ABC
Fringe was “meh.” Gary Unmarried was unmemorable. Worst Week wasn’t the worst, but it wasn’t the best. Kath & Kim was a disaster, and The Ex List was a piffle. 90210 was neither interesting or salacious enough. But last night at 10, we finally got a new show whose pilot was well-done enough to get me excited about what’s next. That show was Life on Mars.
Let me preface this by saying that I never saw the original British version of this show, so I’ve got nothing to compare the American version to. But all the mishegas surrounding the show — David E. Kelley came and went, the original pilot was scrapped, the locale was moved from LA to New York, there wasn’t a first episode ready to show as recently as three weeks ago — made me wary of what I was going to see last night at 10. But at the end of the hour, I was glad I tuned in.
What did I like about it?
The acting: Of course, that’s going to be at the top. Jason O’Mara gave the right balance of bewilderment and determination. Gretchen Mol did a good job playing a “lady cop” (her nickname in the locker-room atmosphere of the 125th is “No Nuts”) who is determined to make it on the force even though she knows the odds are against her. Michael Imperioli plays the typical over-macho and over-biased ’70s cop stereotype very well. And Harvey Keitel… well, he’s Harvey Keitel.
The period look and feel: As Keith mentioned in his early review of Life on Mars, it looks like they got the look of 1970s New York City mostly right. People forget how gritty Manhattan was in those days; no trendy bars, no chain restaurants, no ESPNZone in Times Square. They’re shooting the show in the outer boroughs of New York because there are very few parts of Manhattan that look like they did 35 years ago, and that’s a good move. I’ve seen too many period movies and TV shows that don’t take that much care to get things right, and it shows.
Granted, the period detail doesn’t approach Mad Men‘s almost obsessive levels, but between the costumes, gritty interiors, and the sepia tone of the film, you definitely get the feeling of being in 1973.
(By the way, it’s amazing how much has changed in 35 years, isn’t it? You don’t realize it until you picture yourself in Sam Tyler’s place, trying to live in that world every day when you’re used to your 2008 way of living.)
The story: I’m curious as to how Sam’s continuing existence in both worlds is going to play out. We hear and see some crossovers from 2008 — Sam hearing Maya tell him she’s safe via his car radio, the doctor who talks to Sam directly via Sam’s TV — to make us think that Sam’s in a coma. But we don’t know that completely. Which makes me wonder how the creators are going to carry this through an entire season and beyond.
During the TCA press tour, show-runners André Nemec and Josh Applebaum told critics that they asked the creators of the BBC version if they could create a new mythology, because the options of, “Is Sam in a coma? Is he traveling in time? Has he lost his mind?” were just too limiting. Not sure what other directions they can go besides those three, but if the plan is to have multiple 22-episode seasons, I can understand why they wouldn’t limit themselves.
So, I’m hooked. Let’s hope that the good vibes (to use a 1973 term) of the premiere carries over to the rest of the season. I’ve been sucked into this before — remember the pilot for The Nine?
Clacked by Joel Keller
on Oct 10, 2008 @ 13:22 EST5EDT
I loved it! I didn’t watch the BBC version either so I had nothing to compare to. I loved the feel of and I am hooked. My wife did not like it at all. About 30 minutes in, she got up and walked out of the room saying “Maybe when I come back it will be 1999 and I will be marrying a rich, well endowed man. She was of course kidding, I think. :-)
Such an interesting premise. I really enjoyed it. (Also never saw UK version)
I hope the ratings are such that this show can stick around.
The original is too good for me (and my TV plate is kinda full right now) so I won’t be bothering with this remake.
And since you know me, I do recommend the original UK verison. It is fantastic. The two leads are astounding.
Yes, I think I’ll hunt it down, and watch it on the treadmill. :)
I did see the UK version and I loved it, but it was only like seven eps long, so I have no idea how they’re going to expand the story to go indefinitely, but I LOVED the pilot!!!! If all the eps are as good as last night’s, then they’ll really have something special.
Not that I’ll get to see it, since Time Warner Cable and ABC are fighting with each other and Time Warner is dropping the network next week. I thought they would come to an agreement, but they dropped ABC in Austin a couple of days ago, and apparently San Antonio is next so I guess it’s really happening. Of course, it just has to be the network with the best new show, plus Lost, Grey’s Anatomy and Dirty Sexy Money!!!!!
Sorry for the rant, but this is soooo frustrating!
I think you will find that the UK version was 16 episodes long. 8 per season.
Well, if that is the case, then I only saw season 1. Now I’m going to have to go searching for the second one! Thanks for the heads up.
The show, pretty much a shot for shot remake of the original was pretty good. I haven’t seen the scrapped pilot, but from what I’d read, I didn’t think this show would be watchable. The best scene, Sam, in the car, drawing his gun, about to shoot the boy was the big departure from the original, and I thought it worked really well. Best scene of the night.
Harvey Keitel is no match for Philip Glenister. You have to see the original just for him, he steals every scene and was by far the best thing about the original show.
tracey8051 – There were 16 episodes of the original. Two “series” (seasons here in america) of eight episodes.
Yeah, I LOVE Philip Glenister’s Gene Hunt and everybody who hasn’t already done so should definitly check out the UK version.
I also prefer John Simm as Sam Tyler, but I must say that I was suprised how good the US version was overall. I was fearing something along the lines of ‘Coupling US’ in terms of adaptation, but what I saw felt more like ‘The Office US': a really promising adaptation of the UK original.
I got a little misty eyed when Sam looked up and saw the Twin Towers.
I probably won’t watch this show on a regular basis, but I will tune in occasionally to see Jason O’mara (yum).
I’m very, very happy with how this turned out. I LOVED the original, and this was about as close as you can get. Few things different here and there, but they stuck with the premise, and even kept a good number of the songs from the UK version.
The episode wasn’t quite as strong as the original because they have less time to cover the same territory (44 US minutes vs 56 or so UK?), but overall it was difficult to be disappointed.
I saw the original pilot (that is what made me watch the original UK version straight through two seasons and season one of the sequel!) and it was just a bit off. Trying too hard to appeal to American audiences.
The one problem I do have is that by the end of series three in the “Gene Hunt” world, I really dug him. Harvey Keitel is just a bit too old and unsexy to play this part. Colm Meany wasn’t a good choice either and, frankly, I cannot think of anyone who could have matched the original.
But – overall a solid premiere and a winner in the remake dept! Yay!!! Ratings weren’t stellar and that worries me. If ABC dumps it quickly I will be beyond pissed. Akbar – you should give it a try. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
As a fan of the original British series, this remake struck me as not as bad as it could have been, but not particularly good either. The impressions that I formed from the promos, that I didn’t think much of Jason O’Mara’s acting and that Harvey Keitel was just too old to play Gene, at least the Gene I know and love, were confirmed by the full episode. I also thought that most if not all of the changes from the original were terrible cliches. Seriously, a twin brother? And the moment between Sam and the kid at the end (which was not only cliche but something I don’t for a moment believe that the British Sam would ever have even considered doing)?
Despite all of that, however, I’m willing to give the show at least a few more episodes to see where it goes. I’m curious as to whether Jason O’Mara will improve as he settles into the role and how the relationship between Sam and Gene will turn out. (I think the much larger age difference will almost have to create a different chemistry.) Mostly I want to see an episode that isn’t based directly on one of the British episodes (looks I’ll have to wait until at least the third), because I know so long as the two stay fairly close (and much of last night was a shot for shot, line for line remake), the American version will suffer by comparison.
This show will now be cancelled because I have watched it and I like it. They always cancel the good shows that I like. This is the only new show I am watching this year since 99% of them will be cancelled. If it weren’t on ABC I wouldn’t have watched it at all. They normally give a new show 2 years before giving it the hook. That scene when Sam first saw the Twin Towers was great. I’m gonna wait to watch the original 2 seasons after they cancel this one after 1 or 2 seasons. I really hope it doesn’t get canned but I’m a ‘glass is completely empty’ type person when it comes to tv networks and Nielsen’s faulty numbers. So I’ll just enjoy it while I can. It looks good to me so far.
As a fan of the British version, I found just about everything a bit lacking… All of the characters (Gene, Ray, Chris) seemed toned down from their UK counterparts. All of the UK characters (except Sam and Annie) were “larger than life” and I can’t help seeing the American characters as pale imitations. It would have been better for me if they just made up new characters instead of copying them.
They also toned town the style. The chase scenes are less 70’s-ish, the bits with Sam and the radio / TV were less bizarre (no scary Test Pattern Girl with Clown), and the whole 1973 world seems a bit “normal”.
I’ll keep watching, though, because I think the concept has potential to become interesting if they explore it for a whole season or two — a 22-episode season will be 6 hours longer than the entire UK series.
Also, without giving anything away about the UK series, the mythology of that show was a bit simple, and the ending decidedly undecisive, so I’m intrigued by their determination to take it a different direction.
I’m glad they disposed of the Maya plotline in ep 1 too. That wasn’t handled very well in the UK version.
Unfortunately, this is one of those shows that really NEED a proper ending, so I hope they don’t (a) get cancelled after a third of a season or (b) keep the show going for 10 seasons and forget all about resolving the mystery.
As a huge fan of the British original, this gets a thumbs-up from me. This respected the original nicely and still put its own spin on things.
Keitel is a bit old to play the same kind of Hunt as in the UK version … and that’s ok – he’ll be a different Hunt. If he’s not allowed to make the role his own, why bother?
O’Mara’s Tyler seems fairly likeable, but he has the biggest shoes in the series to fill – John Simm’s. I thought he did a good job.
Imperioli however, seemed to be trying a bit too hard. I know he’s capable of more a subtle performance.
Stuff that needed to be the same is the same, stuff that didn’t need to be the same was suitably different, and stuff that got changed to shift the mythology slightly was pretty neatly done.
Summary, short form: Good show. Keep it up.
I loved the UK original also. I don’t think Harvey Keitel is up to the challenge of playing Hunt. I totally agree with Michael Moncur that the UK characters were larger than life, yet they managed to be so without becoming caricatures.
Gretchen Mol is far too flippy and confident as Annie. I liked her better as a more timid, reserved character. I’m looking forward to see the Sam / Chris interaction in this spin.
I thought that 16 episodes was just about the right length to get into the characters, the central premise and attempted resolution. I don’t see how they can keep the “mythology” moving forward more than one season.
As far as setting the period, of course the twin towers were great, as were the older police cars and the soundtrack. I really didn’t like the look of the squad room or clothing or haircuts.
I watched the first episode of this show and part of the second. I just couldn’t make the imaginative leap you need to take in order to get into the show. I couldn’t “suspend my disbelief” enough to believe that the main character could actually go back in time and then sort of communicate with the present through his car radio.
When I saw the list he wrote on a blackboard or something about the possible reasons he was now in the 70’s I thought it was pretty ridiculous.