TV Addict Reports: Life on Mars - US version

[strangevisitor7]

I adored the original British version of this show. I can not express enough how terrific it was. It was unique and creative and incredibly well acted. Gene Hunt is just an amazing character. So it was with some trepidation I watched the US version last night.

No - Just No. It didn't work for me.

Comments

[dharkapparition]

I gave semi-serious thought to watching the US version before the Brit.

Thanks, Not going to bother, really. I've got too many shows to keep track of

[strangevisitor7]

I wish I had liked it becasue I was looking forward to the music and such but I just don't think I will watch any additional episodes.

Get the brit version - it's only 16 episodes and worth the time

[julorean]

Yeah, I never planned on watching it. The Twin Towers bit sounds like the only good moment.

I read an interview with the producers or whoever, and the think this thing will actually run for a long time. :rolls eyes: I was all "Yeah. Riiiight." I won't dicount the possibility, americans can be woefully uneducated in the brilliance of Brit TV, but I doubt it'll really get off the ground.

[strangevisitor7]

I can't see how it could possibly go for more than one season. The BBC version only had 16 and that felt just right.

I get so frustrated that the networks feel they have to Americanize everything. i know many Americans who appreciate Brit TV but try telling ABC that

[lyl_devil]

You knew it was doomed when they recast the entire show. Apparently, the first pilot was oh-so-much-worse

[strangevisitor7]

I'm downloading the original pilot - very curious how much worse it could possibly be since Jason O'Mara is still Sam and still miscast.

That's a good point about so many old US cop shows because it felt like an old Kojak episode.

Like I said part of my fascination with the BBC show was an education about older Brit stuff. but truthfully Gene Hunt was just so awesome - he kept me watching

[sfulton229]

Thanks for the warning; I just caught the end of the first episode and really wasn't impressed with the acting. I also question just how long they think this will go, as a concept you can't really expect to get five seasons out of it. I think they can't drag it out and the audience will get bored. I have the same feeling with "The Ex-Files"; I can't see that going much longer than a year.

[strangevisitor7]

The thing I love about Brit TV is that they recognize that some high concept TV shows should end when the high concept runs out of steam. LOM ran it course and was wrapped up before people stopped caring or the concept became too overplayed.

US networks waits until show jump the shark and then they still run 2 more seasons.

There are too many others shows on my plate to give this one anymore time. *sighs*

[sfulton229]

Yes, they keep things going well past time to get enough episodes for syndication. I'm so far behind that I'm cutting back some. Maybe someday I'll get caught up.

[strangevisitor7]

Yep and some shows I watch to the bitter end and others I give up and move on. I need to move on more often. XD

Simm is Sam

[simmfaninmexico]

I agree with you one hundred percent.
O'Mara's Sam seemed so comfortable in this "alien" environment of 1973 that he might have simply been transferred from Hyde in Upstate New York to the NYPD without adding the time travel element at all.
In my biased opinion nobody does it better than Simm.

Re: Simm is Sam

[strangevisitor7]

Thanks. Nice to know I'm not the only one who thought the US show was woefully miscast. Simm always looked like a man out of time and that added to the believability of the situation