show made you think and didn’t just hand all the information out to you in the first fifteen minutes. I kept wishing another network would pick it up but…no such luck. I am trying out other networks and steering away from NBC!
Like above comments – Life is a good show – goes to show the people’s tastes, when the good shows are canceled and the mediocre shows (not worth watching) keep their place. NBC obviously caters to the “a different clientel” than others! Too bad ! Hopefully another channel will see the value of what was thrown away!
Agh! How frustrating! I was anxiously waiting for Season 2 of Life, and my stupid DVR never picked up the episodes. By the time I realized Season 2 was back, it was nearly over, and I had to wait and buy the DVDs. Life was my ONLY reason for watching anything on NBC, and I would gladly have watched Season 3. Now they have lost me forever. Get a clue networks, you are losing viewers like me to the cables like USA, and frankly, we will not return.
I agree. Let’s can all shows that make you think. This was a great and unique show. Great acting, great plots, and now unanswered questions to ponder with no answers.
Life was a great show in my opinion. The mind set in America has always been to kill anything that doesn’t make ratings regaurdless of content.Most people don’t realize that the show is only a draw so people can be bombarded by constant advertising. Corporate America is virtually dead or ignorant to creative projects because they aren’t necessarly commerically viable. that’s why their is cable, people like HBO can afford to be creative. I can’t think of anything as sad as a corporate tv executive.
I loved that series!
LIFE was the best TV show on. Written like Mark Twain… strong Mississippi current that unfolds in the telling with substantial drama between well defined characters, great subplots, and good twist and turns. I will really miss the show. Another step toward dumbing down programs for the uneducated who can not comprehend multiple sub-plots on many levels nor catch all the subtle humor. Want really eye opener check the wording of old school readers, constitution, declaration of independence. What % of the population can even pronounce the words much less comprehend their meaning? LIFE was too smart for it’s own… Read more »
Life was interesting and intriquing i never missed an episode..and Damian Lewis ROCKED in his character! ..he was awsome in Stephan Kings’ Dreamcatcher and I was excited to see him again in this series..NBC you suck~!
I agree with Christie. It was a great show. Parks and Recreation is a terrible show although life had a slow start, it was just getting good! It was one of those shows I was looking forward to this fall!
I can’t believe it Life was a great show. NBC sucks! they get rid of good shows and keep these stupid shows. what is wrong with these people?.its all about money, but if no one watches NBC no money. thats why they have people who call you for tv polls on shows.
when will they ever learn.