4.2 /10 1 Votes
45% Metacritic Genre Sitcom Composer(s) Gabriel Mann Original language(s) English Final episode date 26 May 2014 | 7.1/10 IMDb 10% Rotten Tomatoes Created by Dana Klein Country of origin United States First episode date 31 March 2014 Network CBS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring James Van Der Beek
Majandra Delfino
Zoe Lister-Jones
Brooklyn Decker
Rick Donald
Kevin Connolly Cast Brooklyn Decker, James Van Der Beek, Majandra Delfino, Zoe Lister‑Jones, Kevin Connolly Profiles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Friends with better lives
Friends with Better Lives is an American comedy series created by Dana Klein. The multi-camera series premiered on CBS on March 31, 2014, as part of the 2013–14 American television season.
Contents
On May 10, 2014, CBS canceled the series after only five episodes had aired. Later that day, it was reported that Friends with Better Lives was being shopped to other networks. To date, eight of the thirteen episodes produced have aired. The remaining five episodes were aired by DSTV in South Africa and were released on DVD in the US. Therefore, numbering of the last five episodes is disputed and only four of the five are available online (except on Amazon and Netflix).
Plot
Six people all think their friends have better lives. Will (James Van Der Beek) is a newly-single bachelor pining for his ex-wife; Jules (Brooklyn Decker) and Lowell (Rick Donald) are newly engaged; Kate (Zoe Lister-Jones) is a successful, single career woman who does not have the best luck with dating; and Andi (Majandra Delfino) and Bobby (Kevin Connolly) are a happily married couple with one child and one on the way, pining for their younger fun days.
Cast
Production and development
In September 2012, Friends with Better Lives first appeared as part of the CBS development slate. On January 22, 2013, CBS placed a pilot order. The pilot was written by Dana Klein and directed by James Burrows.
Casting announcements began in February 2013, with James Van Der Beek first cast in the role of Will Stokes, a gynecologist who returns to the bachelor life after learning of his wife's infidelity. Brooklyn Decker was the next actor cast, in the series regular role of Jules Talley, a former model and aspiring actress who recently became engaged to Lowell. Rick Donald then joined the series as Lowell Peddit, a spiritual, self-righteous environmentalist who is recently engaged to Jules. Shortly after, Kevin Connolly and Majandra Delfino signed onto the series regular roles of Bobby and Andi Lutz, a happily married couple with two kids, who miss their young partying days. Zoe Lister-Jones was the last actor cast in the series regular role of Kate McLean, the Chief Operating Officer of a thriving social media company who doesn't have the best of luck when it comes to dating.
On May 12, 2013, CBS placed a series order on Friends with Better Lives to premiere as part of the 2013–14 American television season.