Life on Mars remade for US

[Majestic]

Source: Variety March 28, 2006


"David E. Kelley has landed format rights to buzzworthy BBC series Life on Mars and set it up at as a one-hour drama at ABC, reports Variety.

"Mars," from U.K.-based Kudos Film & Television, revolves around a modern-day police detective who finds himself transported back to 1973. Kelley will write and executive produce the pilot via his company's overall deal at 20th Century Fox TV.

Stephen Garrett and Jane Featherstone of Kudos will also serve as executive producers. ABC has ordered a pilot for fall 2007, with a significant penalty attached if the project doesn't move forward to series.

The project came together relatively quickly following the BBC premiere of "Mars" in January. The U.K. show generated big ratings -- more than 7 million viewers its first night -- and an order for a second season.

"Mars," which takes its title from the David Bowie track, focuses on Det. Sam Tyler, who gets into a near-fatal car wreck shortly after his girlfriend is kidnapped by a serial killer. He wakes up in 1973, still a cop but in a completely alien universe.

Further complicating matters: The first case he tackles in the 1970s seems to have links to the serial killer who nabbed his girlfriend. Viewers don't know whether Sam has gone crazy, traveled through time or is actually still in a coma and dreaming the whole thing. "

Interesting. Looks like some Mars movies are on their way back in.

[Theta Sigma]

Trailer:
Check Out 'Life On Mars' - Entertainment Tonight News Story - WJXT Jacksonville (http://www.news4jax.com/entertainmenttonight/16252995/detail.html)

The series will debut during the (US) Fall season later this year.

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
Found out from Andrew Mercado in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph that David E Kelley has given up the rights for the US version of Life On Mars as a result of securing a deal for his other show Boston Legal to be made for a final season.

The US version of Life of Mars will still be made under a new producer.

Also according to TV Tonight the series may go straight to Foxtel.

[Theta Sigma]

I read that the pilot had to be reshot, apparently because it is dreadful.

[SquireJames]

I know it was comedy not action/drama but, I refer ye all to the case of Red Dwarf. Brilliant show, and then they tried to make an American version. The American audience HATED it, and they canned it after the awful pilot, and Red Dwarf went from strength to strength in the US based on VHS (and later DvDs) of the British original.

So hey, yanks, leave "Mars" alone! (Pink Floyd reference..)

[Theta Sigma]

Harvey Keitel joins the US show as Detective Gene Hunt. He replaced Colm Meaney who played the character in the first pilot.

Harvey Keitel Joins Life on Mars - ComingSoon.net (http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=47167)
"Harvey Keitel Joins Life on Mars
Source: Variety July 24, 2008


Harvey Keitel has agreed to his first-ever regular TV series role, joining the cast of ABC's upcoming "Life on Mars" adaptation, reports Variety.

Keitel is on board to play Det. Gene Hunt, who heads up the homicide department and is known for using any means necessary to do his job.

"Life on Mars" - which has been completely revamped from its earlier pilot - is now set to start shooting in New York on Aug. 5. Keitel is set to star alongside Jason O'Mara (who plays lead character Det. Sam Tyler), as well as Michael Imperioli (Det. Ray Caling) and Jonathan Murphy (Det. Chris Skelton).

"Life on Mars" revolves around O'Mara's character, a contemporary cop who wakes up in the 1970s after a car crash."

[Theta Sigma]

Gretchen Mol has been cast as Annie in the US version:
iFMagazine.com: GRETCHEN MOL TO START 'LIFE ON MARS' (http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=6615)

Apparently her surname is Norris instead of Cartwright as in the original British series.

[Theta Sigma]

Lisa Bonet cast as Maya in the US version:
Exclusive: Lisa Bonet Sentenced to 'Life on Mars' | Life on Mars | Ausiello Files | EW.com (http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/08/lisa-bonet-join.html)
"Denise Huxtable's about to inhabit a truly different world.

Former Cosby Show offspring Lisa Bonet is joining the cast of ABC's adaptation of the time-tripping U.K. cop drama Life on Mars, sources confirm to me exclusively. Bonet will play Jason O'Mara's present-day girlfriend.

Bonet's hiring comes on the heels of another high-profile Mars casting: Earlier this week, Gretchen Mol signed on to play O'Mara's circa '73 squeeze, setting the stage for one unorthodox love triangle."

[Theta Sigma]

Found out that the series will start in the States on October 9.

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
Andrew Mercado in the Sydney Sunday Telegraph reports that the series will be shown on 10 next year.

[Theta Sigma]

I have finished watching the unaired pilot.

Hit and Run:
It's not bad.
Jason O'Mara is quite good as Sam Tyler.
Rachelle Lefèvre was very good as Annie. It's too bad she got replaced in the series proper.
As much as I like Colm Meaney I don't think he made a convincing Gene Hunt. I don't think he is as anywhere near as tough Philip Glenister to play the role effectively. I can understand why Meaney was replaced in the series proper.
The bit with the psychologist is still stupid.

[Theta Sigma]

Out Here In The Fields:
The aired pilot.
Slightly better than the unaired version.
Gretchen Mol is quite good as Annie and Harvey Keitel is just slightly better than Colm Meaney as Gene Hunt.
Thank goodness the bit with the psychologist has been dropped here.

[Theta Sigma]

It has been reported that the US Life On Mars has been given an order of four additional episode from 13 episodes to 17.

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
During an ad break for Army Wives saw 10's ad of their new shows for 2009 which included the US Life On Mars

The ad included a couple of clips from the first episode.

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
During an ad break for Event Horizon saw 10's promo of the US Life On Mars which the voiceover saying, "A modern day cop in a 1973 world".

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
During a break for Army Wives on 10 this week saw a new ad for the US Life On Mars which played the Life On Mars song. It will start on 10 next month.

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
According to TV Tonight the US Life On Mars begins on 10 on Thursday February 5 9:30pm.

[Theta Sigma]

The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler:
Just as the first episode looked like the first episode of the original British series, this episode is also a remake of an episode of the original series.
Not bad for a second episode.
New elements include Sam's neighbour Windy who looks like a fun character to be with.
Funny the line about Guantanamo Bay.

[Theta Sigma]

Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows:
Episode 4.
Wow what a name for this episode as well as Sam's mother's name being Rose Tyler! Obviously an in-joke to the Doctor Who character as well as the fact Rose Tyler's name was the foundation of Sam Tyler's name.
Amusing when Sam seeing Nixon on TV saying "Resign already" and quite interesting seeing Nixon's face changing to George W Bush's.

[Theta Sigma]

The US Life On Mars has been cancelled:
Axed: Life on Mars : TV Tonight (http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/03/axed-life-on-mars.html)

Episode 17 will be its last and the timing of the decision to end it has given time to give the series a definitive ending.

[Theta Sigma]

Let All the Children Boogie:
Episode 10.
Very surreal but extremely fun episode, perhaps the most enjoyable that I have seen from this the American version.
Rocket Girl certainly turned out to be a rocket girl or so we thought.
Very funny when Ray called Annie and Maria, Betty and Veronica due to their hair colours.
Love the look that Annie gives to Sam when Gene gives his line about arrogant rock and roll stars like Sebastian Grace treating girls like ****.
Good forshadowing of Maria mentioning her pen before her father finds it at the end.

[Theta Sigma]

The Simple Secret of the Note in Us All:
Episode 12.
A pretty good remake of the Tony Crane episode.

To Australian viewers:
Found out that the series is shifting to a new slot on 10 for its last four episodes starting from episode 14 on Friday May 8 10:30pm.
This may have something to do with the fact that the last four episodes were an addition for the series to the original 13 episode order.
The change of slot was a bit longer than I expected.

[Theta Sigma]

To Australian viewers:
Found out that the series is shifting to a new slot on 10 for its last four episodes starting from episode 14 on Friday May 8 10:30pm.
This may have something to do with the fact that the last four episodes were an addition for the series to the original 13 episode order.
The change of slot was a bit longer than I expected.
Found out that the US Life On Mars will not be on its Thursday slot tonight and will instead start its Friday slot from tomorrow May 1 10:30pm.

[Theta Sigma]

Revenge of Broken Jaw:
Episode 13.
What a surprise seeing Janel Moloney (formerly of The West Wing) in this episode. However did not like her character here and quite a deep contrast to her West Wing character.
Also appearing here is Kevin Kilner who I have seen a lot lately in Dollhouse & the similarly titled Life.

[Theta Sigma]

Life Is A Rock:
Final episode.
A good proper resolution about Vic Tyler.
Surprise to see Annie as an old woman.
I know the ending to the series was not going to be like its British counterpart but was still surprised on what it turned out to be.

I am not sure what to make of that ending but overall the US Life On Mars has been a very enjoyable series with a very good cast including Jason O'Mara, Gretchen Moll and Harvey Keitel.

If praise can be given to the movie State of Play (the other John Simm-Philip Glenister series remade in the US) surely I can make this praise of the US Life On Mars.

Next stop for me for Life On Mars-related things is season 2 of Ashes to Ashes.