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The Yank Critics Enjoy Discovering LIFE ON MARS!!

Yes ! by Dude_gimme_tabs	Jul 24th, 2006 05:53:43 AM
This show is, indeed, fantastic. Enjoy.
Great series by lostbat	Jul 24th, 2006 06:12:22 AM
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!!
To be fair, Yackbacker.. by Lemming	Jul 24th, 2006 06:33:00 AM
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.
time-travelling cop solves crimes the old-fashioned way by newc0253	Jul 24th, 2006 06:39:53 AM
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.
Hehe Lemming by Hell_Bender	Jul 24th, 2006 06:44:11 AM
You just reminded me of that Bill Hicks hooligans piece; "Last night, some Hooligans knocked over a dustbin in Shaftesbury!"
The best of British! by HarryBlackPotter	Jul 24th, 2006 07:00:40 AM
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!
The best of British! by HarryBlackPotter	Jul 24th, 2006 07:01:23 AM
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!
The best of British! by HarryBlackPotter	Jul 24th, 2006 07:01:36 AM
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!
The best of British! by HarryBlackPotter	Jul 24th, 2006 07:01:39 AM
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!
The best of British! by HarryBlackPotter	Jul 24th, 2006 07:01:40 AM
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!
HarryBlackPotter... by ZEROCELL	Jul 24th, 2006 07:30:38 AM
WE HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME!
REMAKE!!!!!!!!! by joeydoo	Jul 24th, 2006 07:49:51 AM
Why can't you Americans understand the English language!
Re: Remake by Johnny Wishbone	Jul 24th, 2006 08:10:34 AM
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.
Makes sense? by DishyDish	Jul 24th, 2006 08:23:47 AM
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.
Not a David Bowie television show? by rbatty024	Jul 24th, 2006 08:34:30 AM
Goddamnit! I was hoping that "Life On Mars" was a Bowie reference. Oh well, looks pretty neat.
It is a Bowie reference by ChorleyFM	Jul 24th, 2006 08:44:54 AM
Watch the show and you will see.
Hell_Bender, by Lemming	Jul 24th, 2006 08:53:22 AM
I was thinking of exactly that when I wrote it! Hehe. :D
RighteousBrother, by Lemming	Jul 24th, 2006 09:02:30 AM
Got any more details? I can't find anything on the 'net about it later than 2000.
More fun if he actually had to fight crime of Mars. by cookylamoo	Jul 24th, 2006 09:22:39 AM
You know, like John Carter, P.I.
How to Americanize Those Pesky British Series by EriamJH	Jul 24th, 2006 09:23:50 AM
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!!!
John Simm by DirkD13"	Jul 24th, 2006 09:29:43 AM
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).
EriamJH by lynxpro	Jul 24th, 2006 09:37:54 AM
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.
It's fucking fantastic by photoboy	Jul 24th, 2006 09:38:45 AM
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.
Deadwood Talkback by JuggFuckler	Jul 24th, 2006 09:41:41 AM
Why don't we have one. You cocksuckers.
DirkD13... by Lemming	Jul 24th, 2006 09:47:25 AM
Reach for the lasers! SAFE AS FUCK! :D
Johnny Wishbone... by ScarranHalfBreed	Jul 24th, 2006 10:42:09 AM
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.
Sorry for the above post, people... by ScarranHalfBreed	Jul 24th, 2006 10:46:06 AM
...I forgot Americans don't understand our language. SHITE = SHIT. Understand, or is that too difficult?
Luscious--868 by Johnny Wishbone	Jul 24th, 2006 11:06:26 AM
Actually, our PM is a spineless twat.
The Test Card F girl should get her own TV show by Jugs	Jul 24th, 2006 11:24:04 AM
..she must be a great grandmother now :)
Why do people award things by pandamaster83	Jul 24th, 2006 12:00:15 PM
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).
RighteousBrother by Sly Fox	Jul 24th, 2006 12:08:00 PM
What's this about more Blake's 7?
Do they censor shows that air on BBC America? by performingmonkey	Jul 24th, 2006 12:21:42 PM
Just wondering. If they do, they'll probably cut parts of this series out.
I am British, my wife is American by Alonzo Mosely	Jul 24th, 2006 12:30:15 PM
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.
Blake's 7?! by spikeandjezebel	Jul 24th, 2006 12:35:01 PM
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?
Show was shite by dastickboy	Jul 24th, 2006 12:49:11 PM
But I think that's more to do with my irrational hatred of John Simm. The twat.
Blakes7 redux? by lynxpro	Jul 24th, 2006 12:57:17 PM
Wasn't that called Firefly? The Whedon hath no clothing.
performingmonkey by ElPaw	Jul 24th, 2006 12:59:21 PM
They will have to cut it, to make thir real hourlong show into an American "hour"long show, i.e. reallyonly 35 minutes.
Bart Simpson, meet the Jack Sack... by paulh	Jul 24th, 2006 01:39:52 PM
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) :)
Lynxpro, while I love a good Whedonite baiting... by Lemming	Jul 24th, 2006 01:51:09 PM
..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.
Great show by Rapmaster C	Jul 24th, 2006 02:12:04 PM
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".
Hunt steals the show every time by cromulent	Jul 24th, 2006 02:29:33 PM
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...
Blake's 7 is NOT coming back by Mockingbird Girl	Jul 24th, 2006 02:33:52 PM
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.
It's such a god-awful small affair; by ExcaliburFfolkes	Jul 24th, 2006 02:46:20 PM
to the girl with the mousy hair.
"Is that ethical?" "No, it's vodka...! by dr_buggerlugs	Jul 24th, 2006 04:04:14 PM
All hail Phillip Glenister and the Gene Genie.
Ah yes... by Schnorbitz	Jul 24th, 2006 05:15:46 PM
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.
Mockingbird Girl by Sly Fox	Jul 24th, 2006 06:50:53 PM
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!
DO NOT MISS THIS by Mickey The Idiot	Jul 24th, 2006 07:56:42 PM
'Tis feckin' superb. Hmmmm - wonder if dastickboy has some kind of Man United problem. Just a hint of it there, eh son.
David Kelly... by Christopher3	Jul 24th, 2006 09:16:23 PM
Is so not what the American version needs.
Blake's 7... by lynxpro	Jul 24th, 2006 09:25:08 PM
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?
any new word on The Prisoner redux? by lynxpro	Jul 24th, 2006 09:35:32 PM
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!
Didn't somebody else use this name for a failed pilot by INWOsuxRED	Jul 24th, 2006 10:14:12 PM
Bob Odenkirk maybe? About somebody being hunted down by the cable company? Maybe I'm making it all up.
Caught a couple episodes last March when I was in Lndon by Freakemovie	Jul 24th, 2006 11:22:05 PM
...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.
Blake`s 7 by Wyrdy the Gerbil	Jul 25th, 2006 12:28:16 AM
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
Sly Fox & lynxpro by Mockingbird Girl	Jul 25th, 2006 12:30:45 AM
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.
To be fair by mulberry	Jul 25th, 2006 02:37:42 AM
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.
lemming by DirkD13"	Jul 25th, 2006 03:00:02 AM
Any Jungle in guy??
Mockingbird Girl - Survivors by Sly Fox	Jul 25th, 2006 03:47:18 AM
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!
Fullscreen by c4andmore	Jul 25th, 2006 06:37:07 AM
WTF, if they can film Spaced (a comedy) in widescreen, why can't this be too?
This is in widescreen. by ElPaw	Jul 25th, 2006 06:43:57 AM

DirkD13 by simonsays	Jul 25th, 2006 09:28:34 AM
"Get this, right: the Emperor wants to control outer space; Yoda wants to explore INNER space..."
It's the freakiest show... by SpyGuy	Jul 25th, 2006 10:48:00 AM
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.
It was pretty darn cool! by GenericGeek	Jul 25th, 2006 12:33:55 PM
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!
Watch it, you Slaaaags!!! by pokadoo	Jul 25th, 2006 01:39:55 PM
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)
Ian Mcshane by ElPaw	Jul 25th, 2006 03:28:05 PM
Goes back in time and becomes Lovejoy. Oh wait
The reason Kelley will screw up by elab49	Jul 25th, 2006 03:49:04 PM
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.
Life on Mars is awful. by quintasphere	Jul 25th, 2006 05:14:42 PM
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.
The Premise Is Beginning to Get Tired by quintasphere	Jul 25th, 2006 05:30:55 PM
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.
Reminds me... by Schnorbitz	Jul 25th, 2006 06:42:20 PM
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".
Oh, and Quintasphere... by Schnorbitz	Jul 25th, 2006 06:45:52 PM
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).
I got the tarzan and jane of jungle by weenus	Jul 26th, 2006 04:06:42 AM
just swinging in on the vine. --- 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.
Life On Mars by Sly Fox	Jul 26th, 2006 04:14:14 AM
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!
Johnny Wishbone has no lavatory in his house by The Awfulism	Jul 26th, 2006 07:06:28 AM
Life on Mars-hmallows. Hmmmm.
I been smoking... by DirkD13"	Jul 27th, 2006 05:01:41 AM
since you was an itch in your fathers nutsack!
David E. Kelly should not remake this... by lynxpro	Jul 27th, 2006 11:33:29 AM
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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