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Life in Pieces

TV·2015–2019·4 seasons, 79 episodes·CBS·Comedy, Family·30m·7.6·Created by Justin Adler

Streaming on (US) HuluSee all

Life in Pieces is a single-camera comedy about one big happy family and their sometimes awkward, often hilarious and ultimately beautiful milestone moments as told by its various members. Of the three siblings, middle child Matt may have just found his true love, his co-worker, Colleen; his coddled youngest brother, Greg, and his wife, Jen, are overwhelmed by the birth of their first child; and the eldest, Heather, and her husband, Tim, are dreading their impending empty nest so much, they're considering having another baby. Their parents are Joan, the family's adoring matriarch who would do anything for her kids - as long as she agrees with it - and John, the gregarious patriarch who's searching for ways to soften the blow of turning 70. As the family's lives unfold in four short stories each week, they try to savor these little pieces of time that flash by but stay with you forever, because these moments add up to what life's all about.

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01Life in Pieces S03E19#TBT: House Destiny Introduction RetirementS03E19 · 7.3The Short family's quirky history is revealed with stories of when Tim met Heather's family for the first time; when Jen and Greg bought their dream home; when Matt got sidetracked after he saw Colleen while waiting for a blind date; and John's last flight before retiring.
  2. 02Life in Pieces S03E20Lingerie Cookbook Gamble SurrogateS03E20 · 7.3Tyler and Tim realize they are in over their heads when Heather tasks them with buying a bra for Samantha. Also, Joan asks Jen to submit a recipe for the family cookbook, prompting Jen to steal one from her favorite restaurant; John gets Samantha and Sophia hooked on gambling while babysitting for them; and Colleen and Matt obsess about their surrogate's unhealthy lifestyle.
  3. 03Life in Pieces S04E08X Box Glimpse SpotlightS04E08 · 7.2When Heather and Tim get an emergency text from Samantha to pick her up in the middle of the night, they try not to freak out so she'll still think they're the "cool" parents. Also, at the circus, Tim endures an embarrassing public situation; John accidentally walks in on Jen breastfeeding the baby; and Greg and Matt get competitive over their children's accomplishments.

Castfull cast & details

Episodes by season

Season01Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode22Episodes2015–16Aired 6.3Season avg
  1. S01E01Life in Pieces S01E01PilotSeptember 21, 2015 6.1As the Short family's lives unfold in four brief stories each week, they try to savor the moments that add up to what life's all about.
  2. S01E02Life in Pieces S01E02Interruptus Date Breast Movin'September 28, 2015 6.7Matt and Colleen have the most enjoyable bad date ever, and Heather and Tim move to a new home with the help of a moving company that employ
  3. S01E03Life in Pieces S01E03Sleepy Email Brunch TreeOctober 5, 2015 6.7When Matt invites Colleen to brunch with the family, he coaches her through the difficult task of connecting with them. Also, John, Matt and
  4. S01E04Life in Pieces S01E04Prison Baby Golf PickingOctober 12, 2015 6.5The siblings congratulate Greg after word spreads that he stood up to Joan for passive-aggressively questioning Jen's parenting skills. Also
  5. S01E05Life in Pieces S01E05Babe Secret Phone GermsOctober 19, 2015 6.7Jen and Greg vow not to become germaphobes, and John buys Sophia a cell phone behind her parents' backs.
  6. S01E06Life in Pieces S01E06Ponzi Sex Paris BounceNovember 5, 2015 6.3When Matt and Colleen catch Chad (Jordan Peele) trying to kidnap her beloved pup, Princess, Chad uses the opportunity to pitch them his new
  7. S01E07Life in Pieces S01E07Nanny Tent Earrings CheetoNovember 12, 2015 6.3When Jen and Greg interview potential nannies for Lark, they find it difficult to find one they trust. Also, Tim, Matt and Greg go camping,
  8. S01E08Life in Pieces S01E08Godparent Turkey Corn FartsNovember 19, 2015 6.3Joan invites a recently widowed neighbor to Thanksgiving; and Colleen's cauliflower dish doesn't go over so well with the family. In other e
  9. S01E09Life in Pieces S01E09Season's bestHospital Boudoir Time-Out NamasteNovember 26, 2015 7.0When Jen cuts her finger and Greg takes her to the hospital, they finally have the first quality alone time they've had in months. Also, Joh
  10. S01E10Life in Pieces S01E10Burn Vasectomy Milkshake PongDecember 10, 2015 6.0Greg and Matt play table tennis; Heather has second thoughts after suggesting Tim should get a vasectomy; Jen is stressed about returning to
  11. S01E11Life in Pieces S01E11College Stealing Santa CarolingDecember 17, 2015 6.5Colleen goes Christmas caroling with John and his Air Force buddies; Joan tries to take control of Lark's first Christmas; a mall Santa give
  12. S01E12Life in Pieces S01E12Bite Flight Wing-man BonnieJanuary 7, 2016 6.3Heather and Tim meet a couple they want to socialize with, but Sophia and their son don't hit it off; Greg thinks he and Jen should take sep
  13. S01E13Life in Pieces S01E13Party Lobster Gym SaleJanuary 14, 2016 6.3Greg joins Colleen's gym and goes overboard gearing up to work out. Also, Heather and Jen host a secret garage sale that directly competes w
  14. S01E14Life in Pieces S01E14Will Trash Book SpaJanuary 21, 2016 6.2When Greg and Jen slip away for a couples massage, the afternoon doesn't turn out to be as relaxing as they expected. Also, Tim, Heather and
  15. S01E15Life in Pieces S01E15Soccer Gigi TV MikeyFebruary 4, 2016 5.7To visit his great-grandmother, Greg and Jen find a solution to their sleeping woes, and Matt takes over for Tim as Sophia's soccer coach.
  16. S01E16Life in Pieces S01E16Tattoo Valentine Guitar PregnantFebruary 11, 2016 5.9A salesman at a guitar store hits on Clementine, which makes Tyler uncomfortable; a tattoo artist makes a spelling error on a tattoo Tim got
  17. S01E17Life in Pieces S01E17Hair Recital Rainbow MomFebruary 18, 2016 6.2When John starts feeling old, he attempts to make himself look younger, much to the dismay of his family. Also, Heather worries that Sophia'
  18. S01E18Life in Pieces S01E18Sexting Mall Lemonade HeartbreakFebruary 25, 2016 6.3After realizing that Sophia is growing up faster than he'd like, John buys himself a pet, but it doesn't get along well with Joan. Also, Hea
  19. S01E19Life in Pieces S01E19Pestilence War Famine DeathMarch 3, 2016 6.1ėAbout who gets to use the hot tub when new property lines are drawn. Also, Greg and Jen invite their exterminator and his wife over for din
  20. S01E20Life in Pieces S01E20Prank Assistant Gum PuppyMarch 10, 2016 6.1Greg is jealous of Jen's handsome new assistant; Heather and Tim prank Tyler's school; Joan allows Sophia to chew gum despite Heather forbid
  21. S01E21Life in Pieces S01E21Cinderella Fantasy Prom DougieMarch 31, 2016 6.3Tim thinks wearing a Cinderella dress during March Madness is good luck, so he refuses to take it off in hopes his alma mater will win. Also
  22. S01E22CryTunes Divorce Tablet RingMarch 31, 2016 7.0John and Joan reveal a shocking secret they've kept from their kids for 35 years. Also, Greg quits his job after creating a public funding c

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season02Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode22Episodes2016–17Aired 6.1Season avg
  1. S02E01Life in Pieces S02E01Annulled Roommate Pill ShowerOctober 27, 2016 6.0Heather and Tim enlist Clementine's unusual parents, Mary-Lynn and Spencer, to help convince Clementine and Tyler to annul their unexpected
  2. S02E02Life in Pieces S02E02Receptionist Pot Voting CrampNovember 3, 2016 6.3When Greg avoids voting in the presidential election because the lines are too long, he lies to Jen and says he did to get her off his back.
  3. S02E03Life in Pieces S02E03Eyebrow Anonymous Trapped GemNovember 10, 2016 6.3When Tim accidentally shaves off a huge chunk of eyebrow before an important photoshoot, he hopes Jen and Colleen's grooming expertise can f
  4. S02E04Life in Pieces S02E04Cheap Promotion Flying BirthdayNovember 17, 2016 5.7When Colleen teaches Matt her frugal ways, he gets hooked when he realizes how much saving money turns her on. Also, Tim attempts to fire He
  5. S02E05Life in Pieces S02E05Dinner Professor Steps LesbianNovember 24, 2016 6.3John assumes that Joan's creative writing teacher has a crush on her; Tyler and Clementine have Matt and Colleen over for dinner; Lark takes
  6. S02E06Life in Pieces S02E06Boxing Opinion Spider BeardDecember 1, 2016 6.5John's plan to encourage Samantha to skip her ballet class and take up boxing with his trainer, Troy, behind her mother Heather's back has u
  7. S02E07Life in Pieces S02E07Swim Survivor Zen TalkDecember 8, 2016 6.4When John decides to try out for "Survivor," Tim gets jealous and attempts to undermine his audition tape. Also, Colleen confesses she can't
  8. S02E08Life in Pieces S02E08Window Vanity Dress GraceDecember 15, 2016 6.3When Colleen goes wedding dress shopping with her future in-laws, she must deal with Joan's unfiltered opinions. Also, when Clementine feels
  9. S02E09Life in Pieces S02E09#TBT: Y2K Sophia Honeymoon CritterJanuary 5, 2017 6.1The Shorts take a trip down memory lane with a #TBT to Y2K, when John and Joan throw a party to celebrate the turn of the century and John c
  10. S02E10Life in Pieces S02E10Season's bestMusical Motel Property BingoJanuary 12, 2017 6.8Heather freaks out when Samantha auditions for the high school musical and the director, Julius Black, doesn't give her a part. Also, Matt,
  11. S02E11Life in Pieces S02E11Tailgate Spiral Souvenir SeatingJanuary 19, 2017 6.1When Colleen and Matt host the family tailgate party at the L.A. Rams game, they invite former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner to spice up their
  12. S02E12Life in Pieces S02E12Best Waxing Grocery RentalFebruary 2, 2017 5.6When Greg insists on being Matt's best man at his wedding, Matt is forced to reveal his secret about their plans. Also, Colleen refers Jen t
  13. S02E13Life in Pieces S02E13Necklace Rescue Chef NegotiatorFebruary 9, 2017 5.5When Greg and Jen hire Allie, a private chef, to cook for them on Valentine's Day, the evening isn't as romantic as they had hoped. Also, Ma
  14. S02E14Life in Pieces S02E14Facebook Fish Planner BackstageFebruary 16, 2017 6.0John and Joan join Facebook so they can stay connected to the kids; and Heather manically tries to save Sophia's beloved goldfish from dying
  15. S02E15Life in Pieces S02E15Awkward Bra Automated OrdainedFebruary 23, 2017 5.8Dinner gets awkward for Jen and Matt when they find themselves alone without Greg and Colleen; Heather and Tim try to sneak wine into an ice
  16. S02E16Life in Pieces S02E16Dirtbike Old Mechanic EarthquakeMarch 9, 2017 6.0Greg stirs up an old family feud when he finds money he accused Matt of stealing from him when they were younger. Also, Joan takes offense w
  17. S02E17Life in Pieces S02E17Sleepover Dream Light HazeMarch 30, 2017 5.6When Matt and Colleen take a strong sleep aid, they start experiencing crazy sleepwalking adventures. Also, Greg gets upset when Jen reveals
  18. S02E18Life in Pieces S02E18Favorite Vision Miguel MatchmakerApril 6, 2017 6.1Greg becomes frazzled when Lark only wants to be held by Jen; Heather refuses to get the reading glasses she desperately needs; Colleen intr
  19. S02E19Life in Pieces S02E19Babysit Argument Invention ButterflyApril 13, 2017 6.4Matt and Colleen have a disastrous time babysitting Lark while Jen is at work. Also, Sophia is far from pleased when John buys her a butterf
  20. S02E20Life in Pieces S02E20Ear Scorn Registry ManuscriptApril 27, 2017 6.4Colleen turns to Tim for help with an embarrassing ailment; Dougie enlists Joan to help her buy a gift for Matt and Colleen's wedding; Heath
  21. S02E21Life in Pieces S02E21Late Smuggling Dreambaby VoucherMay 4, 2017 6.3When Greg and Jen take Lark on her first airplane trip, their parental skills are upstaged by another couple travelling with their baby. Als
  22. S02E22Life in Pieces S02E22Poison Fire Teats UniverseMay 11, 2017 6.3When Colleen and Matt miss all the flights to Mexico for their wedding, they question if they will ever get married. Also, Greg and Jen get

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

Season03Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode22Episodes2017–18Aired 6.6Season avg
  1. S03E01Life in Pieces S03E01Bad Egg Settlement Unsyncing PacifierNovember 2, 2017 6.7When the entire Hughes family moves into John and Joan's home after their kitchen is destroyed, their presence creates chaos for Joan. Also,
  2. S03E02Life in Pieces S03E02Bunny Single Nightmare DrinkingNovember 9, 2017 6.3When Jen invites her boss, Paul, and his wife over to dinner to impress him, she and Greg can't remember his wife's name and scramble to avo
  3. S03E03Life in Pieces S03E03Treasure Ride Poker HearingNovember 16, 2017 6.4When Heather finds a map to a time capsule she buried with her brothers as kids, they all set out to find it and dig it up. Also, Jen learns
  4. S03E04Life in Pieces S03E04Testosterone Martyr Baked KnifeNovember 23, 2017 6.8When Heather, Clementine and Jen offer to save Joan from the stress of preparing the Thanksgiving meal, the free time leaves Joan even more
  5. S03E05Life in Pieces S03E05Meal Potty Cart MiddleNovember 30, 2017 6.5When Tim and Heather go to an expensive dinner to celebrate their anniversary, they are determined to finish every bite of their pricey 20-c
  6. S03E06Life in Pieces S03E06Waffle Permission Kidless BoyfriendDecember 7, 2017 6.3When Heather tries to become Tyler's cool best friend, things take an awkward turn. Also, Jen and Greg get their first overnight away from L
  7. S03E07Life in Pieces S03E07Thirty-Five Teacher Escape LotteryDecember 14, 2017 6.0When Jen and Greg hire Clementine as a part-time nanny for Lark and invite her to join them for dinner, the waitress mistakes Jen for Lark's
  8. S03E08Life in Pieces S03E08The Twelve Shorts of ChristmasDecember 21, 2017 7.1The holiday spirit is alive, well and wildly different for each member of the Short family.
  9. S03E09Life in Pieces S03E09Reading Egg Nurse NeighborJanuary 4, 2018 6.5When Sophia asks Matt and Colleen about having children, an animated sequence featuring the whole family as farm animals reveals that they h
  10. S03E10Life in Pieces S03E10Emergency Interview Driving LunchJanuary 11, 2018 6.2When Matt is in a hurry to get to the fertility clinic, each member of the family has a crisis that prevents him from getting there on time.
  11. S03E11Life in Pieces S03E11Goose Friends Auction FogJanuary 18, 2018 6.7When Jen sings in Tyler's band, she gets caught up in the excitement and creates an awkward situation for him. Also, John and Greg decide to
  12. S03E12Life in Pieces S03E12Toilet Shaving Stuck FertilityFebruary 1, 2018 6.5When Greg and Jen's crazy neighbors invite them to a party, Greg makes up a lie so they can get out of attending. Also, Matt and Colleen dis
  13. S03E13Life in Pieces S03E13Therapy Cheating Shoes MovieMarch 1, 2018 6.5When Matt drives Greg to a job interview, they encounter a few bizarre obstacles that jeopardize getting him there on time. Also, with John'
  14. S03E14Life in Pieces S03E14Parents Ancestry Coupon ChaperoneMarch 8, 2018 6.2Jen and Greg decide to take turns dealing with her annoying parents when they come to visit. Also, when Tim and Heather chaperone Samantha's
  15. S03E15Life in Pieces S03E15Graffiti Cute Jewelry ShotsMarch 29, 2018 6.5When Sophia feels like she is no longer the cutest kid in the Short family, she tries frantically to regain her status. Also, Joan gives Jen
  16. S03E16Life in Pieces S03E16Pageant Bike Animals JerkyApril 5, 2018 6.4When Heather tells Sophia she has to get rid of her stuffed animals, Sophia stages a musical with them to see if she can change her mother's
  17. S03E17Life in Pieces S03E17Sitter Dating Sister MattressApril 12, 2018 6.4Jen and Greg go to great lengths to find the perfect babysitter for Lark. Also, John becomes testy when shopping for a mattress and Joan rea
  18. S03E18Life in Pieces S03E18Renter Portrait Plagiarism ScamApril 19, 2018 6.7When Jen is offered a custom painting as payment from a hot new artist, she is thrilled until she sees the final product. Also, Sophia convi
  19. S03E19Life in Pieces S03E19Season's best#TBT: House Destiny Introduction RetirementApril 26, 2018 7.3The Short family's quirky history is revealed with stories of when Tim met Heather's family for the first time; when Jen and Greg bought the
  20. S03E20Life in Pieces S03E20Lingerie Cookbook Gamble SurrogateMay 3, 2018 7.3Tyler and Tim realize they are in over their heads when Heather tasks them with buying a bra for Samantha. Also, Joan asks Jen to submit a r
  21. S03E21Life in Pieces S03E21Video Piercing Model HangoverMay 17, 2018 7.0Jen and Greg learn a surprising piece of news. Also, Sophia wants a second piercing in her ear much to the dismay of Heather and Tim; Collee
  22. S03E22Life in Pieces S03E22Sixteen Spanish Car LeakMay 17, 2018 7.1Tim and Heather plan a surprise birthday party for Samantha, but the night takes an unexpected turn when she doesn't come home alone. Also,

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

Season04Best seasonEpisode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode13Episodes2019Aired 6.6Season avg
  1. S04E01Life in Pieces S04E01Jungle Push Resort AnniversaryApril 18, 2019 6.7When the Short family arrives at their vacation resort in the Yucatan, their accommodations aren't quite what they expected. Also, Heather i
  2. S04E02Life in Pieces S04E02Demo Nosebreath Surgery MatchApril 18, 2019 6.4When Colleen and Matt try to impress a potential birth mother, they have a hard time competing against another rich, swanky couple. Also, Je
  3. S04E03Life in Pieces S04E03Misery Turd Name PillsApril 25, 2019 6.5While Joan is bedridden recovering from surgery, she persuades Sophia to spend time with her, which she quickly regrets. Also, Jen and Greg
  4. S04E04Life in Pieces S04E04Birth Meddling Jacket DenialMay 2, 2019 6.6When Colleen and Matt learn they may not be allowed into the delivery room for the birth of the baby they are planning to adopt, they try to
  5. S04E05Life in Pieces S04E05Sonogram Frog Rub FamilyMay 9, 2019 6.5After Tim has a heart attack, he becomes super clingy and annoys the entire family. Also, Greg and Jen make a pact to keep their baby's gend
  6. S04E06Life in Pieces S04E06Recovery Discipline Psycho LaborMay 16, 2019 6.7After John befriends the janitor at Sophia's school, Mr. Sissel, John learns that Sophia and her friends believe a childish rumor about him.
  7. S04E07Life in Pieces S04E07Lost Math Art GlamMay 30, 2019 6.6Greg scrambles to find Lark when he loses her at the hospital while visiting Jen and the new baby. Also, Heather offers to help Sophia with
  8. S04E08Life in Pieces S04E08Season's bestX Box Glimpse SpotlightJune 6, 2019 7.2When Heather and Tim get an emergency text from Samantha to pick her up in the middle of the night, they try not to freak out so she'll stil
  9. S04E09Life in Pieces S04E09Four Short Fairy TalesJune 13, 2019 6.4When Tim gets a toupee, the family tries their best to hide their horrified reactions. Also, Jen fights for face time with her boss when she
  10. S04E10Life in Pieces S04E10Letter Promise Adult SeventyJune 20, 2019 6.7When Matt and Colleen treat Jen and Greg to a fancy dinner as a "thank you" for writing a recommendation letter, Jen and Greg are mortified
  11. S04E11Life in Pieces S04E11Clean Pens Grandma GuysJune 20, 2019 6.6When Jen and Greg hire Edna, the cleaning lady who has worked for John and Joan for years, Jen is horrified at her strange habits. Also, Mat
  12. S04E12Life in Pieces S04E12Cabana Hero Action SonJune 27, 2019 6.6When Matt helps Grandpa Mort efficiently book a family trip to the Bahamas, the family is super impressed, so Greg reserves a cabana at the
  13. S04E13Life in Pieces S04E13Reverse Burden District GermanyJune 27, 2019 6.6When Tim and Heather realize that being grandparents is very far off in the future, they decide to have another baby. Also, Joan gets frustr

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

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