Life

What would happen if you re-made "House" as a cop show? You'd have "Life," featuring a British star doing an American accent (check) starring as a police detective with extremely odd and off-putting behavior (check) who has serious issues with his co-workers (check), but despite his bizarre methodology (check) he gets the job done (check). In this case, the guy in question is not actually named Life (wouldn't that be something?), but rather Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis). Charlie spent 12 years in prison for -- wait for it -- a crime he didn't commit. After new evidence proves he didn't do it, he's released -- and the LAPD settles his lawsuit, giving him millions of dollars and forcing them to hire him back on the force. A decade in solitary with only a copy of "The Way of Zen" to keep him company has turned Charlie into a bit of a weirdo, which is why he's saddled with partner Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi) -- or is it the other way around? Meanwhile, Ted Earley (Adam Arkin), a convicted ex-millionaire financier who was Charlie's only friend in prison, now lives in Charlie's garage and works as his financial planner. Now Charlie's trying to solve crimes in his own inimitable way while simultaneously trying to figure out who framed him and ruined his life.

The Pitch:	What if mean ol' Dr. House were a homicide investigator who wound up wrongfully accused of murder and spent some time in the greybar hotel before evidence turned up to clear him and he wound up back on the force? We're guessing he'd pretty much turn out to be this guy.
When It’s On	Wednesdays at 10 ET/PT, NBC
When It Starts	Wed 9/26
What It’s Up Against	Dirty Sexy Money (ABC), CSI: New York (CBS)
Starring...	Damian Lewis
Cliche-o-Meter	Fish out of Water Rich Folks
Fandom Factor	Lukewarm
Do Not Adjust Your Set:	Besides being the name of a TV drama, Life is also the name of a popular breakfast cereal "and" a board game. Presumably, this series is not attached to either.
Why It Will Be First To Go:	I said it about the cop show set in New Orleans ("K-Ville") and I said it about the cop show where chicks fight crime ("Women's Murder Club") and so I'll say it here, about the show where the guy who used to be in jail for a crime he didn't commit fights crime: A cop show is a cop show is a cop show.
Why It Won't:	It's actually not a bad cop show.
Odds of Failure:	7-1
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