Photos
Video
A 'Life' interrupted
The cast and crew of NBC's drama Life got some great news last week: The show was picked up for a full season.
The only problem with that is that no one involved with the series knows when they'll be going back to work. The show has filmed 11 episodes, the last of which -- the conclusion of a two-parter that began Monday -- airs at 10 p.m. Wednesday.
While the show's writers are out, stars Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi have been using the downtime to recharge. The two are in nearly every scene, which has meant a lot of long hours.
"I've been very thankful for the break. But I'm very glad that the strike seems to be resolving itself," Lewis said last week -- though since then some of that optimism has cooled. "Those are the rumors anyways, that there are [ideas] that have been proposed and the, you know, the sounds are encouraging. So hopefully we'll be back at work in the middle of January."
Adds Shahi, "It's nice to know that I have a job during the strike. And at the same time, because the hours have been so grueling ... it does feel nice" to get a break.
Shahi and Lewis also spoke about their characters and the conspiracy Crews is trying to uncover.
On Crews and Reese's lack of attraction:
Shahi: "I think any time you get your two lead characters together, there's really no room to go from there. So hopefully it's something that, if it happens, will be drawn out for an incredibly long time and be maybe tantalizing. I don't know."
On the nature of the conspiracy:
Lewis: "It's a spooky thing. You know, a lot of the conspiracy story is explored in the [this week's] episodes. And I think what's becoming apparent about the conspiracy is that it's a multi-layered onion, and we will need to keep peeling away that onion in order to get to the powerhouse -- the people driving the conspiracy at the center of the story. By the end of episode 11, we make a big, big discovery and it's very exciting. But it will only take us on to a new level, I think, after that."
How much they know:
Lewis: "I don't. I don't think Sarah does. She's terrible at keeping a secret, so she definitely would have told me. You know, the writers themselves don't know too far in advance. I mean, I think they have general outlines. But, you know, they're putting in the detail weekly and so we're not too far behind the writers. ... I don't want to know everything up front. I'm enjoying discovering it. It's like reading a novel."
Shahi: "Yeah, it's more fun to play like that and then it also feels more -- I mean, for me also it's just not my technique to try to know everything and then play the discovery once I'm there. It's like I really do not want to know."
How long can it play out?
Lewis: "I think that's the cleverness of the concept is that I think you can ink it out as long as you choose to. How high up do you want the corruption to go? Does it just stop at the LAPD? Already we've had an intimation from one of the episodes that there are four or five high-ranking officials involved, you know. That could just -- you could just go to one of them in the first season. You could go to the next one -- each one of them in the following four seasons.
"You could go to the White House. You could take it on to the moon. You know, how high up does the corruption go? And how multi-stranded is the web of corruption, because I think you can take it laterally as well? And it really can go anywhere in the same way that 24 was a brilliantly conceived concept. They can do pretty much whatever they want with that, too."
Life will live on after the strike. Looking forward to it coming back?
Without question ... It's my favorite show of the new season and Damian Lewis is tremendous ...
JM | Dec 4, 2007 12:43:28 PM | #Absolutely! This is the best new show I've seen in years and I'm thrilled that NBC has ordered more episodes. the show is intelligent, interesting, engaging, well-written, and directed. Damian Lewis is brilliant and the entire cast are excellent. I hope we don't have to wait too long for more episodes of Life!
KV | Dec 4, 2007 1:12:35 PM | #Life has replaced CSI:NY on Wednesdays for me. I concur with KV's sentiments. This series is intelligent, interesting, engaging, well-written and directed. It has a wonderful blend of the serious and the humorous. The cast is very solid and talented beginning with Damian Lewis and Sara Shahi. I'm looking forward to many more episodes.
TS | Dec 4, 2007 1:43:28 PM | #It is such a pleasure to watch Life unfold as a creative endeavor. I'm enjoying the characters and their development, the stories, the humor, and the clever upending of the crime story genre. I love that the music enhances the stories in dramatic ways (pairing Aimee Mann's One with the search of the kitchen and house was brilliant in Farthingale to name one) and that the writing, directing, and filming is eye-poppingly beautiful. I think Life will return from the strike stronger and more centered. Charlie is going to solve the mystery of who killed the Seybolts soon and get a hint about who framed him. Then, we'll have the rest of this season, and hopefully many more seasons, to reveal what we only glimpse now, the poetry of Charlie's journey back to life.
God forbid the writers try to contrive a romance between these two. I much prefer the element of realism now with Dani just about tolerating Crews and warming up to him slowly as a person not a potential love interest. They are much more interesting as seperate entities. I have no wish to get together with any of my work colleagues so why should they?
I love this show, I sometimes forget it's on but once I start catching up on the episodes I've missed I can't wait for the next one - it's so exciting! I even bought a book on Zen!!
Absolutely the best TV ever. Each episode is better than the last, and its many subtlties compell the viewer to rewatch, because, honestly, there is just so much richness in the characters' portrayals that you want to catch every single drop. Brilliant acting, writing, camera work - and the music choices are always spot-on. Marvelous!
Pat | Dec 5, 2007 5:54:56 AM | #Ditto and ditto again to everything that's been said here about this can't-miss show! It's brilliant, it's interesting and it's that rarity of television -- a show really worth the time invested into watching it.
Please, please, please resolve the strike and get this show back into production!
spuffy | Dec 5, 2007 6:35:28 AM | #Life is an amazing show. I love the brother/sister relationship that Dani and Charlie have - how they tolerate each other because they have to.
And Dani is not Rachel. :)
V Barkley | Dec 5, 2007 7:19:10 AM | #I agree with all that has been said above. This show is fantastic. Have loved Damian Lewis since Band of Brothers. Life is just so interesting and engaging. I love Crews and the way he looks at life. He is a very complex character and so well played by Damian. I am very thankful NBC wised up and ordered more episodes. This is definitely the best new show of the season. It ranks right up there with HOUSE, also a very complex lead character. Can't wait for more LIFE!
Kathy | Dec 5, 2007 8:21:45 AM | #I LOVE this show... the best show I watch... I have 6 shows I watch and I can't wait to watch it tonight... I can't wait to find out what happens when Crews finds out who set him up... this show is way better than CSI:NY.
EH | Dec 5, 2007 9:00:17 AM | #Just a gem of a show that hardly got the promotional push of BIONIC WOMAN (really undeserved) and still managed to survive. Maybe there's hope that the cream does rise to the top. I really hope word of mouth gets more people to watch this show and boost its' ratings.
Tom | Dec 5, 2007 9:55:11 AM | #I absolutley love this show!! I'm a huge fan of Damian Lewis from Band of Brother and he plays this role just as equally exceptionaly!! Sarah does also an amazing job!! Both Damian and Sarah bring so much to the show! Life is by far my top favorite show!! I'm estatic that NBC has ordered a full season for Life!! I can't wait to see more!!
Vanessa | Dec 5, 2007 9:56:44 AM | #I loved Life from the first episode and thought for sure given the lack of attention/promotion it received that NBC just thought of it as a throwaway that was going to get canceled! I am so happy that there is a solid following - Damian Lewis is brilliant!
Michelle | Dec 5, 2007 10:22:09 AM | #My family loves, loves, loves, Life! Great acting, great writing - all the characters are interesting. It's one of the best new shows this season along with Chuck, Reaper and Pushing Daisies!
DaisyRose | Dec 5, 2007 10:33:59 AM | #LIfe is a blend of intriguing drama, an ample splash of humor and the tremendous ability of the best talent out of the UK in ages, namely, Damian Lewis. His range, evidenced in his other work as well, is limitless and he has made the Charlie Crews character sparkle with wisdom and appeal. My fingers are crossed that Life will be with us for many seasons.
Connie | Dec 5, 2007 12:39:14 PM | #the only thing I don't like about Life is that it's up against the best show on TV - Dirty, Sexy, Money - another mysterious, funny, well-written show with great characters. I hope one of them changes times so more people watch both shows and they both stay on the schedule.
sammi | Dec 5, 2007 1:49:49 PM | #On BONES the relationship of Booth/Brennan has continued for three seasons without a strong romantic entanglement between them. Crews/Reese have less in common than B/B
so professional will take precidence over personal until they each exorcise their demons. Overall LIFE is one of the best new shows of the season. Thanks NBC for giving more life to LIFE.
demons
Life is a wonderful, thought inducing show which I never miss. Damien Lewis is one of the best actors of our time and I never miss an opportunity to watch him in any movie he is a part of especially Band of Brothers. I had no idea he was not an American until Life - but that is okay makes me appreciate his skills.
Jeanine | Dec 5, 2007 3:03:42 PM | #Wednesday is a packed TV viewing night for me so I gave "Life" a pass even when word of mouth started bubbling over it. This past Monday I finally got a chance to see an episode, and I am intrigued. Here's hoping that when it comes back I can work out my scheduling issues.
meggins | Dec 5, 2007 3:42:19 PM | #I think if the strike continues and they have to fill in with reruns, they should show Life from the beginning, in a decent time slot, so more people can find out about it.
Jane | Dec 5, 2007 3:53:23 PM | #I agree great show. And Sarah Shahi's acting chops have come far since the L Word. Or maybe it's just better material.
coop | Dec 5, 2007 4:10:41 PM | #Life is one of two shows I watch. I don't have much time for TV, so it has to be a quality show for me to watch, let alone watch religiously. I love Damian Lewis' acting. He is a great talent. I am very pleased that the show has been picked up. Can't wait till there are more episodes to view.
Damian Watcher | Dec 5, 2007 9:41:38 PM | #So thrilled to see Damian Lewis get his own show in America - have loved him since Band of Brothers. Life has gotten progressively better in writing and acting, but I would love to see them get rid of that ridiculous female cop boss. The stereotypical "tough cop" female is tiresome and the actress way overplays the role. The best episode by far was last night because it was all Damian Lewis. Keep up the good work and let's see more of Damian's inner conflicts.
Damian Fan | Dec 6, 2007 1:01:55 PM | #Sarah should get an Emmy nod for thsi role
Tom | Dec 7, 2007 1:02:27 AM | #It's a nice little show, largely cribbed from Monk, with Bill Walton playing the part of the Defective Detective.
The Big Redhead | Dec 7, 2007 9:27:35 PM | #
Zap2it Twitter Talk
