It's a Personal Pineapple.

A new lease on Life

2008-08-30T01:11:30Z

NBC's PR machine for Life is slowly starting up with the release of DVD's just around the corner and the second season premiere a month away it is only right that they should. One of the more recent efforts is to include Life in the New York TV Festival's Premiere week, another turn in the PR machine is this article from USA Today:

NBC's 'Life' is revived; but question is, can it thrive?

By Gary Strauss, USA TODAY

In life, one seldom gets a second chance. That's the premise behind NBC's Life, the cop drama that gets a second chance of sorts when its new season opens Sept. 29 (10 ET/PT).

NBC is giving viewers ample opportunity to sample the series after the writers' strike cut its freshman run to 11 episodes. Three more shows air on Oct. 3, 6 and 10, when it rests in its Friday slot.

"NBC understands the difficulty of selling this show," says creator Rand Ravich. "The first episode needs to serve as a pilot, as if you've never seen it."

Indeed, new viewers may need a refresher course on the characters and complex back stories. British actor Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers) stars as Charlie Crews, an L.A. cop who is back on the force after serving 12 years for homicides he has been cleared of, and he's tracking the conspirators who framed him. Crews emerges from prison as a Zen disciple, challenged by modern conveniences and partial to fast driving and fresh fruit.

A financial settlement made Crews a multimillionaire. Adam Arkin (Chicago Hope) takes the role of Ted Early, the paroled financier who is Crews' housemate and money manager. Sarah Shahi (The L Word) co-stars as Crews' reluctant, sobriety-challenged partner, Dani Reese, and Jennifer Seibel plays his ex-wife, Jennifer, with whom sparks still fly.

Lewis relishes the complexity of Life's story line and his character. "He was in maximum security most of that time, fighting for his life, the rest in solitary confinement," Lewis says. "You have a character who is wild and imaginative and poetic and cracked and warped as you like. The world has changed."

Anticipating the strike, Life's writers shortened some story lines but stuck to their game plan of Crews identifying who actually carried out the murders in which he was implicated. This year, Crews will delve into the bigger conspiracy, which "will have answers every episode," says executive producer Far Shariat. "We won't wait until the end of the season to hit those milestones."

But Life will experience ample lighter moments, too. "Crews was constantly battling the forces of revenge and transcendence. We're resetting that to where it's a brightly lit world — money, cars, girls that want him," Ravich says. "It's all about wish fulfillment."

Ravich and Shariat previously developed a procedural cop series and one about witness protection; neither aired. They hope Life endures. "We talked about our favorite shows —House, Dexter, Sopranos— they were all character-based. That's what we wanted for Life. We hope we offer more than just a cop show. The (genre's) a little tired," Ravich says.

"It's so hard to find original beats and colors in the cop genre," Lewis says. "It's an ambitious show."

CATCH UP ON 'LIFE'

Life
(NBC, Fridays, 10 ET/PT)
Returns Monday, Sept. 29

-Last season: 8.1 million viewers.

-Where we left it: Detective Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) learns who committed the murders for which he was wrongly imprisoned.

-Where it's headed: Crews continues to hunt for the conspirators who framed him. "There's plenty of unfinished business," Lewis says. "There are five or six conspirators involved in setting up Charlie. We'll go to each one of them. The plot will thicken." Donal Logue joins the cast as Crews' supervisor.

*Source: USA Today

x-posted: lifetv

from today's Variety

2008-08-22T17:13:14Z

Small article in today's Variety about music usage in LIFE season one and season two, with one of the new promo pics included in the article. Rad.

Click on the image for full size.

new LIFE promo!

2008-08-22T16:38:29Z

Last night around 10:40pm, I saw another LIFE promo on NBC! Yay! That's #3. Still not cool - can't get the video off the DVR. But here's what happened:

VO: He practices Zen.

We see shot of The Path to zen Book and Crews kneeling in the karate dojo from season 1's Dig A Hole"

VO: He's an accomplished diver.

We see Charlie Crews and the other dude falling into the pool from season 1's "Tear Asunder".

VO: But you won't find him in China.

We see Crews by the frozen dead guy seen in an earlier season 2 promo and Crews says, "Ohhh."

VO: He is the most fascinating detective on television.

And we see a bunch of shit after that: Crews coming up the subway escalator, some dude throwing something at his head and Crews ducking, Crews and Reese sitting on a hill together overlooking L.A., Crews sucking an orange into his mouth at the station, a guy punching Crews, Crews kissing Jen outside on a dark street (danger Will Robinson!!), Crews smiling goofily, Crews getting thrown through a table, and him sitting on a couch next to a guy and the guy's pet monkey whilst Crews eats a banana.

Moneky dude: Aren't you supposed to be looking for a killer?

Crews (mouth full of banana): That's what I'm doing.

Monkey guy shakes his head a little.

I liked it. But I'm biased. Not much Reese in it tho.

Life to join special premiere screening in New York Television Festival's Premiere Week

2008-08-22T03:19:09Z

Attention, New Yorkers! You're in for a treat this coming September: The New York Television Festival (NYTVF) announced its line-up for its third annual Premiere Week slated on September 12 to 17. The Premiere Week will featuring special screenings for new and returning shows this fall, participating network partners are ABC, FOX, CBS, Media Rights Capital (MRC), The CW, NBC and HBO. The Premiere Week will start on September 12 to 17 at the New World Stages in Midtown Manhattan.

NBC's Life will be one of the participating shows in the Premiere Week.

Monday, September 15, 8 PM: NBC's "Life"

On Monday, September 15th, the NYTVF offers a special sneak-peek fan screening of the premiere episode of the sophomore police drama, "Life." Tickets to this event are free and open to the public. "The second season of "Life" premieres Monday, September 29th on NBC before moving to its new timeslot on Fridays at 10 PM ET.

"Life," from Rand Ravich ("The Astronaut's Wife") and Far Shariat ("Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"), focuses on a detective who is given a second chance. Golden Globe nominee Damian Lewis ("Band of Brothers") plays complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews, who returns to the force after serving time in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Crews' new lease on life has provided him with a Zen-like outlook, peace of mind and no need for vengeance, an attitude which can be challenging to maintain when someone he cares about is threatened -- or when he is investigating the mystery surrounding the murder he was falsely accused of.

Lewis is joined by cast members Sarah Shahi ("Rush Hour 3") as Dani Reese, Charlie's skeptical and demanding partner; Brent Sexton (HBO's "Deadwood") as Officer Bobby Stark; Donal Logue ("Grounded for Life)" as Captain Kevin Tidwell, and Adam Arkin ("Chicago Hope") as Crew's former cellmate Ted Earley. "Life" is a Universal Media Studios production. Creator Rand Ravich is executive producer and writer; Shariat is also executive producer and writer, and Dan Sackheim serves as executive producer and director on the series.

Sources: Market Watch

x-posted: lifetv, crews_reese

Hi from a new Addict

2008-08-20T00:34:05Z

Just wanted to toss out an official 'Hidey-ho, neighbor' to you fellow fans of "Life". I was really excited to see there was an active fan community, and I've been reading every fanfic I can get my grubby little hands on. I am debating writing my own fanfic but I'm one of those AR writers who doesn't start until the details are ironed out, and I need some info.

I could probably find this out by watching all 11 episodes. Again. Not that I wouldn't enjoy doing that, but in the interest of brevity, does anyone know off hand how many years it took from when Constance Griffiths took Charlie's case, to when he was set free in 2007? I'm guessing, due to legal tape and procedure and filings that it was 3-4 years but I'd like a more concrete number.

Thanks! Oh!! Has anyone found a copy of the NBC promo for Life Season 2 that they showed during the Olympics, where some criminal is complaining that Charlie didn't count to 3 before shooting and he says, "I rounded up"?

2nd Season Two Promo

2008-08-13T13:49:49Z

NBC releases the second Life season 2 promo:

NBC to air Life preview

2008-08-07T02:06:28Z

BURBANK - August 6, 2008 - NBC draws back the curtain to provide broadcast and online audiences an early sneak peek at the network's new and returning series for Fall as title star Zachary Levi ("Chuck") hosts "The NBC Primetime Preview" -- a 30-minute cavalcade highlighted by an exclusive backstage look to be conveyed on a full spectrum of NBC Universal media platforms beginning August 30 through September 28.

The annual Fall program will be offered to NBC's 232 television stations (check local listings) as well as other channel entities such as USA, SCI FI, Bravo, UniHD, Chiller, mun2, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Sleuth, NBC2Go, on-demand and broadband. NBC stations can also run it on their websites while NBC.com will also run it as well. In addition, the program will be screened on selected United Airlines flights.

NBC's Fall 2008-09 premiere week begins in earnest on Monday, September 22.

Debuting on Monday, October 13 (10-11 p.m. ET), executive producer/creator Jason Smilovic teams up with executive producer/director David Semel on NBC's new drama "My Own Worst Enemy" -- a show that raises the question: who can you trust when you can't trust yourself? Starring Slater ("Bobby") as both Henry Spivey and Edward Albright, the series explores the duality of a man who is literally pitted against himself. Also starring are Yara Martinez ("The Hitcher"), Alfre Woodard ("Desperate Housewives"), Mike O'Malley ("Yes, Dear") and Saffron Burrows ("The Bank Job").

The American adaptation of the Australian hit comedy series "Kath & Kim" stars Shannon (NBC's "Saturday Night Live") and Blair ("Hellboy 2") as the hilarious and iconoclastic mother-daughter duo. "Kath & Kim" focuses on Kath (Shannon), a cheerful, foxy, forty-something, and her self-absorbed daughter, Kim (Blair), who have the love/hate, push/pull dysfunctional relationship that only a mother and daughter could share. John Michael Higgins ("Best in Show") and Mikey Day (MTV's "Short Circuitz") also star. The comedy premieres on Thursday, October 9 (8:30-9 p.m. ET).

Viewers will also get a look at NBC's new dramas "Crusoe" (debuting with a two-hour episode on Friday, October 17 (8-10 p.m. ET) that stars Philip Winchester ("The Patriot") and Sam Neill ("Jurassic Park") in a contemporary take of the classic Daniel Defoe novel of a man marooned on a deserted island. On the heels of the hit NBC movie, "Knight Rider" (premiering Wednesday, September 24, 8-9 p.m. ET) is the iconic 1980s television classic that comes roaring back to life as a reinvented, updated and super-charged action series showcasing the new KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) - the coolest car ever. Justin Bruening ("All My Children"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars"), Paul Campbell ("Battlestar Galactica"), Yancey Arias ("Kingpin") and Bruce Davison ("Breach") star. Smith Cho ("Blades of Glory") recurs

Likewise, audiences can gain advance insight into "America's Toughest Jobs," the new extreme competition series from creator/executive producer Thom Beers ("Deadliest Catch," "Ice Road Truckers") and executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun, "America's Toughest Jobs" that tests 13 men and women who take on some of the most dangerous jobs on earth. The early series premiere is Monday, August 25 (9-10 p.m. ET).

In addition to the new series, the special will focus on returning series as well, particularly "Heroes," "Sunday Night Football," "Lipstick Jungle," "Chuck," "Life" and NBC's acclaimed Thursday night comedies - "My Name Is Earl," the Emmy Award-winning "30 Rock" (which last month received 17 Emmy Award nominations, breaking the single-season record for a comedy series) and the Emmy-winning "The Office."

"The NBC Primetime Preview" is produced by The NBC Agency.

*source: Futon Critic

Life season 2 Promo!

2008-08-04T17:00:07Z

Thanks to 4lugia for pointing it out!

Vote for Life (Tubey Awards version)

2008-07-26T04:00:48Z

Televisionwithoutpity.com's 2008 Tubey Awards is open for voting. Life is nominated for Best New Show and Best Drama. Voting ends on July 27. Registration is free.

Vote for Life!

TV Guide interviews Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi

2008-07-24T22:17:24Z

TV Guide interviews Sarah and Damian in NBC's All Star Preview.

Cute and funny interview with LOTS of spoilers.

x-posted: lifetv

Breaking News: NBC adjusts Life fall premiere

2008-07-21T17:27:20Z

BURBANK - July 21, 2008 -- NBC has adjusted its primetime premiere schedule for Fall 2008 and uses strong time periods to launch returning drama "Life" and new drama "My Own Worst Enemy." "Life" gets four hours of originals in its first two weeks on Mondays and Fridays beginning September 29 (10-11 p.m. ET) and "My Own Worst Enemy," follows "Heroes" on October 13 (10-11 p.m. ET), giving them a prominent launch after "Heroes" and allowing the new drama to broadcast all original episodes in its regular timeslot (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET) through December.

Returning drama "Life" will follow "Heroes" on two special Monday broadcasts (10-11 pm. ET) in addition to its regularly scheduled timeslot on Fridays (10-11 pm. ET) giving "Life" four hours of originals in two weeks on September 29, October 3, October 6 and October 10.

New drama "My Own Worst Enemy" will make its debut on Monday, October 13 (10-11 p.m. ET) and remain in all originals in its regular timeslot (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET) through December.

In other scheduling changes, new comedy "Kath & Kim" and Emmy Award-winner "30 Rock" will switch time periods on Thursday nights. "Kath & Kim" moves to 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) starting October 9 after "My Name is Earl" (8-8:30 p.m. ET), which will allow for a strong audience flow for these two compatible shows."30 Rock" will settle into the 9:30-10 p.m. (ET) starting with its season premiere after "The Office" on October 30.

"The Biggest Loser: Families" premieres on Tuesday, September 16 (8-10 p.m. ET). Likewise, summer hit "America's Got Talent" returns after the Olympics on August 26 (8-10 p.m. ET) and runs through to its season finale on Wednesday, October 1 (9-10 p.m. ET).

Other series' premieres remain unchanged from NBC's original premiere announcement.

*source: futoncritic

Can I get a hell, yeah?

Newsletter Ed. 4

2008-07-07T17:43:57Z

Hey! So-- this'll be the first time I'm posting in a community newsletter and I'm all manners of nervous so if I missed anything or there's a broken link please don't hesitate to inform us via comments or email to the mods!

Notes from the mods:

1) For fanfic, our policy is only to include stories on livejournal unless links to off-LJ fic have been posted in main Life-related LJ communities. If you want to read more, there is a small collection of Life fanfic over at fanfiction.net.
2) We will not be linking to comment-fic or drabbles under 300 words.
3) For WIPs, we'll hold off the linkage until the stories are finished.
4) Pairing short-hand for those unfamiliar with the custom: forward slash between the names (e.g. Crews/Reese) = romantic or sexual context, vs. Crews & Reese = non-romantic partnership story.

New Fansites:

The Path to Zen - New and comprehensive Life fansite with news, casting notices and links to episode reviews.

News & Articles:

NBC announces intention to increase 'organic product placement inventory' in NBC's Life
Watch with Kristin features an interview with the cast of Life (Beware of spoilers for season 2 and other shows).
Tonight's Babes and The Badge lists formidable female cops with Sarah Shahi at no. 6.
Variety released a series of articles on shows that might be included in the Emmy race: Drama in Contention: Life, Leading Man in Contention: Damian Lewis, Underdog Actresses for Emmy (Sarah Shahi at no. 10).(Unfortunately, neither the show nor the actors were nominated for the Emmys).

Fanfic:
pbeesleysweater's Cold Hard (PG, Jennifer Conover)
adlervan's Enemy of My Enemy (R, Crews/Reese, post-season 1)
wildwitchdoctor's Epiphany (Crews/Reese, pre-series)
firthgal's Finding the Light (NC-17, Charlie/Roman)
grimorie's Gobsmacked (PG-13, Crews/Reese, undercover)
wildwitchdoctor's untitled drabble (NC-17, Crews/Reese)

Crossovers:
transtempts's A Single Step Life/My So Called Life (PG, Jordan Catalano/Charlie Crews)
piecesofalice's Traffic Lights Life/In Plain Sight (PG, Dani Reese/Marshall Mann)
piecesofalice's Dedicated Life/In Plain Sight (PG, Dani Reese/Marshall Mann)

Icons & Graphics:
aj posts 46 Life icons from random episodes.
otherpictures Life icons all thru season 1
mariloli - multifandom icons with Life icons at # 33-38
_yourbestbet_'s Life icons at # 77-86
oltha_heri's icons from Merit Badge to Fallen Woman
teacreak's multifandom icon posts includes Life icons
dryope posts Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi filming Life season 2. (Spoilers).
britphile7 posts Angry Charlie Crews picspam
adlervan posts wordle inspired Life season 2 poster and Charlie Crews, Life graphic.

Vids:
Haninhk's How It Ends (youtube)
imsanehonest, Rewind (Charlie Crews)
Shervin's Life music vids: Angel, Anger, Dream Awake, Who by Fire, Finally. (All found in youtube)
Snyde1023's Fine Again (youtube)
tzegha's Dirty Hole. (Charlie's Penitentiary Blues).
wildwitchdoctor's Life Credits COPS style

Multimedia:
NBC Life promo used in Amazon Life Unbox.
The Path to Zen features Pre-Air Life Promo
Craig Ferguson interviews Adam Arkin
NBC adds two new games in the official Life site.

Meta & Discussions:
GeekTheory's 2007-2008 TV Post-Mortem, praises Life and Damian Lewis.
unicorn23 posts 2007-2008's Top 10 TV shows. Life is placed at no. 3.
The Path to Zen expresses concern as three Life writers leave the show.
grimorie's rambling thoughts on Charlie and Constance's relationship
wildwitchdoctor lists what she wants and does not want to see in the upcoming season.

SPOILERS ALERT: Spoiler TV posts Casting Notices and title for episode 4.

"Dirty Hole"

2008-06-29T17:44:46Z

Song: Dirty Hole
Artist: VAST
Character: Charlie Crews
Length: 3:23
Size: 41MB
Notes: the streaming link isn't perfect. There's green squares fudging up a couple of sections. I'll upload again when my internet connection isn't bogging on me.
Summary: Charlies's still in prison
Feedback: Yes, please!

Stream Password: Dirty Hole
Download

Variety emmy article

2008-06-13T18:43:10Z

From today's Variety: "Frosh series - several new programs certain to draw Emmy voter interest"

Click on photo for full-size or go HERE if that link doesn't work.

Hollywood Reporter - crix pix

2008-06-13T18:20:00Z

From today's Hollywood Reporter, TV critics weigh in on who should score Emmys noms:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/awards_festivals/emmys/features/e3i2bfca79181eb7249f7d287e66cb5c594

From Ed Bark:

"Lead drama series actor/actress picks: Damian Lewis ("Life," NBC), Clark Johnson ("The Wire," HBO), Michael Emerson ("Lost," ABC), Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights," NBC)

"Damian Lewis is really terrific in 'Life.' Clark Johnson on 'The Wire' deserves a nomination. Michael Emerson has really been extremely important this season and carried that show. His character is still very mysterious and really has a lot of screen time and presence this year. In terms of women, Connie Britton from 'Friday Night Lights' definitely would have my vote as best actress in a drama series."

Shout out for Damian, woo! I love that this guy also picks Michael Emerson, my 2nd fave actor at the mo.

pers_pineapple @ 2008-06-06T09:59:00

2008-06-06T17:02:12Z

From today's Variety - "Road to the Emmys: The Actor"

Newsletter Ed. 3

2008-06-05T21:45:24Z

First of all: massive amount of apologies for abandoning the newsletter for... HOLY CRAP, 2 months. Just imagine me wearing a hairshirt and going all Brother Justin on myself. We'll do our best to keep a regular schedule from here on.

Notes from the mods:

1) For fanfic, our policy is only to include stories on livejournal unless links to off-LJ fic have been posted in main Life-related LJ communities. If you want to read more, there is a small collection of Life fanfic over at fanfiction.net.
2) We will not be linking to comment-fic or drabbles under 300 words.
3) For WIPs, we'll hold off the linkage until the stories are finished.
4) Pairing short-hand for those unfamiliar with the custom: forward slash between the names (e.g. Crews/Reese) = romantic or sexual context, vs. Crews & Reese = non-romantic partnership story.

New Fansites:

The Bakery, which is about all things Damian Lewis, including news, links, and a large photo gallery of Lewis' works.
aj has set up a new Life community, liveblogginlife, as a forum to carry on her livebloggin' ~~Wednesday~~ Friday tradition once the show comes back.

News & Articles:

DVD RELEASE NEWS!
Initial DVD release announcement from TVShowsOnDVD
Look at all these extras! Yowza
Early DVD box art
Pre-order the first season DVD from Amazon.com (release date: September 2, 2008)

NBC's Nominate '08, an Emmy award campaign for the show
Photos of the cast from NBC upfronts
Interview with Adam Arkin on Comedy Central: Life Star Adam Arkin Hits the C-Spot

Fanfic:

grimorie's After the sunsets and the dooryards (PG, Ted, Charlie & Dani)
piecesofalice's Kissing Girls You Shouldn't Kiss (multifandom, with 2 Life ficlets, one Charlie-centric, and the second Roman/Dani, both R-ish)
sloanesomething's Animal Planet (Gen, PG, Charlie & Dani)
rose_griffes, Interim (PG-13, Gen. Charlie, Constance, Ted)
sloanesomething's Right to Your Door (PG, Charlie & Ted)
piecesofalice's A Mass of Things (R-ish, Dani Reese), written for smallfandomfest
tia_rama's Summer in the city (PG-13) and its follow-up, Personal things (R-ish) (Connie/Dani)
wildwitchdoctor's Reese's Guide to Zen (PG-13, Charlie & Dani)

Crossovers:
tassosss's untitled Life/NCSI crossover (PG, Charlie & Dani; Tony & Ziva)
mayatawi's Easy, a Life/Supernatural crossover (NC-17, Dani Reese/Dean Winchester)

Icons & Graphics:

takeanotherexit, 18 icons from 1x01
pasadora has a multifandom icon post, including 12 Life icons (#109-120)
jymaz, 11 icons from 1x01
sweet_revenge00's multifandom icon post (Life section is from #51-80)
saiyajenn posts icons from DL's film, The Baker (along with icons from The Office and Spooks)
grimorie posts photos of DL in Bolivia (part of some charitable work he's doing) and SS in glasses
dryope posts a few fab pictures from a Damian Lewis photo-shoot by Marc Hom from 2003
grimorie's picspam for 1x05, "Fallen Woman", part 1 and part 2

Vids:

NBC official show site has put up a surprisingly fantastic promo video: What's Life All About?
firthgal, Learning How To Bend (Crews/Reese)

Multimedia:

Interactive Life timeline from NBC.com (snazzy! yet sadly riddled with wacky errors)
TV.com Interview with Damian Lewis (available for download via damian-lewis.com)

Meta & Discussions:

Rand Ravich's statement re. Crews/Reese partnership from E!Online
aj's analyzes the Charlie/Dani partnership
coffeeandink's meta on 1x11, Fill It Up and the show in general
grimorie's character resource posts: Charlie Crews and Dani Reese
delgaserasca posts her top 5 moments from S1 of Life, complete with visual aids

SPOILERS ALERT: Casting sides for 2x01, compliments of andrea_ms (zip file, 932KB). Note that these contain *detailed* script info for the 2x01 and that we may take down the link later depending on the, um, paranoia level. Anyway. Click at your own risk! (An alternative link to the zip on mediafire in case the original link goes kaput.) Also, please do not discuss the spoilers in the community without warning, e.g. on a separate post under a cut-tag clearly-marking the content as spoilers.

How is this format working for you? Spotted any links that are wrong or broken? Have an interesting link we've missed? Prefer not to have your link up here? Please email one of the mods or comment on this post for any and all of the above.

Variety LIFE ad

2008-06-03T18:15:04Z

It's a lovely morning when your copy of Variety has a full page LIFE ad on the back! I love it.

Full size HERE

Crews and Dani parallel another...

2008-06-03T03:26:14Z

sorry, but I saw this, and you can guess who this reminded me of:
"I came to the conclusion that what really attracts me about this ship is that it's not that far fetched to me. They're both already extremely tactile with each other. They're emotionally invested in each other. They already share practically everything. Intimacy of the physical kind would seem almost incidental. It would be, in my mind, something that happened when it happened. Romance would not be the first priority; it would probably be the third or fourth, truthfully."

source: Doctor Who OTP

(okay, granted, "tactile" wouldn't really describe them (though, when Crews and Reese do touch, its...heavy, to quote from 'Being Human')...but otherwise yes, right?)

NBC releases 2nd season 'Life' premiere date

2008-05-23T17:59:47Z

NBC finally releases its fall premiere schedules:

"Life" resumes its second season on Friday, October 3 (10-11 p.m. ET) in the drama starring Damian Lewis as a wrongly imprisoned police detective who returns to the force searching for justice.

source: here

x-posted: lifetv

pers pineapple newsletter edition two

2008-04-11T12:59:34Z

Happy Bi-Weekly Newsletter Day, guys!

As you'll notice, there's a distinct lack of content - but we all know that shall change come the premiere of season two! Enjoy!

Notes from the mods:
1) For fanfic, our policy is only to include stories on livejournal unless links to off-LJ fic have been posted in main Life-related LJ communities. If you want to read more, there is a small collection of Life fanfic over at fanfiction.net.
2) We will not be linking to comment-fic or drabbles under 300 words.
3) For WIPs, we'll hold off the linkage until the stories are finished.
4) Pairing short-hand for those unfamiliar with the custom: forward slash between the names (e.g. Crews/Reese) = romantic or sexual context, vs. Crews & Reese = non-romantic partnership story

News & Articles:
Eric Cole @ Firefox News talks Life - with a mention of our illustrious comm to boot!
Watch with Kristin - NBC's New Sked: There's Good News, and There's Bad News has the goss on Season Two's Casting Spoiler
NBC Slays 'Life' with Move to Friday Nights & Can Life get a life on Friday Night? - two articles addressing time slot change
For Sarah Shahi, life is good - short article on Sarah

Fanfic:
vee_fic, "The Searchers" (Charlie, Dani, Hollis, PG )
annakovsky, "Night For Many Miles and Then (Charlie gen,PG)
chozen_rogue finished The Everything Series - parts one, two, three, four (Crews/Reese, M)
squeelated, "Inside Ourselves, A Hidden Sun" (Charlie, Dani, PG)
rivereyes wrote a series of Dani ficlets (PG, one R)

Icons & Graphics:
__yourbestbet__ posted several gen icons
andrea_ms posts HQ pics from last year's NBC Upfronts
firthgal posted a random Charlie picspam as well as one dedicated to Charlie-being-kick-ass
iwanthaylienose @ ohnotheydidnt posts the entire set of Sarah Shahi's shoot and interview from Complex magazine

Vids:
None that we came across. Comment if you know of any for next time!

Multimedia:
jhd91 @ sweet_disdain posted "The Zen of Life", a gen fanmix
Damian Lewis speaks about Anthony Minghella's passing (youtube)
piecesofalice posted "Puzzle With Missing Pieces", a Charlie fanmix

Meta & Discussions:
piecesofalice gets meta regarding Roman
andrea_ms opens up discussion about Charlie and Connie's relationship
grimorie posts part of the original script for "Merit Badge" and discusses the differences
Micky DuPree over at rec.arts.tv has a fantastic look at "Uncovering Evidence of Life" - the "documentary" within the show

--

As always, please leave links for the next newsletter in the comments, or email us. Same goes for all comments/suggestions/broken links.

episode re-watch: "fill it up" (1x11)

2008-04-02T16:54:19Z

All righty, Pineapple Heads! It's the finale - there's so much to touch on, and tonnes of meta a-happenin' here, so let's dive in.

Ready? Let's go!

Title:: 1x11 Fill It Up (Part Two)

Writer: Rand Ravich
Director: Daniel Sackheim

Main Cast: Damian Lewis (Charlie Crews), Sarah Shahi (Dani Reese), Adam Arkin (Ted Earley), Robin Weigert (Lt. Karen Davis), Brooke Langton (Constance Griffiths), Brent Sexton (Bobby Stark)

Guest Stars: Titus Welliver (Kyle Hollis aka Orson Parker), Victor Rivers (Jack Reese), Michael Cudlitz (Mark Rawls), Jessy Schram (Rachael Seybolt/ Hollis), Jennifer Siebel (Jennifer Conover), Ron Ransen (Hard Ass in Leathers), Carla Harvey (Bus Driver), Eben Ham (Sheriff), Jelly Howe (Pretty Girl Passenger), Brian Silverman (Paramedic), Karen James (Woman from Animal Control), Fawn Irish (Dead Man’s Wife), Celestin Cornelle (Cop),

Synopsis:
As Charlie heads back to jail, Kyle Hollis is lost then found and Dani and Bobby bond over slithery characters. As pieces of the puzzle become clearer, even more seem to fall out of place - testing Charlie's Zen, Dani's patience and Jack Reese's hold on the whole conspiracy.

Notable Moments:

When Charlie goes back to jail to see Rawls, our old friend from the Pilot, we're treated to some tense scenes between not only Charlie and some bitchy guards, but the jail it's self.

Bobby's explanation of the crime scene, wondering where the murder weapon is and the reveal of a huge stash of marijuana plants - classic.

The "relationship" between Dani and Bobby comes to a fantastic head in this episode - while teamed up after Charlie leaves to chase Hollis, questions are answered and snakes are caught and it's HILARIOUS and telling, all at the same time.

Charlie's rejection of Zen by throwing his old trusty tape out the car window on the way to Hollis' - finally overwhelmed by the revenge and anger, only to rediscover his inner peace by the end of the episode.

When Charlie enters Hollis' home, heightened by a fiery sermon by the absent Kyle, the whole scene is punctuated by his daughter bleeding all over the floor. Brilliant.

Mice? "These aren't pets, this...this is meat." A large empty glass case? Uh oh.

Charlie and "The Girl" bonding over her gunshot wound, before she reacts and points him out - falsely - as her shooter: it's poignant, like Charlie already knows this little girl. But that's impossible, right?

Generous Charlie and giving away his prized Crewsmobile, it's like a break up - especially with the crap thing he brought to replace it.

Nice cowboy boots, Kyle. (TITUS!) Nice place in the boot of Charlie's crap car, too. Ha!

The scene in the orange factory - it's one of the first times we see a really, violently unhinged Charlie - it's off set by an apology to Jennifer and a buddy scene with Ted, but the remnants of this scene seem to linger.

"Charlie? I'm not Alfred, am I?" "No, Ted. You're not Alfred." "I'm not Higgins?!"

The car crash. Oh.My.God. Even after a couple of watches, it still shakes everything up - as well as the resulting shoot out. I need a lay down! "But we took your gun."

"I got right!" I'd be terrified if Charlie, in his present state of mind, was digging a hole and not telling me why, too, Kyle.

Fill it up, Charlie. Fill it up.

Charlie and Jack on the roof - out of everything happening in this scene, the main thing that stands out is, of course, the fact that all he had to do was ask Dani - and she did what he asked - which may hurt Jack more than anything else.

Dani's got some questions, but she may not like the answers.

"You didn't even recognise her, when she was bleeding in your arms."

Quotes!

I've listed the most memorable throughout the re-watch - oops. But please, feel free to add to this with those you loved, too!

Things We Learned

Charlie still thinks of himself as a con, referring to himself as "one of us" while with Rawls.

Kyle Hollis has been in Indio (?) for five years with a new identity and daughter - Reverend Orson Parker. Seems he "found the Lord, or somethin'."

Bobby's dad is a meat packer, which isn't as romantic as it sounds.

During the investigation into The Seybolt murder, Bobby was placed in a room and told he too would go to jail if he backed up his partner. It's the first time the audience sees a glint of "wait, what?" in Dani's eyes regarding the case and a potential conspiracy.

The snake is a Burmese python named Kato and is a constrictor. It's not venomous, but don't let it wrap around your appendages.

Charlie was in solitary for at least eighteen months: "first six months, I did push-ups every day and didn't talk to my self. The next six months, I stopped doing push-ups and, I confess, I did talk a little to myself. The six months after that, those next six months, Kyle? You don't want to know what happened then."

Jack Reese would send a cheque of $250 every year to The Bless'd Sisters. Four months after the robbery, an anonymous cheque of $4 million arrived at The Bless'd Sisters, from an untraceable Cayman Island account.

Kyle was a go-between for the laundering operation between Jack and Tom and was sent to the Seybolt's after it was found out Tom was skimming. Robbery money was laundered through the bar.

Wall of Conspiracy

No wall action this episode - after all, it was playing out right in front of poor Charlie's eyes!

Fresh Fruit:

We get a inside look at the orange grove business Charlie and Ted seem to have built. It's impressive.

Pluot, or an apple dandy, or dinosaur egg - Charlie grew it himself but Kyle? Doesn't really care.

A fruit cup on the stairs with Dani.

Music from the Episode

"El Rodeo" by Kyuss, during Charlie's walk back into jail.

"Ahead of My Time" by Teddybears featuring Daddy Boastin', signaling Charlie's "release" from jail and heading to a crime scene. Also a fan-friggin'-tastic song.

"Shoot Out the Lights" by X, while Charlie drives to Hollis' place.

"Sorry" by Gram Rabbit, as Charlie makes excuses to Dani and swaps his car over.

"Who By Fire" by Leonard Cohen, when Kyle and Charlie are "talking" at the orange factory, and when Bobby asks Dani what she would have done in his shoes.

"Down Boy" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, during the shoot out between the two fake cops.

"Finally" by The Frames, when Kyle is walked through the squad room to applause.

Questions for Discussion

Why do you think Rachel tells the EMTs that Charlie shot him? Do you think it's a leftover survival mechanism from her time living with Hollis?

How do you think Hollis managed to get Rachel into his care? Would it have been the doing of Jack Reese? Do you think Hollis cares about Rachel? Why/why not?

We see more footage of Ted admitting he was saved by Charlie in jail by Charlie using violence. Does this make Ted seem weak? Or does it show his loyalty?

Dani's quite obviously cluing into the conspiracy - do you think she will help Charlie or hinder him once she knows her father is such a big part of it?

And finally: how did this act as a finale for our show?

Remember: participation is the key here, folks - dive in with your comments, thoughts, additions to the episode guide, and most of all, have fun!

episode re-watch reminder

2008-04-01T13:31:27Z

Here we go - Wednesday is our final re-watch for the season, 1x11 Fill It Up. So get yourself ready for some of the most harrowing scenes of our little show so far - let's get this discussion flying thick and fast and bring this baby to an awesome close!