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.
Please, NBC, my husband and I have been rallying for this show, which is so uplifting and intricate, to all of our families and friends–they have ALL loved it and started to watch it. Give it a chance, and I agree with earlier posts, we were really annoyed and concerned with the time slot changes. We bought the first season on DVD and passed it around to all we cared about with raves resounding. Don’t be empty and bottom-line, especially in this time in our country–stand up for something–stand up for LIFE.
Thank you for your ear.
Wow, I am so disappointed. A show with great character development and intelligent humour!!! I’ll miss Charlie!
I allways wondered why Jay Leno makes so much fun of NBC… I can see why now… Cancelling the best show you ever had on American TV is yet another proof of how stupid the leadership of your tv channels are. 6.2 million viewers (thats more than the population of my country) and it gets cancelled… It don’t see the reasoning at all. This is the best show to enter tv screens all over the world in over 10 years, It’s the only tv show I’m looking forward to seeing. I love it so much that I even bought the… Read more »
Cx LIFE is crazy. My husband and I only have time to watch 2 TV shows and LIFE was one of them. Very different, complicated. Great characters. Great sense of humor. Bring it back or sell it to another network. It will get good ratings if you let folks know about it a quit changing the time slot.
How can you cancel Life. I’ve looked forward to every episode. If it had a problem with an audience it’s because you never knew when it was going to be on. I am sick of getting interested in a show and then it ends with questions remaining unanswered.
PLS DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW….IT IS THE BEST….
HAVE BEEN WATCHING SINCE THE BEGINNING….
ALL THE ACTORS R GREAT, ESPECIALLY, ‘CHARLIE’!!!
You’ve go to be kidding me. This is why no one watches shows like Life. Why take the chance of getting into a show like this if you know some stupid TV exec is going to take it off the air.
OOPS I MEANT ITS A HUGE MISTAKE.. GIGANTIC, STUPID MOST UNETHICAL..MISTAKE SO NBC LISTEN UP BRING IT BACK…PLEASE PLEASE
I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED I’VE BEEN WATCHING LIFE FROM DAY ONE I CAN’T BELIEVE NBC IS NOT BRINGING IT BACK.. THAT IS A GUGE MISTAKE, COME ON NOW BRING IT BACK IT IS AN AWESOME SHOW AND I SO LOVE CHARLIE’S CHARACTER… SO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!!!
No,no,no,noooooooooooo!!!!!! easily the best show of 2008 on any network. NBC I used to work for you and you will always be my favorite network. your shows are brilliant and I am puzzled by america’s viewing choices. Life (07-08) and Studio 60 (07) were my choice for the 2 best shows that have been on tv for many many years and I wish the typical viewer would open up to great tv. I am sorry you are struggling and I understand your choice to renew L&O but the truth is that that is the only series on NBC that I… Read more »
Why do all the good shows get cancelled? First Moonlight on CBS and now Life on NBC!!!???? NBC needs to bring this show back. I dont know about you people, but I still have many questions left unanswered. THe fact that this article says “Thankfully, the last episode of the series gave viewers some closure and answers to ongoing questions” is a load of crap. That is so not true. The finale managed to create MORE questions. I am extremely unsatisfied with the ending and would happily help anyone in their stand to save this show.
this show was refreshing, good writers, great cast, my husband and I were hooked on the show. now I just learned that NBC cancelled Medium as well, what is going on at Rockerfeller Center?? Maybe they should walk across the street to St. Pat’s, say a pray and find God – because right now their programming choices have gone to hell.
nbc programming sucks, if nbc had a half a brain they would ax the excutive who cancelled this show, what a wtf moment for nbc, must not watch tv is their new motto
nbc you suck!
Boo to you people, you have something like 5 Law and orders, but you take off this show? WHY!?!? thats just stupid, the show is good and keeps people more involved then the same L&O ep after ep after ep!…
WRONG MOVE! i think!
i just was turned to this show this year from my gf and quickly loved it.. why dont we all ban together like the people who watched jericho .. and get one of the very few good shows back on… im in if someone know who to write too.