That's Life (2000 TV series)
Encyclopedia
That's Life is an American
dramedy
series created by Diane Ruggiero
, that was broadcast on CBS
from October 1, 2000 to January 26, 2002.
), loosely based on Ms. Ruggiero's life, and her family in suburban New Jersey
. The show was set in fictional Bellefield, ostensibly a play on the combination of Belleville
and Bloomfield
, two adjacent older working class
suburbs on the north side of Newark, New Jersey
. The show premièred a year after The Sopranos
, also about an Italian-American family set in the New Jersey suburbs. Whereas The Sopranos depicted an organized crime
family, however, That's Life was a light-hearted depiction of a law-abiding family (headed by veteran motion picture actors Ellen Burstyn
and Paul Sorvino
).
In the first season, Frank DeLucca worked as a toll collector on the New Jersey Turnpike, while Dolly was a housewife. In the second season, Frank retired after suffering a heart attack on the job, and he and Dolly opened a restaurant. Kevin Dillon
played Paulie, Lydia's younger brother who was a young officer on the Bellefield Police Department who still lived at home. Debi Mazar
played Jackie, Lydia's wise-cracking friend who owned a hair salon. The show mixed family situations with situations focusing on Lydia's life as a young single woman looking for both love and stable career, and for more out of life than simply raising children.
The first season revolved around the fallout of Lydia from breaking off her engagement with her fiance, Lou (Sonny Marinelli, who was written out after a few episodes), and moving away from home for the first time. Most of the situations were light-hearted, but plots occasionally delved into a darker subjects, including Paulie's struggle to resist the temptation to fall into corruption as a police officer. In the second season, Lydia enrolled at a local university somewhat resembling nearby Montclair State University
to pursue a career in sports medicine
. Her mother Dolly successfully ran for city council of Bellefield. Paulie started dating Plum (Danielle Harris
), a classmate that Lydia made friends with in the first season. The show developed a small fan base and received generally positive critical response, but languished in the ratings, despite the presence of well-known names in its cast. It was cancelled at the end of the second season with numerous unresolved plot lines, including the budding romance between Lydia and one of her professors.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
dramedy
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
series created by Diane Ruggiero
Diane Ruggiero
Diane Ruggiero is an American television writer and producer. Her credits include That's Life, Veronica Mars, the US remake of "Free Agents", Dirty Sexy Money, Big Shots, and the Mythological X remake The Ex List....
, that was broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
from October 1, 2000 to January 26, 2002.
Synopsis
The hour-long series followed the life of a young Italian-American woman (Lydia DeLucca, played by Heather Paige KentHeather Paige Kent
Heather Paige Kent is an American actress noted for her television roles. She was born in the Bronx and grew up in Chappaqua, New York. In 1990 she received a BFA from Syracuse University. From 2000 to 2002 she starred in the CBS television drama That's Life as Lydia DeLucca...
), loosely based on Ms. Ruggiero's life, and her family in suburban New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The show was set in fictional Bellefield, ostensibly a play on the combination of Belleville
Belleville, New Jersey
Belleville is a Township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 35,926.-History:...
and Bloomfield
Bloomfield, New Jersey
Bloomfield is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 47,315. It surrounds the Bloomfield Green Historic District.-History:...
, two adjacent older working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
suburbs on the north side of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. The show premièred a year after The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, also about an Italian-American family set in the New Jersey suburbs. Whereas The Sopranos depicted an organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
family, however, That's Life was a light-hearted depiction of a law-abiding family (headed by veteran motion picture actors Ellen Burstyn
Ellen Burstyn
Ellen Burstyn is a leading American actress of film, stage, and television. Burstyn's career began in theatre during the late 1950s, and over the next ten years she appeared in several films and television series before joining the Actors Studio in 1967...
and Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino
Paul Anthony Sorvino is an American actor. He often portrays authority figures on both sides of the law, and is possibly best known for his roles as Paulie Cicero, a portrayal of Paul Vario in the film Goodfellas and Sgt. Phil Cerreta on the police procedural and legal drama television series Law...
).
In the first season, Frank DeLucca worked as a toll collector on the New Jersey Turnpike, while Dolly was a housewife. In the second season, Frank retired after suffering a heart attack on the job, and he and Dolly opened a restaurant. Kevin Dillon
Kevin Dillon
Kevin Dillon is an American actor.Kevin Dillon is also the name of:*Kevin Dillon , character from Rodman Philbrick's young adult novel Freak the Mighty and the film based on it, The Mighty...
played Paulie, Lydia's younger brother who was a young officer on the Bellefield Police Department who still lived at home. Debi Mazar
Debi Mazar
Deborah "Debi" Mazar is an American actress, perhaps best known for her Jersey Girl-type roles; as sharp-tongued women in independent films; and for her recurring role as press agent Shauna Roberts on the HBO series Entourage.-Early life:...
played Jackie, Lydia's wise-cracking friend who owned a hair salon. The show mixed family situations with situations focusing on Lydia's life as a young single woman looking for both love and stable career, and for more out of life than simply raising children.
The first season revolved around the fallout of Lydia from breaking off her engagement with her fiance, Lou (Sonny Marinelli, who was written out after a few episodes), and moving away from home for the first time. Most of the situations were light-hearted, but plots occasionally delved into a darker subjects, including Paulie's struggle to resist the temptation to fall into corruption as a police officer. In the second season, Lydia enrolled at a local university somewhat resembling nearby Montclair State University
Montclair State University
Montclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
to pursue a career in sports medicine
Sports medicine
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise...
. Her mother Dolly successfully ran for city council of Bellefield. Paulie started dating Plum (Danielle Harris
Danielle Harris
Danielle Andrea Harris is an American film and television actress, best known as a scream queen for her roles in several horror films, four of them in the Halloween series: in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers as Jamie Lloyd and in Halloween and...
), a classmate that Lydia made friends with in the first season. The show developed a small fan base and received generally positive critical response, but languished in the ratings, despite the presence of well-known names in its cast. It was cancelled at the end of the second season with numerous unresolved plot lines, including the budding romance between Lydia and one of her professors.
Cast
- Heather Paige KentHeather Paige KentHeather Paige Kent is an American actress noted for her television roles. She was born in the Bronx and grew up in Chappaqua, New York. In 1990 she received a BFA from Syracuse University. From 2000 to 2002 she starred in the CBS television drama That's Life as Lydia DeLucca...
- Lydia DeLucca - Debi MazarDebi MazarDeborah "Debi" Mazar is an American actress, perhaps best known for her Jersey Girl-type roles; as sharp-tongued women in independent films; and for her recurring role as press agent Shauna Roberts on the HBO series Entourage.-Early life:...
- Jackie O'Grady - Ellen BurstynEllen BurstynEllen Burstyn is a leading American actress of film, stage, and television. Burstyn's career began in theatre during the late 1950s, and over the next ten years she appeared in several films and television series before joining the Actors Studio in 1967...
- Dolly DeLucca - Paul SorvinoPaul SorvinoPaul Anthony Sorvino is an American actor. He often portrays authority figures on both sides of the law, and is possibly best known for his roles as Paulie Cicero, a portrayal of Paul Vario in the film Goodfellas and Sgt. Phil Cerreta on the police procedural and legal drama television series Law...
- Frank DeLucca - Kevin DillonKevin Dillon (actor)Kevin Brady Dillon is an American actor best known as Johnny "Drama" Chase on the HBO dramedy Entourage. He has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his performance on the show.- Early life :...
- Paulie DeLucca - Danielle HarrisDanielle HarrisDanielle Andrea Harris is an American film and television actress, best known as a scream queen for her roles in several horror films, four of them in the Halloween series: in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers as Jamie Lloyd and in Halloween and...
- Plum Wilkinson, later DeLucca - Gregory JbaraGregory Jbara-Early life:Jbara was born in Nankin Township , Michigan, the son of an advertising office manager and an insurance claims adjuster. He is of Lebanese and Irish descent. After graduating from Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, Michigan, Jbara attended the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1981...
- Jo Jo Regosi
Award nominations
| Year | Award | Result | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Artios Award Casting Society of America Founded in Los Angeles, California in 1982, the Casting Society of America is a professional society of about 350 casting directors for film, television, and theatre in Australia, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. The society is not to be confused with an industry union. The... |
Nominated | Best Casting for TV, Dramatic Pilot | Mary V. Buck and Susan Edelman |
| 2002 | Golden Reel Award Motion Picture Sound Editors Founded in 1953, Motion Picture Sound Editors is an honorary society of motion picture sound editors. The society's goals are to educate others about and increase the recognition of the sound editors, show the artistic merit of the soundtracks, and improve the professional relationship of its... |
Best Sound Editing in Television - Music, Episodic Live Action | Lisa A. Arpino (For episode "Touched by a Biker") |