Life on Mars [ABC-Wed]

[mascan42]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/15/bbc.usa?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

Good. There's no way it would've been anywhere near as good as the BBC original. Unfortunately, it also means Lenny Clarke is out of another job.

[Absolutely]

I've been seeing about 3-4 "Life On Mars" commercials during the NBA Finals.
I assumed it was a remake of the British show, which I've never heard of besides Ron Benington mentioning it.

[Arc Lite]

The BBC one was so fucking good, it will be impossible for anything stack up. But if this does make it, I'll give it a shot.

[thelord68]

The orginal was a perfect series - short - only 16 episodes total over the two seasons, and a great ending. I don't think they could get away with it on American tv. You need the promise of a resolution to keep the suspense up. Otherwise, you might as well drop the whole premise of the show entirely and make it about a modern cop dropped into the 1970's. Forget the underlying story.

American tv wants to stretch out successful series as long as possible, and kills of low-rated ones before they've hit their stride. You can't do that to a show like this.

I do think NY is a much better setting than LA.

[Mindslayer]

I guess Lenny Clarke will once again recur on Rescue Me next season.

[thekidslepthere]

I watched the American version, but didn't bother to post about it because the whispers of this being recast were pretty loud.

I only saw a couple episodes of the British version and that was when they first aired, but I 'm pretty sure in saying that this remake lacked the balls of the original that most of you fans would probably be looking for.

It was clever/witty in parts, probably the parts they jacked note for note from the British version, but overall it had a tone that made me think it would be better paired with ABC shows like Men in Trees or that one about the rich family with Donald Sutherland.

I was hoping for a darker show that would go well with something like Lost, this really seemed like a procedural with the little in jokes along the lines of the Captain asking the new detective "what's DNA?" see he's from 2008, they don't get what that is in 1972, hysterical. I can't see this pilot being along the lines of what all of you die hard fans fell in love with from the original version.

[Shaggz]

What? Where the hell was I? All I remember is hearing something about a while ago, then I guess I forgot about it. Also I rarely watch tv anymore so that doesn't help. I was looking forward to this, only because I like Colm Meaney.

[LiddyRules]

I'm glad it was gutted. I too saw the American remake pilot (pre Kietel) and it was really bad. It was a ballless copy of the British series without any of the talent or spirit of the original. They took out the drinking, the smoking (there was like one cigarette), and misogyny (the female cop (who was very hot) was pretty much accepted as one of the guys).

With the new cast of Imperioli and Kietel, I hope that they're planning to take it in a COMPLETELY different direction since the original one did not work out at all.

I don't know much about Colm Meany but he was doing such a bad, poor man's Phil Gleinister imitation. It was like a traveling roadshow version of LoM, and he was the understudy.

[mascan42]

I was looking forward to this, only because I like Colm Meaney.
He's gone from the show. And been replaced by . . . Harvey Keitel?!?!?

On the other hand, from what I've heard, they've changed the parts that everyone loved from the orginal.

[LiddyRules]

He's gone from the show. And been replaced by . . . Harvey Keitel?!?!?

On the other hand, from what I've heard, they've changed the parts that everyone loved from the orginal. Seriously, after seeing the pilot this is really the best thing they could possibly do.

[DonTheTrucker]

American remakes of BBC shows ALWAYS suck.


Yes. The Office too. Hell, I didn't like the original that much.

Watch Kitchen Nightmares on Fox, then watch it on BBC America. It's a travesty.

[Shaggz]

American remakes of BBC shows ALWAYS suck.


Yes. The Office too. Hell, I didn't like the original that much.

Watch Kitchen Nightmares on Fox, then watch it on BBC America. It's a travesty.

I absolutely hated the American Office. But I gotta give it credit I guess, it is popular. The original was hilarious, and just that, original. Ricky Gervais did such a good job at being an ass and causing uncomfortable moments that literally made me wince and wanna look away.
I've heard about the remake of Spaced, that will certainly blow, no way can they duplicate that goodness.
Now Life on Mars which is obviously failing. Glad I never saw the pilot, I loved the original.

I wonder if they would ever try to do a remake of Green Wing. I'm sure it would suck too. Though I guess that shitty show scrubs is kinda like it, in that its a comedy set in a hospital.

[DonTheTrucker]

it is popular

Dancing With the Stars is the number one show on TV. Popular means shit. :D

[mascan42]

I've heard about the remake of Spaced, that will certainly blow, no way can they duplicate that goodness.
The pilot turned out to suck balls so it didn't get picked up.

[LiddyRules]

After the ridiculously shitty original pilot, the new Life on Mars (with such minor changes as moving from LA to NY and starring Harvey Kietel and Michael Imperioli instead of Colm Meany and Lenny Clarke) is actually getting good reviews.

Starts Thursday at 10.

[silentbob8201]

American remakes of BBC shows ALWAYS suck.


Yes. The Office too. Hell, I didn't like the original that much.

Watch Kitchen Nightmares on Fox, then watch it on BBC America. It's a travesty.

Not even All in the Family that was a remake of Till Death Do Us Part?

[MrBogey]

Sanford and Son was a remake of a British show.

[Hudson]

I like how BBCAmerica is Re-airing all of Life on Mars and the 11th Hour as Their counterparts are hitting american TV.

[WhiskeyWhispers]

With the exception of sitcoms, I can't watch British shows. They're just way too cheap looking, almost like a filmed play. When Life On Mars came out, I tried to watch it but I just couldn't do it. I'll check this one out though.

[Hudson]

With the exception of sitcoms, I can't watch British shows. They're just way too cheap looking, almost like a filmed play. When Life On Mars came out, I tried to watch it but I just couldn't do it. I'll check this one out though.
Please! Primevil and Doctor Who are great!
It's odd that you like television that uses a lot more sets and camera effects than the ones you call "Plays".

[WhiskeyWhispers]

Please! Primevil and Doctor Who are great!
It's odd that you like television that uses a lot more sets and camera effects than the ones you call "Plays".

I'm sure they are good, well written and acted and all, but I guess I'm just spoiled. I see commercials all the time for those shows but they just lack something. It's like American shows are 5.1 Dolby Surround and British shows are mono. It's superficial, but still.

[Hudson]

I'm sure they are good, well written and acted and all, but I guess I'm just spoiled. I see commercials all the time for those shows but they just lack something. It's like American shows are 5.1 Dolby Surround and British shows are mono. It's superficial, but still.I thought they were broadcast in Dolby, what is the little Dolby sign at the bottom for if they were not?

[WhiskeyWhispers]

I thought they were broadcast in Dolby, what is the little Dolby sign at the bottom for if they were not?

Wow, you ain't none too bright are you? Calm down Larry Literal.

[Bobobie]

The orginal was a perfect series - short - only 16 episodes total over the two seasons, and a great ending. I don't think they could get away with it on American tv.


Sure they could. Only it would be called a Mini-Series and they could run it during sweeps week.

[kloraferm]

Thought tonight's was alright, but I've never seen the 2 previous versions

[GoldenOne]

I liked it, alot of setting up the future episodes, but thought it had some potential.

[chumpy]

I never saw the BBC version but I thought this one was pretty good.

[Hudson]

I never saw the BBC version but I thought this one was pretty good.It was pretty much Verbatum of the british series, except the slang was a bit different.

[thelord68]

Much improved from the original pilot. I'm not sure about the lead actor, he needs to be a little more angry and frustrated. Harvey Keitel fits well, though he's not as physically imposing as his British counter-part, which made the character a little more intimidating. That was definitely a part of the British version - the fact the Gene Hunt always looked like he was ready to beat the crap out of anyone, especially Sam Tyler.

Michael Imperioli is a good fit as well.

My favorite line of the night is when Keitel turns and while gesturing at Gretchen Mol, says "take no nuts with you".

[LiddyRules]

I thought it was a great improvement over original pilot, but not better than British. I will be watching.

[SaltyDelights]

I only watched becuz they closed down three blocks near my house in Middle Village a few weeks ago to film some scenes.

It was kewl. Gotta love Keitel. "No Nuts" is hot.

[Bobobie]

It was pretty much the british episode, right down to Sam and Gene jumping over the desk to run off and save the girl. Keitel is a great actor, but he's kind of old for this part. I'd take him over a so-so actor who fit the bill more. For once the ABC heads had it right. The original pilot sucked in comparison.

[distortion9]

Watched it knowing nothing about the show or the British version and I really, really liked it. Music is killer in it too..."Life on Mars" is one of my all time favoritist songs, though I do prefer this version cause the girl is so damn smoking hot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXtAMGwUqgM

[Earth2murf]

I had Hunky Dory on 8-track damn i'm old....over the years i bought it on record now on disc...<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ueUOTImKp0k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ueUOTImKp0k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[Bobobie]

When they played "Baba O'Riley" I thought for sure they made an error. They played it so much in the 80's that I was sure it was released later than '73. Checked Wiki and it says it was released in 71'.

[JoeyDVDZ]

Show seems a tad forced to me, but I only just started watching. I guess it makes sense that Sam would be freaked out a bit at first though.

[Stormrider666]

I'm about a week late, but I really liked ABC's Life On Mars. I'll probably never see the British version, so I'm happy to have this one. The only problem I had, was it would have been cool to keep the mystery of why Sam is in 1973, going a little bit longer.

[queeby]

If it is like the BBC show at all, there will be plenty of mystery as to why he is in 1973.
They twisted the story around and fuck with your perception of what is actually going on.

[Bobobie]

There is nothing more annoying than when O&A critque something you like. Hey yeah, now that you've played the clip four times it does sound un-natural. God, it must be great to have a show with 6 hours to kill.

[LiddyRules]

If it is like the BBC show at all, there will be plenty of mystery as to why he is in 1973.
They twisted the story around and fuck with your perception of what is actually going on. They're doing it. He had a list of about 10 things of him trying to figure out why he is where he is.

There is nothing more annoying than when O&A critque something you like. Hey yeah, now that you've played the clip four times it does sound un-natural. God, it must be great to have a show with 6 hours to kill. What happened on the show today?

But I agree with what you're saying. There are so many times that they'll play a clip and do that thing where they get (faux-)angry over the clip (for no real reason) and completely take it out of context and act as though they realized something brilliant.

[Bobobie]

They were replaying audio from the last nites episode of Life on Mars. Anthony thought the writing was bad, but I don't think he understands that there is a large portion of the Audience that wasn't even born in the 70's. There are people who can't get their heads around the fact that most TV's didn't have remote controls, no Cell Phones, no computers on your desk. They were being blunt because not everyone is going to get it.

[fandango86]

There is nothing more annoying than when O&A critque something you like. Hey yeah, now that you've played the clip four times it does sound un-natural. God, it must be great to have a show with 6 hours to kill.

Kind of like someone insisting on criticizing a popular movie? :action-sm

I do agree with you, though - O&A can be very grating when they criticize something they don't understand or haven't even been fully exposed to. They played a song off of Metallica's new album, which has been widely praised as a return to form, and said it sucked because they were 'trying too hard.' They sounded like such phony 'too cool for the room' pretentious douchebags. I wanted to put my fist through the radio and tell them they just became exactly the kind of dickbag fans they HATE.

[LiddyRules]

I find it worse with movies than music because they can play an entire song in the forum its meant to be heard. When they just play a quote from a TV show or movie without setting it up and without understanding the entire vibe going on when it was said, the acting involved, etc.- and you yourself understand it- it's really annoying.

But we don't listen to O+A for their take on movies or music or tv or politics...wait, why do we listen to them again?

[Arc Lite]

They were replaying audio from the last nites episode of Life on Mars. Anthony thought the writing was bad, but I don't think he understands that there is a large portion of the Audience that wasn't even born in the 70's. There are people who can't get their heads around the fact that most TV's didn't have remote controls, no Cell Phones, no computers on your desk. They were being blunt because not everyone is going to get it.

Decent point, but some of the references were too much and not really necessary.

"Where's my Jeep?"
- "You drive a military vehicle?"

"I need my cell?"
- "Are you sellin' something?"

(both within a minute of each other)

I'll still try to enjoy the show and I'll be the douche that says (again probably) that the British version was probably superior because it wasn't made for the lowest common denominator. And you really don't have to have been around in the 70s in Britain to get the more subtle references.

[distortion9]

Fuck it...I dig the show regardless of the lame 70's references.

BTW

I own two Jeeps and call them...Jeeps. In the Jeep community, you get scolded for calling them "cars"...which they are not.

[LiddyRules]

Decent point, but some of the references were too much and not really necessary.

"Where's my Jeep?"
- "You drive a military vehicle?"

"I need my cell?"
- "Are you sellin' something?"

(both within a minute of each other)

I'll still try to enjoy the show and I'll be the douche that says (again probably) that the British version was probably superior because it wasn't made for the lowest common denominator. And you really don't have to have been around in the 70s in Britain to get the more subtle references.

Actually, that's what happened to Sam when he first went into the past. I mean the British version is better over all but it happened in the British version too. Those happened the second he entered the past. It was just getting accustomed to being in 1973.

[Bobobie]

A lot of the stuff they were complaining about was from the original script.

The Jeep comment, and the Cell phone were almost exactly word from word from the British version. The Jeep Comment makes more sense in the UK, where the Jeep hasn't been in the consumer market that long.

[Hog's Big Ben]

I just watched the reshot US version and the UK version back to back, and Ant was right about the shitty dialogue. Almost every change from the UK version fucked things up.

The cell phone line in the UK was "I need my mobile?"/"Mobile WHAT?", not the stupid "cell"/"sell" bit. The Jeep line was almost identical. The US version had Sam trying to call the then non-existent 917 area code - the UK version had him asking the operator to connect him to a Virgin Moblie number, to which he was hung up on for making an obscene phone call. The future redheaded killer didn't have a twin brother in the UK version (holy shit, was that change weak!). The Diet Coke line was simply met by a blank stare by the UK bartender. The UK Keitel character didn't get blindsided by the 1973 killer like a pussy, leading to a stupid psychological standoff between Sam and the killer - instead, the UK Keitel kicked the killer's ass and the next scene is them taking him out in cuffs.

And...the ending! WTF??? The UK version had Sam simply destroy paperwork that would have let the killer get out of a mental hospital in time to kill Maya, where the US one had that shitty confrontation with the child version of the killer where apparently one 20 second conversation was enough to convince the kid not to grow up and strangle women. Ick.

[Bobobie]

HBG:
Most Americans have never seen the UK version so they don't really care. The changes added a bit more drama and a twist to the ending. They are going to have to make changes because a simple "You're Nicked", Cop Vrs Bad Guy confrontation (A+B=C) is not only boring, it isn't our style of police drama.

[Hog's Big Ben]

Well, you keep on watching the "hit you over the head" subtle version for the dummies that think Baba O'Riley came out in the '80s. I'm gonna check out the rest of the UK version.

[Bobobie]

Well, you keep on watching the "hit you over the head" subtle version for the dummies that think Baba O'Riley came out in the '80s. I'm gonna check out the rest of the UK version.


Whatever maaaaaaahhhhhn.

[Bill Lehecka]

I watched Episode 2 today on the DVR (Didn't see #1), and I was totally affected by the unnecessary random 70s references. My viewing partner was annoying that my enjoyment of the show was tainted by whomever pointed this out.

Even if it wasn't pointed out, it was fuckin' ridiiculous. We get it, it's 1973....

A show that did the Fish out of Water scenario pretty well was "Life." Charlie Crews was in jail for 12 years, and never saw a Cell Phone as small as they now are and other subtle things he needed to get his head wrapped around. It wasn't beat over your head, it was subtle asides that flowed perfectly into the show.

[Stormrider666]

I watched the 2nd episode last night and I thought it was definitely better than the first. Keitel and O' Mara fighting and then reconcilling in the hospital room was hilarious. I really don't have any problems with how the show points out the differences between 2008 and 1973.

[LiddyRules]

I watched the 2nd episode last night and I thought it was definitely better than the first. Keitel and O' Mara fighting and then reconcilling in the hospital room was hilarious. That was also taken from LoMUK. As was the 4th Birthday thing. And the Knicks Championship was Manchester United.

[jagsfans]

Is this show worth catching up on?

[SOS]

jagsfans, only the pilot is necessary so far.

I wonder why he found those pictures in the box hidden behind the wall.

And he seeing himself was a nice touch.

[vaglvr]

Robert Reeves is gay?

[Bobobie]

Yeah, Robert Reeves. The writers on this show have to be O&A fans.

[kloraferm]

Yeah, Robert Reeves.
? Did I miss something where his name is no longer Robert Reed?

[jackjack]

Nope, it's still Reeves..

http://rreeves.com

[kloraferm]

okay then

[Vyce]

I've only seen the pilot.

Not sure how I feel about this show thus far....I'll have to watch more of it to form a definite opinion. The pilot wasn't bad, but the "fish out of water" stuff I can see get real old with me, real quick. Plus I fucking HATE the 70s.

But I thought Jason O'Mara was good, and I liked that it did get a little dark there towards the end (where it seemed as if he was contemplating killing a kid). Not my favorite new show of the season, but the pilot was okay.

[Bobobie]

okay then


The gay soldier who was killed on this weeks episode was named Robert Reeves.

[vaglvr]

Did antony mention the show at all? It was so bad last night. I think i'm finally giving up on the show. The jean genie reference and other bowie references were pretty bad, but he fucking met Jim Croce at a club last night! "Hey be sure to stay away from small planes!"

[fandango86]

Did antony mention the show at all? It was so bad last night. I think i'm finally giving up on the show. The jean genie reference and other bowie references were pretty bad, but he fucking met Jim Croce at a club last night! "Hey be sure to stay away from small planes!"

The Jim Croce scene had me shaking with anger, but I did chuckle when he called himself Detective Luke Skywalker

[LiddyRules]

Did antony mention the show at all? It was so bad last night. I think i'm finally giving up on the show. The jean genie reference and other bowie references were pretty bad, but he fucking met Jim Croce at a club last night! "Hey be sure to stay away from small planes!" UK Gene Hunt called himself the Jean Genie from the first episode on. The show itself is named after a Bowie song. I didn't think the Croce scene was that bad.

[Vyce]

Of course you didn't.

[badorties]

The Jim Croce scene had me shaking with anger, but I did chuckle when he called himself Detective Luke Skywalker

Did antony mention the show at all? It was so bad last night. I think i'm finally giving up on the show. The jean genie reference and other bowie references were pretty bad, but he fucking met Jim Croce at a club last night! "Hey be sure to stay away from small planes!"

with the BBC version, the original episode had sam run into Marc Bolan, and Sam warned t-rex about his fateful car accident

[silentbob8201]

Im sorry with all the other crap Sci fi shows on tv right now Knight Rider, Smallville etc etc. This remake show isnt even close to being that bad .

[chumpy]

Im sorry with all the other crap Sci fi shows on tv right now Knight Rider, Smallville etc etc. This remake show isnt even close to being that bad .

I have to agree. Although there are some dead horse references made so the audience knows where they are. I think as a whole it's pretty good.

[JoeyDVDZ]

I'm finding myself starting to look past the hokey references to the timeframe of the show, and the show itself is starting to grow on me. I liked the Joe Namath & Jim Croce scene, it's a fact that back in the day, up & coming stars and recently elevated "big stars" would go to the hot clubs of the time to party hard so the scene worked for me.

[jpc165]

I like it so far.

[vaglvr]

I like it so far.

I'm totally with you. I don't care what anyone says, whoopi goldberg is great!!!

[SOS]

Very Hotel Rwanda-ish

[kloraferm]

Screw nitpicking and pointless whining, personally I'm liking it so far.

[Bobobie]

It still kind of sucks if you watched the original British version, not just because that version was better, but because you find yourself comparing the original episode to the reworked one. I can't wait until they get past 16 episodes and start writing them from scratch.

[Stormrider666]

Screw nitpicking and pointless whining, personally I'm liking it so far.

Same here. I still have to watch the episode from 11/13 but the show continues to get better each week.

[JOHNNY HAIRDO]

Same here. I still have to watch the episode from 11/13 but the show continues to get better each week.

Never watched British version, but your right the show gets amazingly better week to week. How do you not watch a TV show for Keitel alone.

[SOS]

Sam finding out that his father was a criminal and that he had repressed those memories for over 35 years was too contained. I would have expected more of a story arch. It is also written very queerly.

[chumpy]

Was that part of the original?

[chumpy]

New episodes are back. I thought this one was pretty good.

[kidconnor]

Despite what the boys say, once you get past the obvious 70's jokes it's an interesting show. I never saw the british version, and it sounds like it might ruin this version.

The whole issue of how he got back to 1973 and why he did isn't brought up directly and they only throw in little pieces here and there. The episodes have been getting better. Gonna finaly add this to the dvr list.

[Stormrider666]

Despite what the boys say, once you get past the obvious 70's jokes it's an interesting show. I never saw the british version, and it sounds like it might ruin this version.

The whole issue of how he got back to 1973 and why he did isn't brought up directly and they only throw in little pieces here and there. The episodes have been getting better. Gonna finaly add this to the dvr list.

Yeah I love how they're giving the audience little bits of information when it comes to the how and why. It helps keep you hooked and coming back for more. Where as other shows would either dumb it down to get a mass audience or making the plot too confusing, so you have no interest in watching anymore.

[kidconnor]

Yeah I love how they're giving the audience little bits of information when it comes to the how and why. It helps keep you hooked and coming back for more. Where as other shows would either dumb it down to get a mass audience or making the plot too confusing, so you have no interest in watching anymore.

Its almost as if the episode storylines are just filler, and you kinda watch because you don't want to miss when then drop in clues about the time travel comes.

[JoeyDVDZ]

Watching last night's ep right now, and frankly it's pissing me off that they don't give enough answers quickly enough.

[LiddyRules]

Watching last night's ep right now, and frankly it's pissing me off that they don't give enough answers quickly enough. I want to know why he's back in the 70s now!!

I'm actually interested in how they've moved away from the British series and making it their own thing with multiple traveler conspiracy angle. And I do like how the 70s references are cut down tremendously.

[TheDrip]

I wasn't a fan of the show at first, but I've got to say that it's starting to grow on me with each episode.

Ditto on the reduction of the 70's references being cut down, that was part of what was driving me nuts about the show early on. Keitel and Imperioli were pretty much the one thing that really kept me from dropping out on this show early on.

[Bobobie]

It's getting better because they are completely new episodes, not the reworked Brit ones. I'm glad they are taking the show in a completely different direction.

[Hudson]

Can't wait for the British Sequel to it...Ashes To Ashes