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’m shocked! Life is truly the best show on television and is one of very very few without any weakness. I can only hope that NBC will re-think the decision or perhaps another network will pick it up. Sad, very sad.
There are very few shows I watch. Life stood out as an intelligent, witty show that obviously attracted a following that wasn’t into laugh tracks or jiggles.
When Star Trek premiered on NBC in 1966, it was not an immediate hit; ratings were low and advertising revenue was lackluster.
It’s unfortunate that the powers that be at NBC can’t see quality when it’s staring them in the face.
Nooo!!!, Charlie Crews is the best !!!, come on people we cant let him die. this show is a mix of comedy, action, thriller like ive never seen before, and ive been a fan of lots of your TV SERIES NBC …
PLEEEEEAAAAAASE NBC
reconsiderate it, because they are other ways, those numbers cant be right…..
the last few years have brought the best tv shows ever, like Lost, Prison Break, Boston Legal, Dexter, Life, Eli Stone…and a few more, but seems like this time is going to end. We´re watching all the series finales but nothing new is coming up. Only one more season of Lost, no more Prison Break, Life cancelled, common, what am i gonna watch? Ive been watching every episode of Bones so far(nice writing too!) but that cant be it!
why is it that we have to be subjected to hours of brain numbing tv and then when something good comes along it is cancelled………..
The average TV watcher is below average intelligence. That’s why very few intelligent shows stay on the air.
That is insane! I loved that show! I am really disappointed it will not be showing anymore! 🙁
Me be very very sad to see life go away. Damian was fun to watch. Qworky as he was, he was a hoot. Bye Life. 🙁
Please don’t cancel Life!!! That was a great show!!! Damien Lewis is the s***!!! I hope they atleast let us have a better ending!!! I was so looking forward in the third season!!! Please don’t cancel!!!
NBC …… when will you learn! LIFE was well written with complex plots and really from my point of view the best cast ever. What do we have to look forward to now but brainless night time “soap operas”. By the way, who’s bright idea was it to bring back Knight Rider? What a waste of money. Well good luck with that I am definitely not a fan.
Hai,
If you guys want to bring back life then here’s a link of all the different ways to bring back the show.
http://damianlewisweb.com/bringbacklife/
That’s sucks, but you can’t blame NBC. They would put on a test pattern if it got ratings.
It’s the audience that want’s ‘look I can almost sing, dance’ or ‘guess my STD’
Best show on tv. NOT the same old “LOOK! there is one strand of DNA, he did kill those 75 people!” shows. I always enjoyed LIFE and got either a laugh or a smaile from each show. I like to see if us fans can fight to get it on another network…USA, FX, TNT, another year of CHUCK! way to drop the ball NBC!
When are the money men at the television stations going to leave good and well written shows on the air? Life, Ely Stone, Journey Man, Pushing Daisies, Reaper, Cupid were all on my families and extended families can’t miss list each week…..every time we get emotionally involved in shows and are thinking, ‘finally decent television, that draws one in and is intelligent’, the shows get canceled. I agree that Silverman is out of touch. Why continue to replace upstanding shows with insipid ‘reality shows’ or the same disappointing fare that has caused more and more people to shun their tv… Read more »
I finally get it why they cancelled LIFE. NBC is moving to a new time slot; the NoBody Cares to watch network…..