{{Short description|2009 American TV series}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}} {{infobox television | image = | based_on = {{based on|''Life on Top''|Clara Darling}} | starring = Heather Vandeven | country = United States | language = English | runtime = 30 minutes | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 26 | channel = Cinemax | company = {{Plainlist| * Lott Productions * HBO Entertainment }} | first_aired = {{start date|2009|10|3}} | last_aired = {{end date|2011|4|1}} }} '''''Life on Top''''' is an American softcore drama television series based on the novel of the same name by Clara Darling. It aired on Cinemax from October 3, 2009, to April 1, 2011, with 26 episodes focusing on young corporate professionals with four women as the ''de facto'' main characters.<ref name="IMDB">{{IMDb title|1520605|Life on Top (2009)}}</ref><ref name="Cinemax">{{cite web|url=http://www.cinemax.com/after-dark/life-on-top/|title=''Life on Top''|work=cinemax.com|accessdate=September 3, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825050002/http://www.cinemax.com/after-dark/life-on-top/|archivedate=August 25, 2013}}</ref>
Although it is heavily implied to be Manhattan, principal photography occurred in Bucharest, Romania, over five weeks,<ref>{{cite web|last=Lucchesi |first=Nick |title=Ten Questions in a Nightclub with Krista Ayne, Late-Night Cinemax Personality |url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/11/ten_questions_in_a_nightclub_with_a_late-night_cinemax_personality_krista_ayne.php |author2=Krista Ayne |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130202032641/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/11/ten_questions_in_a_nightclub_with_a_late-night_cinemax_personality_krista_ayne.php |archivedate= February 2, 2013 |date=November 23, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with the help of production company Castel Film Romania. A map of Romania can be seen in season 1, episode 2 and the vast majority of the supporting cast shown in the end credits is Romanian.
In 2015, ''Life on Top'' was featured in Under the Gun Theater's performance of ''Porn Minus Porn'', a comedy show where actors parody softcore porn by cold reading scripts.<ref name="New City Miller">Miller, Joy: [http://www.newcitystage.com/2015/09/13/review-porn-minus-pornunder-the-gun-theater/ Review: Porn Minus Porn/Under the Gun Theater] Newcity Stage, Retrieved on November 20, 2015</ref>
== Cast and characters == * Heather Vandeven as Bella Marie: A successful erotic model for "life on top" and Sophie's older sister.<ref name="IMDB" /><ref name="Cinemax Cast" /> * Mary LeGault as Sophie Beale: A college graduate who has moved to New York City and is living with her older sister Bella. Sophie is a financial analyst for an online poker player.<ref name="IMDB" /><ref name="Cinemax Cast">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinemax.com/afterdark/series/lifeontop/cast|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807132512/http://www.cinemax.com/afterdark/series/lifeontop/cast|url-status=dead|title=Cinemax: Life on Top|archivedate=August 7, 2011}}</ref> * Krista Ayne as Maya: Moved to New York City following her best friend and college roommate Sophie. Maya later develops an interest in kickboxing and begins training for fights.<ref name="IMDB" /><ref name="Cinemax Cast" /> * Mia Presley as Cassia: The sous chef at ''Les Delices Restaurant'', and Bella's best friend. She hopes to start her own restaurant one day.<ref name="IMDB" /><ref name="Cinemax Cast" />
==Appearances of notable adult entertainment performers== * Riley Steele * Lexi Belle * Heather Vandeven * Krista Ayne * Justine Joli * Jayden Cole * Erika Jordan * Melissa Jacobs * Mary LeGault * Nikky Thorn/Thorne * Valentina Vaughn * Ryan Keely * Brandin Rackley
==Episode list== ===Season 1 (2009)=== {{Episode table |background= |EpisodeNumber= |EpisodeNumber2= |Title= |director= |writer= |OriginalAirDate= |dontclose = y }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=1 |EpisodeNumber2=1 |Title = Sister Act |DirectedBy = Coco Ginsberg |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|10|3}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=2 |EpisodeNumber2=2 |Title = Working Girls |DirectedBy = Kenny Golde |WrittenBy = Jess Roman |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2009|10|10}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=3 |EpisodeNumber2=3 |Title = Shoegasm |DirectedBy = James Michaels |WrittenBy = Zoey Savage |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|10|17}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=4 |EpisodeNumber2=4 |Title = Ménage a Top |DirectedBy = Coco Ginsberg |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2009|10|24}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=5 |EpisodeNumber2=5 |Title = Tied Up, But Not Tied Down |DirectedBy = Kenny Golde |WrittenBy = Zoey Savage |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|10|30}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=6 |EpisodeNumber2=6 |Title = Girls Night Out |DirectedBy = Coco Ginsberg |WrittenBy = Jess Roman |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|11|7}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=7 |EpisodeNumber2=7 |Title = Down for the Count |DirectedBy = Kenny Golde |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2009|11|14}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=8 |EpisodeNumber2=8 |Title = First Date |DirectedBy = James Michaels |WrittenBy = Jess Roman |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|11|21}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=9 |EpisodeNumber2=9 |Title = Blame It on Brazil |DirectedBy = Coco Ginsberg |WrittenBy = Zoey Savage |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|11|28}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=10 |EpisodeNumber2=10 |Title = Birthday Suit |DirectedBy = Kenny Golde |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|12|5}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=11 |EpisodeNumber2=11 |Title = Growing Pains |DirectedBy = James Michaels |WrittenBy = Zoey Savage |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2009|12|12}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=12 |EpisodeNumber2=12 |Title = All In |DirectedBy = Kenny Golde |WrittenBy = Jess Roman |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|12|19}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=13 |EpisodeNumber2=13 |Title = Happy Endings |DirectedBy = Coco Ginsberg |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2009|12|26}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode table end}}
===Season 2 (2011)=== {{Episode table |background= |EpisodeNumber= |EpisodeNumber2= |Title= |director= |writer= |OriginalAirDate= |dontclose = y }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=14 |EpisodeNumber2=1 |Title = Ready to Rock |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|1|7}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=15 |EpisodeNumber2=2 |Title = Inner Animal |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Jess Roman |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|1|14}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=16 |EpisodeNumber2=3 |Title = Vajazzled |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Zoey Savage |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|1|21}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=17 |EpisodeNumber2=4 |Title = Sextacular |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|1|28}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=18 |EpisodeNumber2=5 |Title = Ladies Night |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Zoey Savage |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|2|4}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=19 |EpisodeNumber2=6 |Title = Wedding Sex |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Jess Roman |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|2|12}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=20 |EpisodeNumber2=7 |Title = Farmer and the Bella |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|2|18}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=21 |EpisodeNumber2=8 |Title = The Phucket List |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Zoey Savage |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|2|26}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=22 |EpisodeNumber2=9 |Title = The Ex-Files |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Jess Roman |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|3|5}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=23 |EpisodeNumber2=10 |Title = Blackout |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|3|12}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=24 |EpisodeNumber2=11 |Title = Bad Luck Chuck |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Zoey Savage |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|3|19}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=25 |EpisodeNumber2=12 |Title = The Angelina Effect |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Jess Roman |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|3|25}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=26 |EpisodeNumber2=13 |Title = Exhibitionist |DirectedBy = Jared West |WrittenBy = Charles Kline |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2011|4|1}} |ShortSummary = |LineColor= }} {{Episode table end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1520605/ ''Life on Top''] at IMDb
{{MAX After Dark}}
Category:2009 American television series debuts Category:2011 American television series endings Category:2000s American drama television series Category:2010s American drama television series Category:Cinemax original programming Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios Category:Television shows based on American novels Category:Erotic television series Category:Television shows set in New York City Category:Television shows about casual sex