Life in Pieces

Did You Know?

• Each episode is told as four short stories, typically one for three of the four Short family branches and one that involves the fourth and ties the other three together.
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released region-free, MOD versions of the first two seasons on Amazon on May 22, 2018, followed by the third season on June 12, 2018 and the fourth on July 9, 2019.

Cast

Colin Hanks plays Gregory "Greg" Short, who is married to Jen and is the youngest of John and Joan Short's children. He is the brother of Matt and Heather, and the father of Lark and Talia. Greg worked for a crowd funding website before leaving that job in the episode "Crytunes Divorce Tablet Ring." Later, he ends up accidentally running a small company in "Graffiti Cute Jewelry Shots." Betsy Brandt portrays Heather (Short) Hughes, the wife of Dr. Tim Hughes. She is the oldest child and only daughter of John and Joan, the older sister of Matt and Greg, and a stay-at-home mom to Tyler, Samantha, and Sophia. Thomas Sadoski is Matthew "Matt" Short, who was divorced from a woman named Bonnie just before season 1 began. He is the middle child and oldest son of John and Joan, and the brother of Heather and Greg. Matt dates Colleen Brandon Ortega until the episode "Hair Recital Rainbow Mom," then gets back together with her in "Cinderella Fantasy Prom Dougie." They become engaged in the two-part season 1 finale "Crytunes Divorce Tablet Ring," marry at the end of season 2 in "Poison Fire Teats Universe," and adopt an orphan boy named Lucas before season 4 episode 6. Zoe Lister-Jones plays Jennifer "Jen" Collins Short, a lawyer, mother of Lark and Talia, and Greg's wife. She announces she is pregnant in the season 1 finale, but miscarries in the season 2 premiere "Annulled Roommate Pill Shower." She tells Greg she is pregnant again in "Video Piercing Model Hangover" and gives birth to their second daughter in "Lost Math Art Glam." Dan Bakkedahl is Dr. Timothy "Tim" Hughes, an ENT doctor, husband of Heather, and father of Tyler, Samantha, and Sophia. Angelique Cabral plays Colleen Brandon Ortega Short, granddaughter of Tonita, who owns a male puppy named "Princess." She dates Matt until "Hair Recital Rainbow Mom," reunites with him in "Cinderella Fantasy Prom Dougie," gets engaged in "Crytunes Divorce Tablet Ring," marries him at the end of season 2 in "Poison Fire Teats Universe," and they adopt Lucas before season 4 episode 5.

Production

On January 22, 2015, CBS placed a pilot order under the title Life in Pieces, written by Justin Adler and directed by Jason Winer. A series order followed on May 8, 2015. The first season received a full 22-episode order on October 27, 2015. The show was renewed for a second season on May 11, 2016, premiering October 27, 2016; for a third season on March 23, 2017, premiering November 2, 2017; and for a fourth season on May 12, 2018, premiering April 18, 2019. CBS cancelled the series on May 10, 2019, citing declining ratings, the network's desire for an ownership stake, and the need to clear space for four new sitcoms in fall 2019 and mid-season.

Broadcast

The series premiered on CBS on September 21, 2015. Its first five episodes were broadcast on Mondays, then shifted to Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT (7:30 p.m. CT) starting November 5, 2015, following the end of CBS’s NFL coverage. In the U.S., every season streams on Hulu. The first season is also on Netflix, and all seasons were once available on Netflix in Canada until October 17, 2024. Shortly after that removal, they appeared on Disney+ in Canada. In the UK, all seasons are accessible on Amazon Prime, and Comedy Central UK and Ireland airs them season by season.