For NBC gives 'Life' support

Even a man seeking to have no worldly attachments would find it difficult to ignore the sophomore slump that afflicts not only his show, NBC's critically acclaimed "Life," but all prime-time television this season as well. No show that had its first season truncated by the writers strike last year has yet bounced back in the ratings.

But “Life” did receive a double-boost this month when NBC moved it back to Wednesdays from the dark hole of Fridays and gave it a full-season order. The drama, which stars Damian Lewis as the police detective who wrongfully spent 12 years in prison, registered 8 million viewers per show last year and has averaged just 6 million this season. Despite the ratings dip, NBC, much as it has done with critically acclaimed, low-rated shows such as "Friday Night Lights" and "30 Rock," is sticking by "Life."

"We're trying to get 'Desperate Housewives' or 'House' to be our lead-in," joked creator Rand Ravich, wishing that he could steal those shows from ABC or Fox.

"It's a confusing time in network television. But to the network's credit, so far, they're not equating the numbers to the show. They're saying it's got to do with where we're putting you or promoting you and what your lead-in is. They love the show."

Or maybe the three-month labor stoppage should be blamed. The only two sophomore shows being embraced by viewers are the CW's "Gossip Girl" and CBS' "The Big Bang Theory," the only series that returned with original episodes after the strike. NBC's "Chuck," and ABC's "Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money" are still struggling to find an audience.

You'd think it would be easy for Charlie Crews to gain a following -- after all, many cop shows, even new ones such as CBS' "The Mentalist," command big audiences. And Crews is not just a cop: He's a great detective, with a sunny, empathetic disposition; a penchant for fruit; and a beautiful, troubled partner, Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi). Framed for homicide, Crews lost his badge and was sent to prison; he used the time to become a better person, learning to live in the moment.