Cool News
The Yank Critics Enjoy Discovering LIFE ON MARS!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
It’s a British hourlong about a 2006 cop named Sam who gets hit by a car and finds himself quantum leaping to 1973 – where he has to solve crimes without the benefit of cellphones, personal computers or microwave ovens.
The Brits started airing it back in January, but it hits BBC America tonight. Everybody seems to like it!
Variety says:
… The TV equivalent of a page-turner, the BBC's latest impressive twist on a tired genre hinges on a compelling mystery woven into an old- (and new-) fashioned cop drama. The audacity of the concept keeps "Life on Mars" lively, elevating standard cop-and-bad guy fare to a mind-blowing, almost surreal level. … has the makings of an intoxicating treat, proving how far a little atmosphere can go in breathing life into a format that occasionally appears close to flatlining.
USA Today gives it three and a half (out of four) stars and says:
… refreshingly clever … Life isn't just fun and games. Sam's disquieting dilemma fuels the drama while the contrast between Sam's approach and his new colleagues' '70s style enriches the mysteries. …
TV Guide says:
… Surreal and harrowing, a version of this wildly original show is being developed by David E. Kelley for American TV. It’s easy to see why. …
Entertainment Weekly gives it an “A-minus” and says:
Leave it to those wily Brits to solve one of TV's most pressing mysteries: How do you keep the crime procedural fresh? Turns out, you just add a little time travel to the shopworn genre.… crackling chemistry with gruff boss Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) only adds to the series' charm. …
10 p.m. Monday. BBC America.
Streeting Tomorrow!!
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This show is, indeed, fantastic. Enjoy.
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Life on Mars was worldwide the best new television series last season . I don't understand why there has to be a new version for US -televison. These "remakes" mostly suck!! Enjoy this one as it is. Best episode to come: The Football Hooligans Episode!!! GROUNDBREAKING!!
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Most Americans will probably be a little underwhelmed by what we (Britain) consider crime, even in the 70's. It's probably best to change it a bit. Although it's hard to imagine it being remotely similair to the original material if it turns in to Time-travel 24.
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seriously, the BBC deserves points for ingenuity but - at the end of the day - it's just more tired british crap. the yanks just like anything with a brit accent. they think it's smarter or something.
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You just reminded me of that Bill Hicks hooligans piece; "Last night, some Hooligans knocked over a dustbin in Shaftesbury!"
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This is a seriously, seriously clever bit of television, and kudos to all those involved. It has humour, action, fab dialogue, brilliant characters (Gene Hunt is one of THE great TV characters of all time - funny, racist and sexist - but loveable all the same) and, just as important, heart. This show is amazing, and (dare I say), even better than BBC's other time-travel show!
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This is a seriously, seriously clever bit of television, and kudos to all those involved. It has humour, action, fab dialogue, brilliant characters (Gene Hunt is one of THE great TV characters of all time - funny, racist and sexist - but loveable all the same) and, just as important, heart. This show is amazing, and (dare I say), even better than BBC's other time-travel show!
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This is a seriously, seriously clever bit of television, and kudos to all those involved. It has humour, action, fab dialogue, brilliant characters (Gene Hunt is one of THE great TV characters of all time - funny, racist and sexist - but loveable all the same) and, just as important, heart. This show is amazing, and (dare I say), even better than BBC's other time-travel show!
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This is a seriously, seriously clever bit of television, and kudos to all those involved. It has humour, action, fab dialogue, brilliant characters (Gene Hunt is one of THE great TV characters of all time - funny, racist and sexist - but loveable all the same) and, just as important, heart. This show is amazing, and (dare I say), even better than BBC's other time-travel show!
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This is a seriously, seriously clever bit of television, and kudos to all those involved. It has humour, action, fab dialogue, brilliant characters (Gene Hunt is one of THE great TV characters of all time - funny, racist and sexist - but loveable all the same) and, just as important, heart. This show is amazing, and (dare I say), even better than BBC's other time-travel show!
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WE HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME!
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Why can't you Americans understand the English language!
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To be fair, US audiences probably won't understand a lot of the unique british references such as the TV test-card girl, or the trade unions/strikes of the early 70's etc. So it would make sense to do a US version.
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Well, yes it does make sense to do a US version. I just wish that we (Brits) had the money and permission to make British version of US programming because there are a lot of references we don't get and are just expected to accept.
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Goddamnit! I was hoping that "Life On Mars" was a Bowie reference. Oh well, looks pretty neat.
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Watch the show and you will see.
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I was thinking of exactly that when I wrote it! Hehe. :D
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Got any more details? I can't find anything on the 'net about it later than 2000.
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You know, like John Carter, P.I.
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TOP 10 WAYS TO MAKE IT "AMERICAN": (1) Change references about "tea" (English superiority over colonized Eastern countries) to "coffee" (United States superiority over colonized Latin and South American countries). ***** (2) Change cross-dressing men with high pitch voices to real women with bleached blonde hair and fake breasts. ***** (3) Have a special effects budget. ***** (4) Change those European ethnic and class stereotypes (and horrendeously-bad fake accents) about the Scots, Germans and Irish to make fun of U.S.A.'s approved stereotypes of Southern States, gansta' African Americans, and the Amish. ***** (5) Invest in dental insurance for cast. ***** (6) References to "Queen," "Downing Street," "Parliment" and "Discos" changed to "President," "White House," "Senate" and "Night Clubs." ***** (7) Change "Bangers and Mash" to "Sausage and Hash Browns." ***** (8) Make sure to have a pack of "smokes" and not be packin' any "fags." ***** (9) Hatwear: exchange those derbies and big, black fuzzy hats for straw cowboy hats and black panther berets. ***** (10) Visit the American website "Ain't It Cool News" instead of the British "Is It Not Appropriate Town Crier." NOW YOU HAVE AN AMERICAN SHOW!!!
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Trust me this guy is a great actor, and is only just hitting his stride. I've been a fan since Boston Kickout, and anyone who starred in Human Traffic will always remain one of my ultimate cult heroes, (i'd probably love 1999 if I could actually remember much of it).
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Ha! That is funny. One criticism I have of current British television shows is that they don't seem to understand that gay male action (or pseudo action) does not equal ratings gold over here but if you put two hot females together, you are a writing genius and get great ratings.
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I love this show, I can't wait for the second season next year, I can't recommend it enough. If you liked Hustle or Spooks you'll probably enjoy this too as they're all from the production company Kudos.
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Why don't we have one. You cocksuckers.
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Reach for the lasers! SAFE AS FUCK! :D
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To quote you: "To be fair, US audiences probably won't understand a lot of the unique british references such as the TV test-card girl, or the trade unions/strikes of the early 70's etc. So it would make sense to do a US version." I'm sorry, but I don't understand a lot of the references in Family Guy. Some of the references in many Coen Brother films go way over my head. It doesn't effect my enjoyment and it doesn't mean we have to make a British version. I've just had a CUNT of a day at work, I'm in a FUCKING bad mood, and Americans are THICK AS SHITE.
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...I forgot Americans don't understand our language. SHITE = SHIT. Understand, or is that too difficult?
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Actually, our PM is a spineless twat.
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..she must be a great grandmother now :)
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out of four stars? With a four star rating, people have to give the half point as seen above because the scale is too short. Why can't everything just be rated out of five or ten, or just drop ratings completely? The addition of little a number at the bottom of a review sometimes has more power than the text, and even when I'm reading about something I care about and it gets three out of four, I say "dammit: now I have to count the number of blanked-out stars at the end to see if it's out of four or five." And counting to two is a pain in the arse (almost as much as a reviewer having to write "out of four" to justify their rating of under four stars for a quality show).
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What's this about more Blake's 7?
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Just wondering. If they do, they'll probably cut parts of this series out.
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and she has no problem following along when we watch British shows, and trust me, genius she ain't, although 38DD is a far more important statistic than 140 IQ in my opinion.
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Yes, tell us more!!! Who is your friend who has been commissioned to write an episode? And is there any other news available? Casting? Reboot, or continuation?
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But I think that's more to do with my irrational hatred of John Simm. The twat.
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Wasn't that called *Firefly*? The Whedon hath no clothing.
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They will have to cut it, to make thir real hourlong show into an American "hour"long show, i.e. reallyonly 35 minutes.
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Fox TCA summer tour executive press conference wrapped up, and it was announced Kiefer Sutherland will be a guest voice on The Simpsons as they begin their *18th* season. He'll play an Army colonel; no word on whether the Hoodie of Invisibility will join him. Maybe Bart and Behrooz are cooking up mischief (hey, maybe *that's* where he's been hiding out) :)
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..I have to disagree. Blake's 7 as a story has *way* more potentional than Firefly ever did. I like Firefly alot, but I could see it fizzling out if it had continued as a series. Blake's 7 was made to continue into a 4th season AFTER they'd wrapped everything up in series 3. Also, comedy cowboys isn't really the same thing as a group of terrorists that you are routing for. A remake couldn't come at a better time. Turning the terrorism thing on it's head and all.
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A friend lent me the DVD boxset last week, and I was hooked from the first episode. It's a great mix of mystery, comedy and the usual action stemming from a cop show. Gene Hunt is a fantastic character - "You are surrounded by armed bastards".
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I could watch a show about him doing laundry and still be captivated. And no, I don't know mean that in a gay way, though now that I think about it...
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Apart from the fact that the BBC would have announced it by now, they don't own the rights. And, really, some things are better NOT revisited.
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to the girl with the mousy hair.
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All hail Phillip Glenister and the Gene Genie.
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finally on BBC America. This is the show I recommended to Quint on his recent visit to London - so high concept, and so well carried out. All the first series is available on region 2 DVD now. Mind you, I've also been watching this French crime/legal drama called Spiral ("Engrenages")... that was superb too.
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The whole rights issue made me wonder what was going on, I'm sure B7 Enterprises would have said something by now if it were true!
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'Tis feckin' superb.
Hmmmm - wonder if dastickboy has some kind of Man United problem. Just a hint of it there, eh son. -
Is so not what the American version needs.
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I would suspect that the Terry Nation Estate owns the rights to his creation. Which means the BBC would have to pay them a pretty penny to relaunch the series just as they had to for the 3 year license to bring the Daleks back to *Doctor Who*. But I'd love to see a redux of Blake's. Of course, I'd also like to see a live-action *Cowboy Bebop*...thus completing making the shows that influenced *Firefly* more high profile amongst the general public. But would the BBC finally do a Blake's7/Doctor Who crossover that had been avoided in the past?
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I guess Eccleston is truly free for that role if the rumor is true about Heath Ledger being cast as The Joker. Oh, the humanity!
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Bob Odenkirk maybe? About somebody being hunted down by the cable company? Maybe I'm making it all up.
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...totally by chance, but I found it to be really good. XXX POTENTIAL SPOILER XXX ...The only weird thing about it was that it seemed to be really obvious that the main character was actually in a coma hallucinating the entire thing. The plots and atmosphere were pretty awesome, but it just seemed weird to be so obvious about revealing that. Then again, maybe there's a bigger twist yet to come.
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The news about a new Blake`s 7 may be true Paul Darrow(Avon)i believe actually owns the rights for the show,he bought them off Terry Nations widow over three years ago
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My guess is that the poster meant SURVIVORS -- another Terry Nation series that the BBC *is* in talks to revive -- rather than BLAKE'S 7. The rights to the latter are currently controlled by a group calling itself Blake's 7 Enterprises, not the Terry Nation estate.
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It is just a cop version of that crappy film Christopher Reeve/Jane Seymour film "Somewhere in Time" where (SPOILER) he ends up lying emaciated on his bed.
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Any Jungle in guy??
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Ah that would explain there been no announcements from Blake's 7 Enterprises (which Paul Darrow used to be a part of). - New Survivors, that could be cool!
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WTF, if they can film Spaced (a comedy) in widescreen, why can't this be too?
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"Get this, right: the Emperor wants to control outer space; Yoda wants to explore INNER space..."
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Watched the first episode last night on BBC America and it pwned. Obvious or not, I found the whole coma angle intriguing, especially if you start wondering if 2006 and the coma is really the delusion instead of 1973. And yes, Bowie is playing on my CD player as I'm typing this.
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I'm on board for the duration. But, are these episodes all cut up to fit the "one hour with commercials", like Spooks (aka MI-5)? Am I better off waiting for the full lenght DVD release? Also, Herc, I haven't seen a heads-up for the brilliant sitcom Spaced, now showing friday nights on BBC America. It's really, really funny and just custom-made for sci-fi geeks. The main character (Simon "Shaun of the Dead" Pegg) has an Evil Dead II poster in the living room! And a really cute dog he hates!
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Life On Mars is Fuckin'Ace! That's TWO great genre shows produced by the BBC recently(although this dosen't have Dr Whos' cheap-ish production values). Most TV remakes(US-UK or UK-US) are crap, but this could work. Life On Mars(UK) is kind of a throwback to 70's brit-cop shows like The Sweeney and The Profesionals. A US version would undoubtedly reference the likes of Dirty Harry, Starsky & Hutch and Serpico. I'll watch it if it's done right. (And starring Mark Ruffalo & Ian Mcshane in the John Simm & Philip Glenister roles)
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Goes back in time and becomes Lovejoy. Oh wait
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Apart from all the crap like Ally McBeal he does, is that the US doesn't have the cultural benchmark of the Sweeney to compare it to. It is nothing to do with the football and the trade unions and the test card - although they don't help.
In the 70s the regional flying squads were mired in corruption and 'fitting up' suspects. The Sweeney - with its brutal treatment of suspects - was born of that. The real difference then to now is PACE.
But the US didn't have a harsh, sleazy, grimy and brutal cop show like The Sweeney in the 70s to touch base with. You see it now with works of genius like The Wire - but the story of the week on Kojak, Cannon etc were what they got.
So what benchmark do they use for a comparison to Gene Hunt and his squad?
If Kelley's is imaginatively bankrupt - no surprise there - he might try something a little less complicated. -
The premise is really novel but the fact remains...The show was awful. Sam Tyler looks like Tim from The Office. There was no tension or buildup to his accident. The Gene Hunt character was tame. Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland) was completely wasted in that one scene. The setting in
the seventies is pretty marginal. It doesn't add any novelty to the show at all.
There was some positives. Loved the title. I liked both of
his love interests, especially the nurse. The scene in which he first confronts the police force was good. The jumping over the table thing was awesome. The hallucinations and the attempted suicide near the end was interesting.
It was a disappointment. I thought there would be more humor judging by the commercials. It's needed too. More twists were expected too. In this case, an American adaptation would probably be an improvement given what I've seen. -
Another show about police corruption sounds boring. The time travel/ coma, hallucination etc. stuff is what caught my interest. We know how cops work, both honest and corrupt. I'm passing on shows that explore that kind of thing. People want to see a show that justifies violence. It sounds stupid to me.
Anyway, that seems to be where the show is headed. More toward the investigation angle of crimes and not the mystery of how he got there in the first place.
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of a great sketch on the British impressionists' show "Dead Ringers". Grissom from CSI gets hit by a car... and wakes up in "Murder She Wrote".
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Did you actually watch the same programme as I did back in January? His two love interests are both policewomen. And how could you possibly call the Gene Hunt character "tame"? There's loads of humour, too! Although some of the references did go over my 1980-born head (Francis Lee... footballer turned toilet roll magnate).
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just swinging in on the vine.
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I really enjoy this show. I got a few episodes offline. I don't really feel that the show is taking a look at 'corruption' as much as it is just showing the generation gap in equal rights and general police work. I agree about the build up to the crash being somewhat weak, I also agree that Baba OReilly was wasted, but the entire Life on Mar sequence was really overall a good fade over in the timelines. I also really enjoy how creepy the show gets where the people outside of his comatose body are showing up on the television and on the radios. It has a bit of mystery to it, with a good twist on a decent cop show that isn't all about technology. I dig it. -
I've been talking about Blake's 7 for most of this Talkback, but I just want to say LoM is a great show and you should all watch it!
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Life on Mars-hmallows.
Hmmmm. -
since you was an itch in your fathers nutsack!
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If any showrunner should get dibs to make an "Americanized" version of this, it should be Shawn Ryan. Of course, then it would be a time-traveling version of *The Shield* but it would still kick major layers of azz. I vote to just watch the original and still current British version.
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