Life still in Pieces for Shorts

You know that TV comedy about the multi-generational family — the older generation, their kids and grandkids? The one with multiple storylines that somehow all interconnect, and deliver poignant observations about life?

No, not Modern Family. We’re talking about Life in Pieces, airing on CBS and City. Now in its second season, with season 1 available on Netflix, the show airs the new instalment Chef Rescue Negotiator

Necklace tonight. It’s a guest-star-tactic episode, as Saturday Night Live vet Molly Shannon and two former stars from The Office — Angela Kinsey and Leslie David Baker — stop by. Shannon plays a private chef whom Greg (Colin Hanks) and Jen Short (Zoe Lister-Jones) hire for Valentine’s Day. The romantic, food-filled evening quickly turns not-so-romantic ... the mind reels at the possibilities.

Meanwhile, engaged couple Matt (Thomas Sadoski) and Colleen (Angelique Cabral) decide to adopt a dog. Problem is, the vendor is a judgmental animal advocate. Kinsey should be perfect in the role, having played judgmental accountant Angela Martin on The Office.

Also, grandparents John (James Brolin) and Joan (Dianne Wiest) visit a car dealership owned by Baker’s character, and Heather (Betsy Brandt) and Tim (Dan Bakkedahl) are freaked out when their youngest daughter, Sophia (Giselle Eisenberg), gets a necklace from a boy for Valentine’s Day.

Life in Pieces uses a vignette format, with each episode stringing together storylines in four separate segments. Last August, show creator Justin Adler spoke about the success of format, noting that episodes showing the different perspectives of a single event resonated particularly well with audiences.

“We thought, looking back, that those are some of our most exciting and most effective episodes. Like our Thanksgiving and our Valentine’s Day, where there was sort of an idea or an event or a day or a holiday running through them. And this year we’re going to do more of that,” he said.

“... We’ve established what our form is now, and our format and our structure. And I think audiences are now sort of on board with the expectations of what each episode will be. So now we’re going to play with those expectations, and start playing with form.”

Life in Pieces hasn’t yet been renewed for a third season, but things are looking good for another go-round.