CBS has given a full season, 22-episode order to ensemble family comedy “Life in Pieces.”
The series, which is created by Justin Adler, uses alternative points of view to tell the story of an extended family played by cast members including Colin Hanks, Betsy Brandt, Dianne Wiest, James Brolin and Thomas Sadoski. Adler exec produces the 20th Century Fox Television series along with Aaron Kaplan, Jeff Morton and Jason Winer.
“’Life in Pieces,’ with one of the best ensemble casts on television, is telling terrific stories in a very unique way, and we’re excited to tell many more of them this season,” said Glenn Geller, CBS entertainment president.
Given the show’s structure, “Life in Pieces” has drawn comparisons to a certain Emmy-winning ABC sitcom, with Variety critic Brian Lowry calling it “‘Modern Family’” under a different name.” Despite this, the cast has been adamant that show stands on its own.
“The whole structure of our show is unlike anything else I’ve seen, especially in a 30-minute comedy. We have these four short stories every week and put them together, and we have a show,” Hanks told Variety before the premiere. “I think (the show) is a really unique, fresh perspective and helps breathe life … it’s one of the things I feel is really refreshing about it.”
The season’s number one new comedy in total viewers (just over 10 million), “Life in Pieces” has been an okay performer for CBS on Mondays, holding only about half of its lead-in from “The Big Bang Theory.” It saw a ratings uptick last week, in what turned out to be its final Monday airing. Starting next week (Nov. 5), it will follow “The Big Bang Theory” on Thursdays.
“Life in Pieces” isn’t the only freshman comedy making news today. It was earlier reported that Fox had given a full season order to Rob Lowe comedy “The Grinder.”
