This Is Life with Lisa Ling

Lisa Ling is a writer, journalist, and former co-host of ABC’s The View (1999–2002). She has been a special correspondent for CNN and the Oprah Winfrey Network, from which she brought producer Amy Bucher of Part2 Pictures to work on This Is Life. The two have worked together for six years.[2]

In the investigative series, award-winning journalist and former The View host Lisa Ling goes on a gritty, breathtaking journey to far corners of America.[3] The premier episode features Ling investigating the world of "sugaring" and opening up about her own relationship experience being a self-proclaimed sugar baby.[4] Later in the season, Ling will delve into profound topics like drug abuse in Utah's Mormon community and the gay rodeo scene. The music to the season was composed by Mike Shinoda of American rock band Linkin Park.[5]

The series is largely a continuation of Ling's prior documentary series, Our America with Lisa Ling, which ran for five seasons until 2014 on OWN.

This is Life was one of 12 anticipated nonfiction series to air on CNN, amid its typical daily newscasts, in 2015.[6] The influx of these original primetime shows was part of a new initiative to “help CNN reduce its dependence on the network’s traditional format,” according to a Variety article. Other nonfiction series that occupied primetime slots on CNN when her show debuted included Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown and a series featuring the Discovery Channel’s Mike Rowe.[7]

Celebrity writer Greg Gilman,[3] has speculated that Ling's new show may be similar in concept to Lisa Ling’s previous show, Our America. However, Ling told the Huffington Post that This is Life will be “edgier” and “much more in your face” than the last series, which aired on OWN.[8]

• "This is Life with Lisa Ling - CNN.com". cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-10-02.
• This Is Life with Lisa Ling at TV Guide
• "Part 2 Pictures". part2pictures.com. Retrieved 2014-10-02.