''Side Order of Life'' is an American

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

television series broadcast by Lifetime on Sunday night. It premiered on Lifetime on July 15, 2007. In its first five weeks it aired at 8:00pm ET/PT, then switched to the 9:00pm time slot. Lifetime broadcast ''Side Order of Life'' with '' State of Mind'' and ''

Army Wives ''Army Wives'' is an American drama television series that followed the lives of four army wives, one army husband, and their families. The series premiered on Lifetime on June 3, 2007, and ran for seven seasons, ending on June 9, 2013. The sh ...

'' in an effort to offer a night of new original programming aimed primarily at female viewers during the summer hiatus. Initial reviews were positive. Lifetime declined to renew ''Side Order of Life'' for a second season.

Premise

Marisa Coughlan plays Jenny McIntyre, a photographer who reconsiders her life and is reawakened to her options after her best friend, Vivy Porter ( Diana-Maria Riva), is diagnosed with a recurrence of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

. Jason Priestley returns to regular series television as Ian Denison, Jenny's fiancé. Christopher Gartin rounds out the main cast as Jenny's boss Rick Purdy at the fictional ''In Person'' magazine; he is in love with Vivy, who has rejected him.

Cast

Main

* Marisa Coughlan as Jenny McIntyre, a photojournalist at In Person magazine. * Diana-Maria Riva as Vivy Porter, Jenny's best friend, who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. * Christopher Gartin as Rick Purdy, editor of In Person magazine, and secretly in love with Vivy * Erika Alexander as Colette * Jason Priestley as Ian Denison, Jenny's ex-fiancé, engaged to Becca despite warnings from friends about rebound relationships * Ashley Williams as Becca, Vivy's 'other best friend', who dated Ian in college, engaged to Ian currently. In a moment of candor, when discussing his role on a female-oriented show on a female-oriented network, Jason Priestley referred to himself as "the man-meat," but stated, "I'm ok with that."

Recurring

Steven Weber Steven Robert Weber (born March 4, 1961) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Brian Hackett on the television series '' Wings'', and as Dr. Dean Archer on NBC’s Chicago Med. He also voiced Charlie B. Barkin in '' ...

(uncredited in episodes 1–12) as Cell Phone Man, whom Jenny called by accident when trying to reach Ian, and who she continued to call for reassurance and support. * Joe Regalbuto as Mr. McIntyre, Jenny's father, and a good friend of Ian's, even after the breakup. * Susan Blakely as Margot, Jenny's mother, a self-described trophy wife. *

Lisa Waltz Lisa Waltz is an American actress who has had roles in many television shows and who played Nora in the film adaptation of '' Brighton Beach Memoirs''. Personal life Waltz was born and raised in Limerick, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Bobby an ...

as Dr. Misty Raines, Vivy's Oncologist, who also has cancer. * Paula Jai Parker as Stargell Grant *Ron Fassler as Teddy Smalls * Ian Ziering as Brian Fowler

Episodes

Reception

Initial reviews were positive, with '' Variety''s Brian Lowry saying, "writer-producer Margaret Nagle brings a level of wit to the proceedings superior to most chick-lit-inspired TV drama." The ''

Seattle Times ''The Seattle Times'' is an American daily newspaper based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1891, ''The Seattle Times'' has the largest circulation of any newspaper in the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region. The Seattle Time ...

'', after describing the premise, said, "If this all sounds kind of corny, well, it kind of is until you realize the story line hits its mark, making you recall your own missteps and regrets for not having taken better charge." The ''

Boston Herald The ''Boston Herald'' is an American conservative daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarde ...

'' stated that "Lifetime's new dramedy ''Side Order of Life'' wants to be the next ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...

'' so badly, it even borrows Meredith's TV dad for the debut," but despite the content of the review, rated it a 'B' and said it was "almost satisfying."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Side Order Of Life 2000s American drama television series 2007 American television series debuts 2007 American television series endings Lifetime (TV channel) television dramas Television series by Warner Horizon Television Television Academy Honors winners