Life's Work

Watch Life's Work

  • 1996
  • 1 Season
  • 7.3  (55)

Life's Work is an American television comedy-drama series that aired on ABC from September 1996 to June 1997. It starred Lisa Ann Walter in the lead role of Lisa Hunter, a public defender who is trying to balance her professional and personal life. Lisa Hunter is a newly-married public defender who realizes that parenting and pursuing her career are challenging tasks at the same time. The series focuses on her various attempts to juggle her roles as a wife and mother, while also tackling the challenges she faces in her legal profession. The show follows Lisa as she tries to balance her professional and personal relationships.

Throughout the series, Lisa's home life causes her a great deal of stress, particularly after the birth of her baby. She finds herself increasingly torn between the demands of her job and the needs of her family, with her husband seemingly unable to relate to or support her struggles. Meanwhile, Lisa's colleagues at the public defender's office find themselves constantly grappling with the injustices, bureaucracy, and rigidness of the legal system.

One of the key themes and strengths of the series is its focus on the intersection of work and family, particularly from the perspective of a working mother. It highlights the often-challenging choices that women face when balancing their professional and personal lives. However, Life's Work also touches on other important issues, such as racial inequality and institutional injustices, which are dealt with through a number of particularly memorable cases.

The show was praised for its attempts at tackling these complex topics with sensitivity and nuance, as well as its exceptional cast. Lisa Ann Walter was particularly singled out for her engaging and nuanced portrayal of Lisa Hunter. In addition, the series' portrayal of women's and minority issues was seen as groundbreaking during its time.

Despite its quality and captivating storytelling, however, Life's Work suffered from poor ratings, and was ultimately cancelled after only one season. Nevertheless, it remains a beloved cult classic for many television critics and audiences who recognize its contributions towards progressive, nuanced discussions and themes within popular media.

Overall, Life's Work was a groundbreaking dramedy that touched on important societal themes and issues, with a powerful and nuanced performance from Lisa Ann Walter. While it was not a success in terms of ratings, it remains an important and beloved series for those who appreciate thoughtful, multifaceted storytelling.

Life's Work is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (15 episodes). The series first aired on September 17, 1996.

Life's Work
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Seasons
Dates
17. Dates
June 3, 1997
Lisa sets up Mr. Nash with an old flame (Wendie Malick) who's become a rival attorney.
Ride-Along
16. Ride-Along
May 27, 1997
Lisa gets to live out a fantasy when she goes on a police ride-along, but it soon turns into a nightmare.
Fraud
14. Fraud
January 14, 1997
Lisa reluctantly finds herself working with Lyndon when Connie files suit against a man who conned her out of her life's savings.
Harassment
13. Harassment
January 7, 1997
Tess is suspended from school for sexually harassing a boy on the playground.
Fired
12. Fired
December 17, 1996
Mr. Nash takes the fall when Lisa blurts out classified information on the radio.
Boss
11. Boss
December 3, 1996
Lisa ignores Mr. Nash's instructions and lands in hot water. Meanwhile, Connie moves in with the Hunters and instantly takes over.
Gobbledegook
10. Gobbledegook
November 26, 1996
Dee Dee throws Thanksgiving at Lisa's house but problems abound.
Jobs
9. Jobs
November 19, 1996
Lisa and her co-workers fill out their own performance evaluations. Meanwhile Kevin is offered a better job that comes with a catch.
Pregnancy
8. Pregnancy
November 12, 1996
Lisa fears she might be pregnant again.
Girlfriends
7. Girlfriends
October 29, 1996
Lisa and Dee Dee are forced to work with a mutual ex. Meanwhile, when Tess spends the afternoon with Kevin, she wanders into the boys' locker room.
Playdate
6. Playdate
October 22, 1996
The mother of Tess's new friend puts a strain on their friendship. Meanwhile, Kevin splits his raise with Brick.
Concert
4. Concert
October 8, 1996
Lisa thinks Kevin is over the hill when he's not excited about a concert, but soon Lisa realizes she's no spring chicken either.
Contempt
3. Contempt
October 1, 1996
A sexist judge rubs Lisa the wrong way. Meanwhile, Kevin fears he'll lose his job when his name is mentioned in an unflattering article.
Daycareless
2. Daycareless
September 24, 1996
When Griffin is expelled from daycare, Lisa has to turn to her mother for help.
Pilot
1. Pilot
September 17, 1996
Lisa's first day at work is filled with insults and results in a trip to the bar with her children.
Description
Where to Watch Life's Work
Life's Work is available for streaming on the ABC website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Life's Work on demand at Amazon, Vudu, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    September 17, 1996
  • IMDB Rating
    7.3  (55)
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