Side Order of Life is an American dramatic 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 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.
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
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 as Cell Phone Man, who 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 as Dr. Misty Raines, Vivy's Oncologist, who also has cancer.
Initial reviews were positive, with Varietys 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, 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 stated that "Lifetime’s new dramedy Side Order of Life wants to be the next Grey’s Anatomy 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."
