Life in Pieces

The humor is genuine; the laughs plentiful.

Life in Pieces offers some very good reasons to walk on the wild side and let the laughs come without any in-show inducements. Whether that’s still asking too much is one of the new season’s more intriguing open questions.

While these standalone plots could descend into sketches, they don't--the writing is sharp and relatable, and the cast, particularly Colin Hanks and Zoe Lister Jones as new parents, bring their standard-fare roles to life.

That the show finds new humor and life in these done-to-death scenarios is its biggest strength.

While the first episode of Life in Pieces ... doesn’t immediately inspire the same confidence as [Modern Family] does, what it does have in common with it is a big, ludicrously talented cast who elevate the pilot material in ways that a lesser ensemble couldn’t have managed.

It’s not as well done and not nearly as funny or relatable [as Modern Family].

Separately, the Short family members are worthy of a glimpse and can garner a chuckle. Together, they’re abrasive and unlikable.