Life on Mars

[ShannonA]

Well, this sounds neat:


David E. Kelley has recruited The West Wing and Studio 60 helmer Thomas Schlamme to direct the pilot for his ABC time-travel drama Life on Mars, based on the BBC original show, Variety reported.

...

Life on Mars is based on the BBC series of the same name, which revolved around a 21st-century detective (John Simm) who finds himself inexplicably thrust back into the 1970s, working on a case that may affect the future.


Any comments on the BBC original?

(From http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=41716 )

[Craig Oxbrow]

Life On Mars series one was my favourite thing on TV in 2006 - funny, exciting, nostalgic, ironic about nostalgia, with great premise, a central mystery guaranteed to be resolved (kinda) in sixteen episodes at most, and a kicking soundtrack.

Series two didn't quite live up to expectations. A couple of episodes qualifiy as 'filler', some questions were left hanging or not addressed at all, and I'm in two minds about the conclusion. But, on the other hand, it has the best Claymation sequence in decades.

[Matthew]

The thing about LoM is that the reason you come to the show is the the dynamic between the characters. The actual gimmick isn't that big a deal on an episode by episode basis.

[O'Borg]

The thing about LoM is that the reason you come to the show is the the dynamic between the characters. The actual gimmick isn't that big a deal on an episode by episode basis.

Definitely. The "from the future" bit was used as a peripheral plot device a few times but only twice (IIRC) the core theme of the episode. Most of the time it was Tyler's interactions with Gene & the 70's crew that made the episode.

And yes, the Camberwick Green sequence was hilarious :D

[Jack]

The original series was one of my favorite shows of 2006. It was certainly my favorite cop show of the last several years.

I'm cautiously optimistic about a US version, but I also kinda don't see the point.

[Morticutor UK]

I thought that the original LoM was great and that it's a shame that US viewers won't see the original (what is it with remaking foreign stuff? After all, the world accepts US series).

I'm surprised that the show didn't pick up more awards.

[ShannonA]

I thought that the original LoM was great and that it's a shame that US viewers won't see the original (what is it with remaking foreign stuff? After all, the world accepts US series).


There was definitely a time when Beeb production value was notably worse, though I think that's gotten somewhat better since CGI is the great equalizer, but I suspect it mainly has to do with filling production schedule spots. If you're a network executive, why not fill a slot with a proven winner that you can look at 6 or 12 or 13 episodes of and say, yeah, that show worked, rather than something totally new, where you're just going off a presentation or a 44 minute pilot?

[Jack]

I thought that the original LoM was great and that it's a shame that US viewers won't see the original (what is it with remaking foreign stuff? After all, the world accepts US series).

I'm surprised that the show didn't pick up more awards.

On the other hand I did watch it from here in Chicago...you do need BBC America to do so but it's hardly uncommon on the cable networks around here.

[wiseblood]

I thought that the original LoM was great and that it's a shame that US viewers won't see the original (what is it with remaking foreign stuff? After all, the world accepts US series).

I'm surprised that the show didn't pick up more awards.

I watched a few episodes here in New Jersey on BBC America. I liked it but life kinda took me away from it unfortunately. I did get the feeling that I was missing some of the 1970's English cultural references though.

[Matthew]

Well, there's a lot of general cultural reference stuff. I don't think you're really missing much. The bit where he gets the pub to put up a TV might be a very British thing, but generally the references are things like Starsky & Hutch, and the brute-strength vs procedure and science, and the lack of respect for women, and that's works in America just as well as Britain.

The actual crimes they solve are pretty run-of-the-mill British Police Procedural stuff.

[Morticutor UK]

There was definitely a time when Beeb production value was notably worse, though I think that's gotten somewhat better since CGI is the great equalizer, but I suspect it mainly has to do with filling production schedule spots. If you're a network executive, why not fill a slot with a proven winner that you can look at 6 or 12 or 13 episodes of and say, yeah, that show worked, rather than something totally new, where you're just going off a presentation or a 44 minute pilot?

Actually I suspect that that defines one of the diggest differences between US and UK TV - in the UK, we're not going for syndication, and thus have to keep to the point. Like Ultraviolet.

But yeah, Life on Mars is great and if you can get the original, I'd recommend it. It was kept to a specific life span and that did a lot for it.

And there's only one Gene Hunt. In fact he's probably kicking in a nonce right now :D

[ShannonA]

But yeah, Life on Mars is great and if you can get the original, I'd recommend it. It was kept to a specific life span and that did a lot for it.


Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be getting released in the US on DVD. I assume they're holding it back because of the possibility of an American translation.

It's rare, but every once in a while I wish I'd hacked together a region-0 DVD player. Ah well, really not worth the trouble.

[Morticutor UK]

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be getting released in the US on DVD. I assume they're holding it back because of the possibility of an American translation.

It's rare, but every once in a while I wish I'd hacked together a region-0 DVD player. Ah well, really not worth the trouble.

Shame, but yeah. That said, my partner's mother was able to convert her DVD player to multi-region - apparently the thing already had the ability for it and she simply unlocked the settings, following instructions from the net.

I don't even think that counts as hacking, either - after all, she didn't re-write any code or chip it, just altered the settings.

[O'Borg]

I brought mine pre-hacked from the retailer.
You could always just play them via your PC-DVD player with something like DVD Genie to fool the region coding