CBS’s ‘Life in Pieces’ joins the family

On Monday, CBS introduces “Life in Pieces” (8:30 p.m., KDKA-TV), which bears some similarity to ABC’s “Modern Family” with two major exceptions: It’s not as well done and not almost as amusing or relatable.

Announcing itself with the legend “One big family”.

The Short family is headed up by parents John (James Brolin) and Joan (Dianne Wiest), whose three children are in various stages of adult life.

The good news is there is palpable chemistry and affection among the actors, who all have impeccable comic timing.

That is one reason to welcome Life in Pieces, premiering tonight.

Eldest Heather (Betsy Brandt, “Breaking Bad“) is a helicopter-ish mom of three who is feeling the pangs of a soon-to-be empty nest with shlubby hubby Tim (Dan Bakkedahl, “Veep”).

The format has its pluses (it’s breezy!) and minuses (there’s not time to learn much about, say, Matt in this first episode, and it’s similar to – though not as polished as – Modern Family), but the Short family seems like an affable bunch. She’s also adjusting to what having a child has done to her body – she’s not taking it well – an they’re both adjusting to having no sex life for a while. Colin Hanks’ Greg and Zoe Lister Jones’ Jen add to the Short clan in the first episode with the delivery of their first baby, while Matt’s contribution is the introduction of new girlfriend Colleen (Enlisted’s Angelique Cabral) who, fortuitously for us (if not for Matt) is still awkwardly sharing a house with heartbroken and weird ex-fiancee Chad (Jordan Peele, in what, with any luck, will be a recurring role). The review also praised the whole cast.

Jen is portrayed by the hilarious Zoe Lister Jones. Sandwiched between The Big Bang Theory and Scorpion, it’s doubtful that they won’t have a big premiere. Mistily apologizing for his admitted dumb idea for a funeral home party, John tells his gathered clan, “Life is about these moments, these pieces of time”. And no one on Life in Pieces is doing that.

Of course not all families are 24-7 love-ins, and life is not always easy, even for the visibly wealthy, rich, white, cis, straight, able-bodied, employed people raised in luxurious two-parent households, to which they can return. There’s certainly promise in Life in Pieces’ many moving parts-and it might actually be the best comedy CBS has seen in years-but the show failed to achieve the cohesion it needed by the end of the pilot.