[TV] Life on Mars - USA Version

[Emperor]

Each of the Big Three networks premieres a show tonight based on a show airing overseas. NBC has “Kath & Kim,” and CBS has “The Eleventh Hour” and ABC has “Life On Mars.”

 

The tale of a New York cop magically transported by an automotive mishap from 2008 to 1973, “Mars” is particularly notable as the first ongoing TV series to star movie actor Harvey Keitel. Michael Imperioli (“The Sopranos”) and Gretchen Mol (“Girls Club,” “3:10 To Yuma”) are along for the ride as well.

 

The pilot pushes a lot of the same intellectual ` buttons “Mad Men” does, reminding us of how thoroughly American life has changed in just a few decades.

 

Josh Appelbaum & Andre Nemec (“She Spies,” “Fastlane,” “Alias”) and Scott Rosenberg (“Gone In Sixty Seconds,” “Imposter,” “Kangeroo Jack”) wrote the script, and the best news is “Mars” is a great deal better than the trio’s last effort for ABC, the widely reviled “October Road.” The fact that this is one of the fall’s best pilots likely owes to the fact that the first episode adheres closely to the acclaimed British series’ premiere.

 

The not-so-good news is the “Road” team only has 16 British episodes to duplicate, and American series tend to run 22 episodes per season.

 

 

 

 

USA Today give it three stars (out of four) and says:

 

… one of the best new hours of TV this fall — as it should be, considering it's a virtual scene-for-scene remake of a terrific British original. … And while we're worrying about the future, it seems fair to note that the network's replacements for David Kelley — who did the first version — are the producers of October Road, a show so badly written, it made you wish you were time traveling. True, this time, they copied well. Now let's see what they can create.

 

 

Entertainment Weekly gives it an “B-plus” and says:

 

… like Mad Men, makes a long-ago era feel both alien and nostalgic, like in the sweet moment where Sam wanders into a record store and just beams. …

 

 

TV Guide gives it and “8” (out of 10) and says:

 

… Captures the original series’ vibe nicely …

 

 

The New York Times says:

 

… strange and exhilarating …

 

 

The Los Angeles Times says:

 

… I'm not wholly convinced by the American "Life on Mars." Some of the new dialogue is overripe ("You're here to make me curse the day my father's sperm asked my mama's egg if it could have this dance"), and there's a tendency to explain the obvious. And, while I am happy to see Keitel grace TV with his presence, I'm not yet sure he's big enough, physically, for this part. I might be wrong about that. And I'll be following with interest to see where it all goes.

 

 

The Washington Post says:

 

… comes off as naggingly undistinguished. When you get right down to it, there's not much point in getting right down with it. … Both too little and too much seem to be happening … "Life on Mars" occasionally scores a nice bit of eerie spookiness, but the premise remains more party-pooper than mind-boggler. One hour of exposure to "Life on Mars" and you might indeed wish time travel were possible -- at least so you could travel back to the beginning of that hour and spend it some other way. …

 

 

The San Francisco Chronicle says:

 

… surprisingly great, its pilot living up to the lofty expectations of the original. … If the ambition of the pilot continues, American television may get another remake right. We'll have our first hint this next week. In the meantime, enjoy the pilot. …

 

 

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:

 

… The show's pilot episode is nearly identical to the British original that aired on BBC America, right down to some shots and music cues. The new American version moves a little faster, which may sacrifice some of the subtlety of the original, but overall this first episode is a faithful adaptation. … Only time will tell if this version of "Mars" will fly. …

 

 

The Boston Globe says:

 

… not comedy, not psychodrama, not sci fi, but an intriguingly evasive blend of them all. … I love the fact that "Life on Mars" has arrived on the heels of "Mad Men" and "Swingtown." It's as if American culture is having a little check-yourself moment. By traveling back to the 1960s and 1970s, we're able to define and reassess who we are now. The smoking, the boozing, the overt sexism, the denial, the culture wars - they stare us in the face on these shows, signifying how far we have - and haven't - come.

 

 

Variety says:

 

… first-rate … Splendidly cast, handsomely produced and conceptually intriguing, the network's bid to create a procedural with a twist also faces a high hurdle -- call it the "Lost" conundrum, where viewers might grow impatient for some indication as to what's really going on. …

 

 

The Hollywood Reporter says:

 

… injects life into the police drama genre … exciting enough to make you swallow the premise and beg for more …

 

 

10 p.m. Thursday. ABC.

 

 

[Siofra Sedai]

The only problem I had with the British version was that I thought they could have taken it further.  I'm still waiting to see how this one turns out.  Going to have to holler at the m.i.l. to get a move on if we are going out to dinner since I wasn't expecting to and have not set up my vcr for Greys and this.  (yes... still archaic machinery... miss TiVo)

[SinisterDeath]

Just watched this show, and I gotta say. I love it.

I also like how they basically created a time paradox!

 

Did you catch it? Of course you didn't! Because your eyes are untrained to the ways of the paradox!

[Emperor]

I dvred it and plan to get to it this weekend hopefully.

[Niamh Sedai]

I've just going to hug my British Version Boxset and enjoy the awesome. I agree they could have taken it further, but I honestly think that 22 episodes a season is going to over do it. So, I won't be watching. But please enjoy it America!  ;)

[Corki]

Will the American version be able to beat Philip Glenister as DCI Gene Hunt? I doubt it, as he was just pure awesome!

[Emperor]

Thought this was pretty good myself.  Looking forward to future episodes.

[Niamh Sedai]

Will the American version be able to beat Philip Glenister as DCI Gene Hunt? I doubt it, as he was just pure awesome!

 

DCI Hunt is my hero...<3

[Corki]

Will the American version be able to beat Philip Glenister as DCI Gene Hunt? I doubt it, as he was just pure awesome!

 

DCI Hunt is my hero...<3

 

There is also the Facebook application to get Classic DCI Hunt quotes!

[Liathiana]

I liked it and am so glad I don't live in the 70s ;D No computers! :o

[Talya]

Will the American version be able to beat Philip Glenister as DCI Gene Hunt? I doubt it, as he was just pure awesome!

 

DCI Hunt is my hero...<3

 

There is also the Facebook application to get Classic DCI Hunt quotes!

 

REally, may just have to have a look...

 

He was just awesome in this, straight out of something like the Sweeney!

[Emperor]

However watching this show made me mourn Journeyman once again...

[Liathiana]

Me too :(

[Corki]

Will the American version be able to beat Philip Glenister as DCI Gene Hunt? I doubt it, as he was just pure awesome!

 

DCI Hunt is my hero...<3

 

There is also the Facebook application to get Classic DCI Hunt quotes!

 

REally, may just have to have a look...

 

He was just awesome in this, straight out of something like the Sweeney!

 

Just look on my profile, if you are interested. It's on there somewhere. I think it is time for an update shortly! I think there is even a book as well, but I am not 100% sure on that.

[Emperor]

Ok the second episode got hokie and I think lost my wife's interest in the show.  The only reason I will stick with it is to find out what is going on with him.

[Cadsuane]

Just watched the first ep of this. While the premise is not entirely uninteresting, I find the acting and dialogue to be way too cheesy to be good. Zero thumbs up.

[SinisterDeath]

Pfft, like cheesey dialogue/acting makes a movie bad!

Hell, that 'cheesey' jump over the table bit was funny as hell. ;)

 

I just finished the 4th episode, and I gotta say. I loved it.

The LSD tripping scene was insane, and at the end with Hunt, was awesome, in that they showed he was actually human. :P

[Emperor]

I agree with Sin.  This show had lost me until episode 4 and it totally redeemed itself.