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.
You could have done so much more with this show. Instead of canceling it try moving in to another night that is not competing with a major show on FOX.
LIFE was a great show with some very compelling actors. Without LIFE I will not be watching NBC.
NBC used to be THE premiere network, now there is almost nothing left worth watching. Bring back LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why this show, characters who great wish there was a chance it would come back!!
Back when this TOTALLY original program aired I knew I risked disappointment by becoming so taken with. GREAT characters, plots and subplots, and soooo much cerebreal humor.
Never last in the USA, I thought. Never will catch on with the mindless cretins that watch reality TV.
Well … 2 seasons was waaaaay longer than I thought it would hang around. Going to miss this gem …
NBC is filled with MORONS and IDIOTS. LIFE was the best show on television, bar none. Jay Leno is worthless, no talent hack whose chin is more interesting than him. Bring LIFE back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAN!!!!What a disappointment. NBC has put on some great programming the last couple of seasons, and LIFE was their best and my favorite. Great chemistry between the characters and one of the most unique characters I have ever seen. How could you NBC? People like me are sick, sick, sick of this reality programming. I looked forward to LIFE every week. I’ll sure miss Charlie Crews. Just like “Journeyman” was cancelled, Here is another major disappointment
MAN!!!!What a disappointment. NBC has put on some great programming the last couple of seasons, and LIFE was their best and my favorite. Great chemistry between the characters and one of the most unique characters I have ever seen. How could you NBC? People like me are sick, sick, sick of this reality programming. I looked forward to LIFE every week. I’ll sure miss Charlie Crews. Just like “Journeyman” was cancelled, Here is another major disappointment
Life is my favorite TV show. It is disappointing to know that it won’t have another season.
This just goes to show that in a world where bottom line doesn’t always equal quality, the bottom line always wins out. In Australia, we have 4 main TV channel and some digital channels that are full of rubbish, so to have this great show with its brilliant cast sent packing is extremely disappointing and it seems that the rest of the world miss out because the American viewing public have too much choice and have become either too fickle or too numb to watch quality television shows. Thanks for nothing NBC and your fickle viewers – how about show… Read more »
If someone were smart they would do a series of movies of Life with Charlie Crews
Sell it to the Turner Group. They have the patience and foresight your network apparently lacks.
Are you kidding me? The suits at NBC messed up again. The Jay Leno experiment is beyond silly and now Life is dead???? Where will it end? Please, please, please, this show is amazing! Remember Seinfeld? No one watched and look what happened. Give it another chance, but stop making Cruz goofy. Tongue in cheek is fine, but give him a Steve McQueen slant, with a twinkle in his eye and be more consistent with the scripts. Some shows were like short 4-star movies and some were just boring. That’s why you lost your audience. The oughts need a Steve… Read more »
WOW!! I can’t believe they are ending Life. So much potential and so much fun to watch. Will definately be missed 🙁
Mike
What a great pity that Life has been cancelled. It was one ofthe few shows that targets intelligent, mature viewers and is very popular in my country (South Africa). I think that the tv execs need to re-think this decision.
It is a great pity that this brilliant show has been cancelled. In my country (South Africa) it is extremely popular. It is also one of the few prime time shows that targets a mature and intelligent audience. Season 2 certainly didn’t end with any “closure” and the series needs to be wrapped up properly. Please bring this show back – there is little else on TV worth watching.
Martin