NBC will pick up nine additional episodes of its sophomore drama “Life” (Wednesdays, 9p.m. ET), giving the series a full-season order for 2008-09, it was announced today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

“This unique crime drama continues to offer consistent and compelling stories each week,” said Teri Weinberg, Executive Vice President, NBC Entertainment. “We love ‘Life’ and are thrilled that we get to see more of these characters and amazing new cases.”

“Life” moved to NBC’s Wednesday schedule this past week and delivered a 2.0 rating, 5 share in adults 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall, improving on its earlier average as a Friday regular by 33 percent in 18-49 rating. The November 5 telecast of “Life” ranked #2 in the competitive Wednesday time period in men 18-34 and improved its adult 18-49 rating from half-hour to half-hour by 11 percent (to a 2.1 rating from a 1.9).

The Wall Street Journal called “Life” “…a steady burn - of talent, of smart writing, of chemical reactions.” The New York Daily News called it “brilliant” and “sizzling” and the Dallas Morning News called it “a new-age ‘Rockford Files.’”

Source: Futon Critic

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — NBC adds more drama to its Wednesday night schedule when an all-new season of “Law & Order” premieres Wednesday, November 5, (10-11 p.m. ET), following “Knight Rider” (8-9 p.m. ET) and “Life” (9-10 p.m. ET) in its new day and time period. Likewise, the network also re-shapes Fridays with “Lipstick Jungle” stepping in behind “Crusoe,” (9-10 p.m. ET) beginning Friday, October 31 (10-11 p.m. ET)

In addition, “Momma’s Boys” from executive producers Ryan Seacrest and Andrew Glassman — will now debut Tuesday, December 16 (10-11 p.m. ET) after the season finale of “The Biggest Loser” (8-10 p.m. ET). The alternative series will then return in its regular day and time of Mondays beginning December 22 (9-10 p.m. ET) after “Heroes” ends its current volume on December 15. (”Momma’s Boys’” previously announced debut date was Wednesday, November 12).

The announcements were made by Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, Co-Chairmen, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

“These moves will play to the shows’ mutual strengths and will help us to reinforce our lineup,” said Silverman and Graboff. “A Wednesday night with wall-to-wall satisfying mysteries and great dramas — paced by the return of the original ‘Law & Order’ to its home on Wednesdays will provide creative continuity that night. Fridays will feature escapist drama with ‘Lipstick Jungle’ joining ‘Crusoe.’ Additionally, this strategy for ‘Momma’s Boys’ offers the show a more favorable launch platform.”

“Law & Order,” the longest-running crime series and the second-longest-running drama series in the history of television, enters its 19th season with returning characters Detective Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and partner, Detective Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson), who investigate crimes and apprehend suspects under the supervision of their precinct lieutenant, Anita Van Buren (S. Epatha Merkerson). Chief Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and the Executive Assistant District Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) are back manuvering within a complicated justice system to prosecute the accused under the guidance of District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston).

The show is a Wolf Films production in association with Universal Media Studios. Dick Wolf is creator and executive producer; Rene Balcer, Fred Berner and Peter Jankowski are the executive producers.

Airing in the Wednesday 10-11 p.m. (ET) hour last season, “Law & Order” averaged a 3.3 rating, 8 share in adults 18-49 and 10.8 million viewers overall, a 22 percent increase in 18-49 and a 20 percent jump in total viewers versus its results for the prior season, when it ran on Friday nights.

The Wall Street Journal called “Life” “…a steady burn of talent, of smart writing, of chemical reactions.” The New York Daily News called it “brilliant” and “sizzling” and the Dallas Morning News called it “a new-age ‘Rockford Files.’”

The New York Daily News said “Lipstick’ stands alone this year as heir to the ‘Sex and the City’ legacy - glamorous, successful women living, losing, loving and most of all bonding in the big city.” In Touch Weekly said of “Lipstick Jungle”: “The sexy, stylish show hits its stride in its second season.”

Source: FutonCritic

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The episode first aired on October 10, 2008 and was watched by 4.92 million viewers, with a 1.4/rating, 4/share amongst adults 18-49. Sadly this was the lowest rated episode of LIFE ever, as the show never had less than 5.4 million viewers. It was also the second time LIFE ever went below 2.0 amongst adults 18-49, the first time being the first episode to air on a Friday night. I wonder what that could mean…

Obviously there are many reasons to explain such a low performance : a lack of support from the network, also messing up with the show’s creative direction; a lack of promotion and a complete absence from the air for over 10 months — something all series in the same situation have been suffering from, see CHUCK (NBC) or even PUSHING DAISIES (ABC); and of course let’s not forget the ‘odd’ schedule and the move to Fridays, also know as the death slot.

But of course NBC will blame it on the show, its viewers - or lack of many of them, and use any kind of stupid excuse to give up on the show, or should I say ‘officially’ give up, because it looks like they already have, and are just pushing it out the door…

[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]

- At 1:50, Crews & Reese at the “prison”, finding the body and looking around… : Squares, by The Beta Band. Can be found on Hot Shots II (Buy the MP3).

- At 6:02 + 40:37, Opening up windows to let the sun in; End of episode: Charlie & Will in the cell, Charlie and Ted listening to the tape and “figuring out” the threat : I Shall Be Free, by Kid Beyond. Can be found on Amplivate (Buy the MP3).

- At 18:58, Crews & Reese at the Frat house : I Got It (What You Need), by Galactic. Can be found on From The Corner To The Block (Buy the MP3).

As always, let us know about any mistake/miss!

(In front of the frozen-solid body of Doctor Auerbach.)
Scientist: Someone switched the tanks, so when he put on that mask, he was inhaling pure liquid nitrogen.
Charlie: Maybe it preserved him. Maybe they can bring him back. Maybe he can tell us what he saw!

(Charlie touches the frozen body with his pen, causing it to break into pieces.)
Dani: Do you have to touch everything ?

Reese: Front door was open.
Billy: It doesn’t have a lock.
Crews: Noticed that.
Billy: Betsy doesn’t believe in locks.
Crews: Who’s Betsy ?
Billy: Who are you ?
Reese: We’re the police.
Crews: Who’s Betsy ?
Billy: Are you just allowed to walk in ?
Crews: Door was opened, didn’t have a lock. Who’s Betsy ?
Reese: This time he answers the question.
Billy: Wow! She’s an aggressive female.

Crews: If you love animals so much, why are you wearing leather shoes ?
Betsy: They’re Jim shoes. They’re made of Jim, our founder when he died he willed his body for industrial use as a way to raise people’s consciousness about what it means to butcher animals for food and clothing.

Reese: They’re wearing people.
Crews: Just dead people!
Reese: It’s the Texas chainsaw massacre, it’s enough for a warrant.
Crews: For a search maybe, not for an arrest. Does it seem weird to you that they’d leave their slogans on the wall ?
Reese: They put dead people on their feet, putting slogans on the wall seems pretty normal compared to that.

Tidwell: You broke the murder victim ?!
Crews: I hardly touched him!

Tidwell: Who do yo like ? (Dani stares at him, perplexed.) For the killing.
Reese: Oh, uh… well the researcher assistant she had means. And the Animals’ right group had motivations.
Tidwell: Married ? (Another stare.) The dead guy, was he married ?
Crews: No!
Tidwell: Then the assistant is your killer. Human nature, men and women working together always end up banging. And most people are killed by the person they’re banging.
Reese: Well that’s just not true.
Tidwell: Yeah it is, it’s a fact. Come on, Crews, back me up on this.
Crews: You two work together, when you have sex, who’s gonna kill who ?
Reese: If I have sex with him you’re gonna kill me immediately!
Crews: She’s an aggressive female.

Tidwell: (About Charlie & Constance:) Is he doing her ?
Reese: What!?
Tidwell: What?
(She looks at him.)

Constance: You caught the killer.
Crews: Yeah I caught the killer, but not the guys who set me up.
Constance: Let it be over, Charlie.
Crews: It’s not over. Those same people are still out there.
Constance: So you’re gonna make them pay ?
Crews: Hollis said he never even heard of Jack Reese. Hollis said he killed those people, my friends, on his own.
Constance: He gave a statement to that, Charlie, I’m not sure I understand why he would even say anything about Jack Reese.
Crews: Connie you heard Hollis confess that he was working for Jack Reese ! Connie, you and me and the only two people who heard Hollis confess that he was working for Jack Reese !
Constance: I head Hollis confess Charlie, and he signed a statement to that. But I never heard him say he was working for Reese. I never heard him mention Jack Reese at all.

Mystery Man: You think if we have the girl then we don’t need you, Jack ?
Jack: I have the girl. As long as I do, we have Crews. That’s what counts.
Crews: (Listening to the wiretap.) Why are you lying, Jack?
Mystery Man: They want to see the girl. Oh, they want me to tell you Jack, you go back a long way, but, not for nothing. There was six, there is five, there could just as easily be four.
Jack: No. No no no no no!!!
Crews: Fear. Who are you afraid of, Jack?

Crews: My partner thinks you’re good for the Auerbach thing.
Betsy: Thing? Is that cop-talk for killing.
Crews: Yeah, that’s cop talk.
Betsy: Because you’d rather not say the word ?
Crews: I can say the word if you want me to. My partner thinks you killed him.
Betsy: And what do you think ?
Crews: I think it made you sad to hear that Auerback had been killed. People do what you do because of what they’ve seen or what they’ve done. Which one are you ? What did you done, Betsy ? Debra Lee!

Marc: What do you want Crews ? You want to arrest me then do it! Want to shoot me then get it over with !
Crews: Okay! Here it goes. I’d like your permission to sleep with Jennifer.
Marc: You want to sleep with my wife ?
Crews: No, I want to sleep with my wife. Ex-wife. It’s complicated, Marc. Can I call you Marc, Marc? Marc ? (Marc punches Crews in the face, Crews take the hit and falls down.)

Reese: Is that from when the monkey hit you ? (Nods no.) Someone hit you after the monkey ? (Nods yes.) Do I want to know ? (Nods no.) Glad we could have this talk.

Crews: If you have sex with a woman with two names, does that…
Reese: No! Doesn’t count as a threesy.

(Charlie is sitting next to Billy, watching TV, eating a banana.)
Billy: Aren’t you supposed to be looking for a killer ?
Crews: That’s what I’m doing.

Billy: (To Betsy:) You’re the liar! Whore!!
Crews: Whore? So I guess it did bother you that she and Auerback… Whore!? You tried to be a man about it when I was last here. You did a good job, but you’re hurt kiddo. So go ahead and call her all the names you want, but then, you tell us what you know.
Betsy: Billy. Tell them.
Billy: The same hands that tortured animals touched your body.
Crews: Like you wanted to touch her ?
Billy: Okay, yes! Like I wanted to, but never…
Betsy: Billy, I’m so sorry.
Billy: No you’re not, don’t say that!
Reese: Alright, enough. We’re taking her away now, they’re gonna put her in a cage, she’ll get a number, and they’ll treat her like an animal, like she deserves. You will never have to see her again. (Dani starts walking away with Betsy.)
Billy: Stop!

Reese: Dad, did you really sent an innocent man to prison ?
(They stare at each other at the place got silent.)
Jack: Get out of my house!
(She gets up and leaves.)

(Charlie is high after inhaling some toxic fumes.)
Dean: So Ted here handles your settlement ?
Crews: Why would you want to know that ?
Ted: Well it’s a, business school, Charlie. My business since I got out has been growing your wealth.
Crews: Ted and I were in jail.
Te:d He knows that.
Crews: For a very long time. I’ve been thinking, we should have learned to play the harmonica, Ted.
Jennifer: (Who’s not really there, but an hallucination of Charlie’s:) Maybe I should come back.
Crews: That’s what I’ve been thinking, maybe you should come back. (To Betsy:) I really am sorry your lover is dead.
Betsy: I’m really sorry too.
Ted: And I am the sorriest of all.

Crews: (On the phone with Reese, after seeing Jennifer everywhere last night, high on toxic fumes.) Yeah, you… you don’t just see women who aren’t there.
Reese: He was lying Crews!

(Crews opens the door)
Crews: Hey, Jen!
Jennifer: (She slaps him.) You asked my husband permission to have sex with me !?
Crews: It was the honest thing to do.
Jennifer: It was the stupid thing to do. When things like that happen you pretend it didn’t and you go on. You don’t talk about it with the husband of the woman you wanna have sex with in the back of a car.
Crews: Do we want to pretend it never happened ?
Jennifer: That would be the civilized thing to do.
Crews: Do we want to be civilized ?
(She walks away.)

As always, feel free to add/correct anything I missed!

(S02E03) For the last time there was a new episode of Life on a Monday night. From now on an starting this very Friday, the show settles down on its regular slot, Fridays at 10.00 meaning that, yes, once again we’ll get a double-dose of Life this week as Charlie & Dani are coming back in just a few days. But before that, they were just here last night, and there’s a lot to talk about, obviously.

I have said before that, to me, Life isn’t a cop show. Or, more exactly, it only has the appearance of one, but that’s not what it’s about. And I’m not talking about the whole conspiracy behind Charlie’s 12 years in prison either, I mean the show is all about people, not about a murder, solving a crime or even finding out who framed Charlie. All of that are just excuses, excuses to spend time with those often broken characters, and see them have a second change at life.

About this episode, I liked it. I really did, but at the same time I didn’t. It’s not quite a mix of love and hate mixed together, I am far from hating the show, but at the same time and as much as I love it, and enjoyed it because it was Life, and Charlie and Dani, at the same time it wasn’t really them. I feel that the show isn’t as good as it used to be last season, or this episode wasn’t like what we were used to.

The previous episode(s) I was rather fine with, but here I couldn’t help but feel something was different. It was both in this episode specifically, and in the whole show ever since it came back. First, let’s talk in general. In general, ever since the show came back for its season season, something has been different. It’s because a lot happened since last season finale, but we don’t know what.

The Lieutenant is gone, but we have no idea what happened there, Dani decided to wear sexier clothes and let her hair down, we don’t know why either. It’s all part of changes that took place, and are supposed to be accepted from now on, but we can’t accept them because we don’t know the reasons. We don’t know why Dani changed her style and apparently isn’t going in bars anymore to have sex with lucky men whose name she doesn’t even care about, there has to be a reason, and we need to know what happened, because from where we’re standing, those are just changes.

Not evolutions, but changes. We didn’t see the show or the characters evolve into something else, we didn’t see them transforming into anything, we just found them back, only they weren’t the same. And it goes further than that, because to stay on Dani : her sexual behavior was a part of who she was, just like her dressing code was, or are her frequent visits to the gym. Despite what it may look like in promos, she is as important to the show as Charlie, the show isn’t about Charlie, it’s about him and Dani.

Continue reading the review of The Business Of Miracles on TVoholic…

The episode first aired on October 6, 2008 and was watched by 5.78 million viewers, with a 2.3/rating, 6/share amongst adults 18-49. As expected this is better than what Friday’s episode did, but it was also much lower than the last episode on Monday, the season premiere, with 1.14 million more viewers.

Of course, lead-in HEROES was also losing viewers, and going from Mondays to Fridays all the time isn’t really helping. The real worry will come when numbers on Fridays start to really look bad…

[ Source: Nielsen Media Research data, from Marc Berman ]