Life

NBC Unveils Fall Line-up, Six New Shows Ordered, No Word on 'Chuck'

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:14:12 GMT

NBC unveiled their slate of programs for the 2009-2010 season this morning. Six new pilots were picked up (two comedies, four dramas). NBC failed to concoct an actual day-by-day schedule for the Fall - they are expected to release that schedule within a couple of weeks. Not mentioned during NBC's announcement this morning were the likes of Chuck, Medium, My Name is Earl, Law & Order and Life. Some of those series could get picked up for mid-season. As of right now, the fall schedule looks filled to the brim, especially when you consider that Jay Leno's new show will be taking up five hours of prime-time per week. For Chuck fans, the wait continues, although the forecast isn't terribly bright. Shows picked up for next season include Parks and Recreation, Southland and Heroes. NBC has also ordered six more episodes of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday for the Fall.

Here's a rundown of the six new shows from NBC:

Life: Preview of Episode 2.15 "I Heart Mom"

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

From NBC's official press release:

Construction con-man found dead in house with no roof.

A man is found beaten and shot dead with a mouth full of money in a house with no roof. Crews (Damian Lewis) and Reese (Sarah Shahi) begin their investigation and discover the victim was running an elaborate construction scam that left his clients without roofs or money. While interviewing the duped customers, they meet an eccentric man with a violent streak and the intimidating son of an old woman with a long rap sheet. The detectives work to figure out if either of these men could be the murderer. Meanwhile, Crews has a confrontation with Mickey Rayborn (William Atherton) which sheds some light on the conspiracy against him.

Life: Preview of Episode 2.14 "Mirror Ball"

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT

From NBC's official press release:

Metal heads collide when the lead singer of a cover band is killed.

When the lead singer of a heavy metal cover band is suffocated to death, Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) and Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi) are on the hunt to find the killer. Crews and Reese question the remaining band members and learn that the previous front man had a bone to pick with the now dead singer after he was kicked out of the band. They track down the former front man who seems to have a legitimate alibi and their lead goes cold. The investigation then takes an interesting turn when the detectives stumble across a homeless man who appears to be a groupie. Could this groupie have been responsible for the murder? Meanwhile, Crews learns his father's wedding to Olivia (Christina Hendricks) has been called off.

Damian Lewis and Donal Logue Take On 'Life'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:00:30 GMT

While it seems that NBC is having trouble picking which shows to keep, the stars of their very own detective drama are talking amongst themselves. Life’s Damian Lewis and Donal Logue gave a recent interview about their time on the show. From the characters they play to those they interact with, the two actors have a lot to spill about Life.

The story isn’t your usual cop show, even though it deals with a falsely accused police officer seeking retribution. It may sound pretty familiar, but it’s always the characters that make the series stand out. We have on our screens Charlie Crews, who took a different turn after being incarcerated for 12 years. Instead of being angry about his experience, he decided to become, in a word, Zen. As he gets on with his life and solves crimes (typical detective work), he is joined by the crew consisting of partner Dani Reese (Sarah Shai), ex-con Ted Early (Adam Arkin) and his new boss Captain Kevin Tidwell (Donal Logue).

NBC Releases January Schedule: Dancing In, 'Heroes' and 'Chuck' Out

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:39:32 GMT

Earlier this morning, NBC issued a press release announcing their mid-season schedule for January 2009. The biggest omissions for January are Chuck, Heroes, Life and My Own Worst Enemy. All of those shows, except for the recently canceled My Own Worst Enemy, will return in February. NBC was very clear in making this point. In addition to a brand new Monday night slate for the month of January, there are also some new NBC specials poised to hit the air, including two new Saturday Night Live prime-time specials. Friday Night Lights, which has been airing its third season exclusively on DirecTV, will make its return to Fridays on NBC in January, as we reported earlier.

Patience Pays in 'Life'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:00:25 GMT

Hauling it away from the dark Friday pit it got stuck in, NBC's Life is back on track. In the hopes of shooting up the ratings, the series received a full-season order to boot. Last year it registered 8 million viewers, but it went a couple steps low on the scale. It obtained an average of 6 million this season, but NBC is surely sticking by its side.

As it centers on the life of Detective Charlie Crews (Damien Lewis), there are more stories to tell. He's waited twelve years in prison for freedom, and it's doubtless he'll bring on the cop thrills.

'Life' Gets Saved, But Will It Be Enough?

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Life's move to Wednesday nights seems to have saved it for this season, at the very least. The ratings for NBC's newest police drama has shown a considerable improvement after seeing it grapple with cancellation-level ratings during its Friday time slot. (Then again, what else do you expect for shows that are aired on Fridays?) Now, the series is assured to last for an entire season, as the network has ordered a full season for the freshman drama.

The question, of course, is whether the rating spikes will be enough. Sure, NBC has given Life a second chance, but it serves as a wake-up call for the producers of the series. The detective drama's first Wednesday ratings showed it getting fourth place on its time slot, but it is a marked improvement over its average performance on its Friday slot. There's also a lot of viewers outside the time slot—DVR viewing, for instance, or online viewing.

'Life' Returns Tonight on NBC

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT

As reported previously, NBC has decided to bring back Life on Wednesday nights after several weeks of cancellation-level ratings on Fridays at 10pm. As part of its last ditch effort to save Life, the network is putting the show after Knight Rider, and leading into the return of Law and Order.

Life centers on Detective Charlie Crews, who at the start of the first season, is released from Pelican Bay State Prison after serving twelve years of a life sentence. Exonerated after DNA evidence proves that he's innocent, he emerges with an obsession with solving the murder that nearly cost him his life and exposing the conspiracy that framed him for it.

NBC Brings Wednesdays Back to 'Life'

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:30:00 GMT

With this fall season being a tough and low-rated one, networks are busy trying to figure out the best mix of shows to deliver the best ratings. In fact, NBC has gone ahead and tossed around a few shows for their midweek schedules. They’re tagging their Wednesday nights as crime night, in which they will feature their new lineup composed of Knight Rider, Life and Law and Order’s 19th season, which was originally set to return early next year.

Apparently, the network is treating fans of Law and Order to an early Christmas offering with the premiere of the new season and the rest of the lineup beginning on November 5.

'Life' Barely Surviving in the Ratings

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT

A lot of its disappointed fans were happy when NBC decided to bring back its acclaimed detective series Life, which went off the air December of last year. The series, which aired Wednesdays on its debut season, premiered September and was cut short by the Writers' Strike causing only 11 of the 22 episodes to air.

As it turned out, however, not a lot of people missed Life during its nine-month hiatus. Its September 29 premiere attracted a mere 6.9 million viewers, a staggering 30 percent drop from its first season pilot. It was another story altogether during its second week, when it debuted in its new Friday timeslot at 10pm, when it hooked 5.4 million, finishing third in its hour.

NBC Returns to 'Life' with Season 2 Tonight

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT

The gun-wielding sleuth action has been brought back by NBC, as it premieres the second season of its acclaimed detective series, Life. A new face steals the scene, a murderous plot dominates the story, and Detective Charlie Crews has to get to the bottom of things once more. In this episode, we are all told to “Find Your Happy Place,” and we definitely will with the re-launching of the series.

Detectives Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) and Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi) are once again on the trail of a serial killer. There’s slaughter afoot, and the pair finds three numbered trunks containing suffocated bodies. They try to discover the perpetrator of the crime, and their clues lead them to suspect John Armstrong (guest star Noel Fisher).

BuddyTV Fall 2008 Preview: Life

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:15 GMT

For exclusive on-set videos and hot features on the new TV season, check out BuddyTV's Fall 2008 Preview.

Network: NBC

Premiere: Friday, October 3, 10pm

Cast: Adam Arkin, Brent Sexton, Brooke Langton, Damian Lewis, Donal Logue, Robin Weigert, Sarah Shahi

Previously on Life: Crews (Damian Lewis) found out exactly what happened on the night his friends died.

Live from the TCA Press Tour: Amy Poehler NOT in 'Office' Spin-Off, Leno's Final Show

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:09:13 GMT

The NBC executive session at the TCA press tour featured many scheduling announcements. Jay Leno's final episode of The Tonight Show will be Friday, May 29, 2009 and Conan O'Brien will take over the following Monday, June 1. Conan will be stopping his current show in early 2009 and Jimmy Fallon will take over in either March or April, following a virtual preview of the show that will exist online prior to its network premiere.

The other big story was Amy Poehler's role on the new show from The Office writers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur which is officially NOT an Office spin-off. Though Daniels is also developing a spin-off that would include characters currently on The Office, the Amy Poehler show will be tonally similar but has no direct connection to The Office.

NBC Announces Fall Premieres: 'Kath and Kim' to Thursdays, New Reality Show

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:34:23 GMT

Today NBC announced a more detailed schedule for its Fall premieres, including a few changes. The Molly Shannon/Selma Blair sitcom Kath and Kim will move from Tuesdays to Thursdays, leaving room for The Biggest Loser to gain 30 extra minutes. Also, the new series America's Toughest Jobs from the producers of Ice Road Truckers, will premiere this Fall as opposed to next Summer, which NBC originally planned.

Additionally, NBC announced premiere dates for all of its shows. Heroes is returning one week later than previously announced and 30 Rock fans will undoubtedly be upset, and with good reason. Read on to see the new NBC Fall 2008 schedule and premiere dates.

NBC Renews 'Heroes' and Two Other Dramas

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:55:20 GMT

While the future of some NBC shows, such as Friday Night Lights, remains a mystery, today the network announced it will be renewing three of its most popular dramas for next season. Life and Chuck will return to the network with at least 13 more episodes in the fall, and they'll be joined by the third season of Heroes. However, the really great news for fans is that the super powered series will be returning with more than 22 episodes, which should make up for the truncated run of season 2. It's unknown just how many episodes Heroes will produce, but they should begin airing sometime this fall.

Adam Arkin Weighs in on 'Life' Character

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:00:00 GMT

Life's Ted Earley may have spent some time in a maximum security prison for insider trading, but this doesn't necessarily mean he's a hardened criminal. Even Adam Arkin, the actor who has brought life to the to the ex-con, is quick to withhold judgment against his character.

“He was not anybody with overt criminal intentions ever,” Arkin explained. “He was a guy that was seduced by his own ability to play with numbers and play with money.”

Sarah Shahi Not "Too Pretty" for NBC's 'Life'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

While having good looks is a top priority for many Hollywood stars, the same cannot be said for Life actress Sarah Shahi, whose model-esque beauty made it hard for the actress to land roles in several productions.

"It's something I always wanted, and it would always come down to something… They would always say, 'She's too pretty. Nobody would buy her as a small-town waitress,'” Shahi told the New York Daily News.

Adam Arkin 'Directs' Life

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Adam Arkin's duties on NBC's Life go beyond playing a convicted felon.

Apparently, the 50-year-old actor is also expected to direct a couple of episodes of the new drama series, with the first from the initial set of 13, and the other from the remaining nine that NBC has just picked up.

'Chuck' and 'Life' Receive Full-Season Orders from NBC

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 13:21:50 GMT

In a move that may say something about the state of writers' strike, NBC has picked up freshman hour-longs Chuck and Life for the full season. Both shows previously only had orders for thirteen episodes, but yesterday NBC added nine more to fill out the entire 22 episode season. NBC premiered four new hour long scripted series this Fall, and it now appears that Chuck and Life will be the only season-long survivors. Bionic Woman may be done for good after the strike ends. The hyped up series has disappointed both creatively and in the ratings. Journeyman, which has resonated with its audience, has taken a weekly beating in the ratings and is currently burning off its final episodes.

'Life' Star Says He Was Drawn to Character's Optimism

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:00:00 GMT

NBC's Life features a lead character, Charlie Crews, who, despite having been wrongfully imprisoned for more than a decade, has managed to go back to the world with much joy and hope. Apparently, it was this unexpected optimism that drew series actor Damian Lewis to the role.

“I thought it was an interesting point to start out from… having such a dark, bleak back story… [to] approaching life with such optimism and joy, a sense of every moment being lived intensely and fully,” Lewis told Boston Now. “I enjoyed the contradiction there, I enjoyed that he had found an antidote to his experience. He could be bitter, he could be vengeful, but he's not, he chooses to be open and enthusiastic.”

Life: Episode 8 Preview and Spoilers

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:00:00 GMT

Fans of NBC's Life can expect a lot of heat in tonight's broadcast.

According to the network, the episode, entitled “Farthingale,” follows detective Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) and Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi) as they try to determine whether a gas explosion that vaporizes half of a man's torso is an accident or arson. Also, Crews finds himself in the middle of another murder investigation.

Want to know more about tonight's episode of Life? Read on for some mild spoilers.

Sexual Tension Between 'Life' Characters is Unintentional

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 07:00:00 GMT

Known for playing sultry DJ Carmen de la Pica Morales on Showtime's The L Word, Sarah Shahi is back on the small screen, this time starring in NBC's new drama, Life. On the show, Shahi plays a detective named Dani Reese, whose partner, Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis), is a man who regains his freedom after being imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Although sexual tension exists between the two characters, Shahi insists that it is not intentional.

“I guess it comes into play without he and I knowing it,” Shahi said in the November 6 issue of Advocate magazine. “It's not the intention of these characters to have that feeling toward each other, at least in the beginning.”

Lewis Says First Season of 'Life' Will End with a Big Revelation

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT

Since NBC's Life debuted in September, viewers have followed Detective Charlie Crews, a man who was wrongly imprisoned for 12 years, as he attempts to cope with the many changes of modern life and solve the murder which nearly cost him his life. According to series star Damian Lewis, viewers will be left both satisfied and hungry for more when the show reaches the end of its freshman season.

“There will be a big, satisfying revelation, though that might lead you to somewhere bigger,” Lewis told TV Guide.

'Life' Episode 1.06 Spoilers

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:00:00 GMT

NBC's Life, a story about a man who gets reinstated into the LAPD after being wrongfully imprisoned for 12 years, is trudging along in the airwaves. The show will debut its fourth episode tonight, but thanks to the numerous spoiler sites on the web, fans of the show have the chance to catch a sneak peak into the future, particularly into the episode airing Wednesday, October 31.

Readers be warned, spoilers ahead.

Weigert Models Her 'Life' Character after 'Prime Suspect' Female Lead

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:00:00 GMT

Detective Charlie Crews' (Damien Lewis) good looks and wealth make it hard for women to resist him. However, there are two ladies who have managed to keep themselves from falling for Charlie, and they are none other than his partner, Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi), and their tough lieutenant Karen Davis (Robin Weigert).

Dani and Karen, two of the female central characters of the new NBC drama, Life, have not succumbed to Charlie's charisma for two very different reasons. Dani knows Charlie, who returned to the force after spending time in prison for a murder he did not commit, is different and simply wants to understand him. Karen, on the other hand, dislikes and distrusts Charlie, and does not appreciate the fact that he is back on the job.

Rand Ravich Serves a Slice of 'Life'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:30:00 GMT

NBC's new cop drama with a twist, Life, airs its second episode tonight, after making a decent showing during its debut last Wednesday. Immediately following its first telecast, show creator and executive producer, Rand Ravich, participated in an exclusive live blog over at Life's official NBC website.

During the live blog, Ravich took on a host of Life-related inquiries ranging from lead character, Charlie Crews' Zen outlook to his obsession with fresh fruit. Read on for interesting details and tidbits straight from the man behind NBC's Life.