Life on Mars (U.S. TV series)
| Life on Mars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre |
Time travel Science fiction Police procedural |
| Created by |
Original series: Matthew Graham Tony Jordan Ashley Pharoah |
| Developed by |
Josh Appelbaum André Nemec Scott Rosenberg |
| Starring |
Jason O'Mara Harvey Keitel Jonathan Murphy Michael Imperioli Gretchen Mol |
| Composer(s) | Peter Nashel |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 17 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
Josh Appelbaum Andre Nemec Scott Rosenberg Jane Featherstone Stephen Garrett |
| Producer(s) | Jane Raab |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Kudos Film and Television Space Floor Television ABC Studios 20th Century Fox Television |
| Distributor |
Disney–ABC Domestic Television (USA) 20th Century Fox Television Distribution (non-USA) |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | 16:9 HDTV 1080i |
| Audio format | 5.1 Surround Sound |
| Original release | October 9, 2008 – April 1, 2009 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows |
Life on Mars (UK) La Chica de Ayer Обратная сторона Луны Life on Mars (KOR) |
Life on Mars is an American science fiction crime drama television series which originally aired on ABC from October 9, 2008 to April 1, 2009. It is an adaptation of the BAFTA-winning original UK series of the same name produced by the BBC. The series was co-produced by Kudos Film and Television, 20th Century Fox Television, and ABC Studios.
The series tells the story of New York City police detective Sam Tyler (played by Jason O'Mara), who, after being struck by a car in 2008, regains consciousness in 1973. Fringing between multiple genres, including thriller, science fiction and police procedural, the series remained ambiguous regarding its central plot, with the character himself unsure about his situation.[1] The series also starred Harvey Keitel, Jonathan Murphy, Michael Imperioli, and Gretchen Mol.
Life on Mars garnered critical praise for its premise, acting, and depiction of the 1970s but shortly after its premiere, the show's momentum was interrupted by a two-month hiatus followed by a timeslot change which led to a decline in viewership.[2][3] On March 2, 2009 ABC announced that it would not be ordering a second season. A DVD set of the complete series was released on September 29, 2009.
Production
David E. Kelley was the initial writer and executive producer of the series pilot,[4] but later handed over production responsibilities to others.[5] The executive producers of the show were Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg, the producers of the ABC drama October Road.[6]
After reviewing the pilot episode, ABC ordered an overhaul. Several members of the cast and crew were replaced, with production moved from Los Angeles to New York to allow producers to take advantage of recently enacted local and state tax credits for shows filmed in that state.[7] The setting of the series was also changed from Los Angeles to New York, taking place at the fictional 125th precinct of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
The script was rewritten, with permission of the original creators, to remove the "unsatisfying" ambiguity of Sam's story in favor of a "mythological element" and "deeper mystery".[8]
The series premiered in North America on October 9, 2008, on ABC, following Grey's Anatomy.[9] Internationally, it also aired on Global in Canada, on FX in the UK, and on Network Ten in Australia.[10] On November 20, 2008, ABC ordered four additional episodes to the show's original thirteen episodes. After its winter hiatus, the series was shifted to a Wednesday night timeslot on January 28, 2009, following Lost.[11]
On March 2, 2009, it was announced that ABC would not be ordering a second season. The cancellation decision came early enough to allow producers time to wrap up the show's storyline. The network aired all 17 episodes ordered, with the final episode airing April 1, 2009.[12]
Cast and characters
Main
- Det. Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) — He often finds his 2008 values in conflict with the 1973 values of his colleagues, and is forced to rely on his wits when the commonplace technologies he's used to from modern life aren't available or don't even exist yet. A Detective Second Grade,[13] Tyler is Hunt's senior ranking detective. He frequently uses pop culture references from his era as undercover aliases, such as "Luke Skywalker" (for dealing with his mother in the era, claiming it is a Navajo name), "Tom Cruise" and "Sam Bono" (when undercover with an Irish brogue). His BBC counterpart is DI (DCI in 2006) Sam Tyler (John Simm).
- Det. Ray Carling (Michael Imperioli) — An ambitious and bluntly macho detective with the 125th Detective Squad, he is arrogant and condescending to almost everyone but his mentor, Lt. Gene Hunt. Carling resents Tyler's arrival, having expected to be Hunt's senior detective. He is short-tempered with his demure wife. His BBC counterpart is DS Ray Carling (Dean Andrews).
- Policewoman [promoted to Detective in the finale] Annie Norris (Gretchen Mol) — A uniformed policewoman with an undergraduate psychology education from Fordham University who has aspirations of making the detective squad, Norris constantly struggles against sexist attitudes about the role of a woman in police work. Owing to her gender, her nickname among the detectives is "No Nuts Norris". She is the only one on the force to whom Sam has revealed that he's from the future — although she doesn't actually believe him, she's the most willing of any of his colleagues to listen to and offer kind advice about his state of mind rather than simply dismissing him as crazy. After Sam's seemingly crazy prophecy results in him saving her life, Annie is less willing to simply dismiss his incredible stories. Annie fervently wishes to become a detective, like her comrades in the 125th; she is promoted to detective in the finale. Her BBC counterpart is WPC Annie Cartwright (Liz White).
- Det. Chris Gordon Skelton (Jonathan Murphy) — A young junior detective. He is sometimes a bit naïve about the demands of police work, but he's also much gentler, more kindhearted and more likable than Ray. He's also the most willing of the detectives to consider that as crazy as Sam may be, he does have valuable and useful skills from which the others can learn something. Unlike his older and more traditional colleagues, he's also a fan of current pop culture, including contemporary glam rock music. In the episode "Take a Look at the Lawmen" we learn his middle name is Gordon. His BBC counterpart is DC Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster).
- Lt. Gene Hunt (Harvey Keitel) — Commander of the 125th Detective Squad, Hunt is a hardened older cop who's largely set in his ways. He accepts and even encourages the casual corruption and physical abuse rampant in the police force, although he lives by a very strict code of loyalty toward fellow officers and honor toward law-abiding citizens even if he personally dislikes them. He is often exasperated by Sam's outspoken insistence on doing things differently, but seems to have a grudging respect for Sam's crime-solving ability nonetheless. He has a long-standing rivalry with a fellow police officer, Lt. Anthony Nunzio of the 144th Precinct. His BBC counterpart is DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister).
Minor
- Maria Hunt Belanger (Maggie Siff) — A youth social worker who assists when a young child is a witness to a crime. Although she's Gene's daughter, they have a strictly professional relationship and are largely estranged from each other on a personal level. She and Sam are immediately attracted to each other, and end up having sex in the precinct house's file room; she later shows up at his address wearing nothing but a trench coat. However, Sam only later learns that she's the boss' daughter, and desperately tries to keep Gene from finding out what happened.
- Sizable Ted (John Cenatiempo) — A fellow detective, known for his strong physical appearance. He is part of Gene Hunt's 125th Detective Squad.
- Windy (Tanya Fischer) — A free-spirited hippie neighbor of Sam's in three early episodes, who encourages him to embrace higher consciousness and makes him pot-laced lasagne. It is revealed in the final episode of the series that she is the voice of the onboard computer of the HYDE 1-2-5. Her cryptic statements often have double-meanings that can be interpreted as applying to both an issue at hand, and to Sam's confusing journey back in time; in this regard, she is the counterpart to the BBC series' barman character, Nelson (Tony Marshall).
- Maya Daniels (Lisa Bonet) — Sam's professional and personal partner in 2008. She plays a prominent role in the first episode, when her apparent abduction leads to Sam's car accident, but in subsequent episodes she appears only occasionally in visions Sam sees of a future that may or may not be happening. Her BBC counterpart is Maya Roy (Archie Panjabi).
- Rose Tyler (Jennifer Ferrin) — Sam's mother. Struggling to make ends meet, she takes out a loan from a gangster, forcing Adult Sam to step in and protect her. Due to the situation, Sam uses the pseudonym Luke Skywalker instead of revealing his real last name to her. Her BBC counterpart is Ruth Tyler (Joanne Froggatt in 1973 & Judi Jones in 2006). Changing her name in the American version brought the name full-circle; Sam Tyler's surname was selected by writer Matthew Graham's daughter in homage to Doctor Who companion Rose Tyler. In the last episode, Sam finally reveals his real name to his mother, who smiles, having suspected all along that he was her son in an older incarnation.
- Vic Tyler (Dean Winters) — Sam's father in 1973. Sam discovers some disturbing information about Vic, as well as the real reason he disappeared on Sam's fourth birthday. His BBC counterpart is Vic Tyler (Lee Ingleby).
- Detective/Captain Fletcher Bellow (Edi Gathegi/Clarke Peters) — A young, African-American detective in another squad, who will be Sam's mentor and captain in the future and Sam looks up to him as the father he never had. He and Sam cooperate on an investigation into Black militants. He is referred to by his nickname, "Clams", in both 2008 and 1973. Gathegi plays young Bellow in 1973; Peters plays the older man from 2008. His BBC counterpart is DC/DCC Glenn Fletcher, QGM (Ray Emmet Brown).
- Agent Franklin Morgan[14] (Peter Gerety) — Sent to the 125th Precinct from FBI headquarters when Sam's infiltration of an Irish-American gang ends disastrously, Agent Morgan hints that he knows that Sam has been displaced in time, but Morgan has secrets of his own. His BBC counterpart is DCI Frank Morgan. While not mentioned, his line to Sam, "You weren't supposed to peek behind the curtain", in the 16th episode is a reference to The Wizard of Oz; Frank Morgan was also the name of the actor who played Professor Marvel, the door-keeper, the carriage driver, the Wizard's squire, and the Wizard in the movie. Morgan is also the director of Mission Control in the last episode of the series; in that context, his British counterpart is Sam's 2005 surgeon, Frank Morgan (Ralph Brown).
- Colin Raimes (Michael Bertolini) — Suspected serial killer. Sam and Maya are hunting down Raimes for kidnapping and murdering young women. After a chase and a fight scene, he is apprehended, but released because of a seemingly solid alibi. Maya trails him in the park and she is abducted. Sam races to Raimes' apartment, and as he crosses the street, he is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. When in 1973 (during the first episode of the series), Sam meets Raimes as a child and has thoughts of shooting him so he doesn't grow up to be a killer; however a message from Maya over the car radio tells Sam that she's alive and safe; Sam puts his gun away and lets Colin return home. His BBC counterpart is Colin Raimes (Sam Hazeldine).
- Jimmy McManus (Peter Greene) — Irish gang leader in New York. McManus has a "beef" with officers in the 125 precinct, is involved with various criminal activities during three of the later episodes. Sam joins McManus' gang undercover, and McManus shoots Ray and Chris during a pullover, almost killing Chris and injuring Ray. In the end, FBI Agent Frank Morgan kills McManus in a rival shooting, since both were competing in illegal smuggling.
- Mysterious caller on the phone — At the end of "The Man Who Sold the World", Sam went to a house to look for a way home to 2008. When he arrived, a man rang him on the house telephone and led him to a headless body. This man is a member of Aries Project, and in the series finale offered Sam a chance to go home. His British counterpart is Sam's 2005 surgeon, Frank Morgan.
Synopsis
The series centers around Detective Sam Tyler, assigned to the 125th Precinct Detective Squad of the New York City Police Department.
At the show's outset in 2008, he cohabits with his girlfriend who is also his NYPD assigned partner, Detective Maya Daniels. Maya, to Tyler's horror, is kidnapped by a murderer they are investigating. While responding to a radio call as he crosses the street, Tyler is distracted and hit by another responding speeding police car. He regains consciousness in the same spot in the year 1973, dressed in period civilian attire, carrying a period-accurate identity card with his badge, and equipped with a vintage automobile, a 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle — and, astonishingly, he's parked within sight of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. He returns to his precinct house to find an unfamiliar early-1970s police squad, with contemporary equipment and culture which he likens to finding himself on a different planet. However, the detectives have been expecting him, thinking that he is a transfer from a place called "Hyde". His disorientation and frequent reference to things from the future brand him as eccentric, being labeled with the nickname "Spaceman", but he becomes a valued member of the squad.
Later on in the series, with Sam supposedly in a coma in 2008, Maya decided to end the relationship.
Several of the show's plots involve Sam looking into earlier versions of his cases from 2008, such as in "Out Here in the Fields" where he discovers the sociopath mentor of a future serial killer, and in "The Simple Secret of the Note in Us All" where Sam has the opportunity to stop a serial killer early in his career. Additional storylines are driven by the conflict between Sam's 2008 values and the more corrupt, almost vigilante-style policing of the era he finds himself in, while others are driven by Sam's discovery of more personal information about his past in this era that radically reshapes his understanding of the life he's left behind. He engages in an ongoing struggle to figure out what has happened to him, torn between his developing relationships in 1973 and his desire to return to 2008.
His 2008 reality frequently intrudes into 1973 through surreal, anachronistic visions and cryptic telephone calls. In one episode he sees a man in a nightclub wearing a Nirvana T-shirt, in several early episodes he sees the face of George W. Bush on the front page of the newspaper, and he frequently sees Mars rover robots following him or attempting to enter his body.
At other times, he also hints at his knowledge of the future to his colleagues; in a discussion of then-President Richard Nixon he confuses them by asserting that Nixon won't be in office much longer, he makes a veiled allusion to the September 11 attacks when advising them against engaging in hate speech, and he uses then-future cultural references as undercover pseudonyms — sometimes giving his name as "Luke Skywalker", "Tom Cruise" or "Sam Bono", and giving Gene and a female companion the undercover names "George and Laura Bush".
At the end of the series, it is revealed that Tyler's 2008 and 1973 realities were both fictitious, created by the onboard computer of a spacecraft that is carrying Tyler, Hunt, Norris, Carling, and Skelton on the first ever manned mission to the planet Mars, in 2035. The crew he worked with in 1973 were just virtual reality versions of his fellow spaceship crewmembers. His room number, "2B", is his sleeping unit; his old precinct, "Hyde", and his new precinct, the "125", are based on the name of the spacecraft — "Hyde 125"; his neighbor, Windy, is the name of the computer A.I.; Frank Morgan, an FBI agent in the series, is the Mission Control flight director; in a reversal from her struggle to be taken seriously as a police officer in 1973, Annie Norris is the ship's commander. To sustain the crew, their minds were routinely kept active while asleep using virtual reality "neural stimulation" programs of their own choosing, but Sam's choice of a scenario where he was a police officer c. 2008 was abruptly changed to a 1973 setting by a computer glitch induced by a meteor-storm. The identity of Maya in 2035, however, is left unexplained. In a twist, Gene Hunt in 1973 turns out to be astronaut 'Major Tom' Tyler — Sam's father — in the conclusion. Just as Maria was estranged from Gene in 1973, Sam was estranged from his father until the very end of the series, when he reconciles with his dad before they step out onto the bare ground of the Red Planet. However the final shot shows, not an astronaut boot, but Gene Hunt's signature white loafer taking the first step onto the Martian surface, casting doubt once again onto the ending.
Recurring themes
- David Bowie — Life on Mars, like the original UK series, was named after one of Bowie's most famous songs, "Life on Mars?". In the series, Sam's journey back in time to 1973 is accompanied by this single. Bowie is referenced in a number of episodes besides the first one, including Episode 13, where a deceased activist from the Weather Underground and his illicit daughter have Bowie's eyes (of different colors). In Episode 17, Gene Hunt's 2035 character is Major Tom Tyler, a reference to Bowie's song "Space Oddity". He is also referenced by Windy in the last episode of the series ("David Bowie asked me to move to Spain with him and raise praying mantises"). Episode 7 and 15 are both named after other songs written by Bowie: "The Man Who Sold the World" and "All the Young Dudes", respectively. Lyrics from "Life on Mars?" used in the script only occur in the final episode where Sam's mother says "Look at those cavemen go," as the detectives scurry around the police station, in pursuit of the abductor of her son, the young Sam.
- The Wizard of Oz — Like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Sam finds himself in a strange world, always trying to find the way home. In Episode 11, Sam finds another man who says he is from 2009 and has suddenly found himself back in 1973, and "finds the way back home." Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow" is played throughout this series.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Production code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Out Here in the Fields" | Gary Fleder | Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec & Scott Rosenberg | October 9, 2008 | 1ANY01 |
| After an accident, NYPD detective Sam Tyler inexplicably finds himself back in 1973, where he must help solve a murder that is eerily similar to a case he was investigating in 2008. (Contains elements of Series 1 Episode 1 of UK original) | |||||
| 2 | "The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler" | Michael Katleman | Bryan Oh | October 16, 2008 | 1ANY02 |
| Sam is in 1973. 2008 only exists as flashes of Sam's memory, assisted by a mysterious robot. A suspect in a series of deadly armed robberies of check cashing stores, Trent, is picked up but let loose for lack of evidence. Trent then attempts another robbery, is killed by Hunt, but not before Trent shoots June the precinct secretary, at the scene. When a witness states that Trent was escorted by uniformed police going into the store being robbed, it becomes a corruption issue. It turns out June was connected to Trent, and this is how the case gets solved. (Contains elements of Series 1 Episode 2 of UK original) | |||||
| 3 | "My Maharishi Is Bigger Than Your Maharishi" | Michael Pressman | Tracy McMillan | October 23, 2008 | 1ANY03 |
| When a decorated Vietnam War vet is beaten to death, Sam's precinct is pushed to the brink to find his killers, but not everyone may be happy with the results they find. (Contains elements of Series 1 Episode 5 of UK original) | |||||
| 4 | "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadows?" | Alex Zakrzewski | David Wilcox | October 30, 2008 | 1ANY04 |
| Sam busts a guy for accosting his mother, only to find out he's a loan shark and she's into him for a thousand dollars. When his mother doesn't want to prosecute, she, unknowingly, leads Sam down a road that puts him on the outs with Annie. (Contains elements of Series 1 Episode 4 of UK original) | |||||
| 5 | "Things to Do in New York When You Think You're Dead" | Michael Katleman | Sonny Postiglione | November 6, 2008 | 1ANY05 |
| Sam partners up with Fletcher, his future police mentor, in 1973 to find a Puerto Rican man accused of throwing a black girl off the roof of a building — a case that has the black community up in arms and demanding retribution. Guest stars Whoopi Goldberg. (Contains elements of Series 2 Episode 2 of UK original) | |||||
| 6 | "Tuesday's Dead" | Daniel Minahan | Adele Lim | November 13, 2008 | 1ANY06 |
| After a wild birthday party for Ray at the precinct house, Sam receives a phone call from his mother saying he has until two o'clock to pull out of his coma before the doctor will pull the plug, just as Lt. Hunt walks in with news of a hostage situation at a local hospital, they have until two o'clock before the man claims he will kill the hostage. Sam believes he must intervene to save his own life in 2008 and vows that no one will die today. (Contains elements of Series 1 Episode 6 of UK original) | |||||
| 7 | "The Man Who Sold the World" | Darnell Martin | Meredith Averill & Phil M. Rosenberg | November 20, 2008 | 1ANY07 |
| While investigating a child's kidnapping, Sam discovers some disturbing information about his father, as well as the real reason he disappeared for good on the day of Sam's fourth birthday party. (Contains elements of Series 1 Episode 8 of UK original) | |||||
| 8 | "Take a Look At the Lawmen" | Brad Turner | Sonny Postiglione & David Wilcox | January 28, 2009 | 1ANY11 |
| A long standing competition between Lt. Hunt and Anthony Nunzio of the 144th precinct, heats up as both investigate a bank robbery by the Russian mob. Meanwhile, Sam has a liaison in the file room, unaware of the woman (Maggie Siff)'s true identity. This episode was originally broadcast before "The Dark Side of the Mook." (Contains elements of Series 2 Episode 5 of UK original) | |||||
| 9 | "The Dark Side of the Mook" | Rick Rosenthal | Bryan Oh & Tracy McMillan | February 4, 2009 | 1ANY08 |
| A mysterious phone call from a tipster leads Det. Sam Tyler to a headless body. A severed head is delivered to the precinct at the same time, thus leading to the discovery of a series of gruesome decapitations that might involve Det. Carling's brother, Eddie. The detectives are interviewed by someone tied to Aries Project. (Contains elements of Series 1 Episode 3 of UK original) | |||||
| 10 | "Let All the Children Boogie" | Michael Katleman | Phil M. Rosenberg | February 11, 2009 | 1ANY12 |
| When rock star Sebastian Grace (Cheyenne Jackson) receives a death threat, Sam and Chris are sent to provide him with police protection. Chris later accompanies Sebastian and one of his groupies, Rocket Girl, to wait for UFOs in the New Jersey Meadowlands, but Sebastian is arrested for murder when Rocket Girl disappears. Sam also has to try and cover up his fling with Maria before Gene figures out who his partner in the file room was. | |||||
| 11 | "Home Is Where You Hang Your Holster" | David M. Barrett | Meredith Averill | February 18, 2009 | 1ANY13 |
| A city councilman who is arrested and brought into the 125th on prostitution charges privately reveals to Sam that he's from 2009 and knows the way home, but he is murdered in the middle of the precinct house before Sam can find out the secret. Hunt locks down the squad house to investigate the murder. Ray and Annie were both out of the house at the time and are sent out to investigate leads on the outside, but squabble over how much authority a policewoman should be given in investigating a crime. (Contains elements of Series 1 Episode 7 of UK original) | |||||
| 12 | "The Simple Secret of the Note in Us All" | Jean de Segonzac | Becky Hartman Edwards & Adele Lim | February 25, 2009 | 1ANY10 |
|
The squad tries to solve the murder of newspaper columnist Joey Conway. After learning that Conway had visited a gallery owned by Tony Crane, a man whom Sam has arrested in the 2000s for a very similar crime, Sam becomes an advocate for the 1973-style vigilante policing he's usually fighting against, while the media glare has Hunt uncharacteristically insistent on a strictly by-the-book investigation. The rest of the precinct believe the murderer is a restaurant owner whose business was failing because of a bad review in Conway's column. Note: This is the last episode to air before the shows's cancellation. (Contains elements of Series 2 Episode 1 of UK original) | |||||
| 13 | "Revenge of Broken Jaw" | Stephen Kay | David Wilcox & Meredith Averill | March 4, 2009 | 1ANY09 |
| While the squad tries to find a place to watch the Muhammad Ali-Ken Norton rematch, student radicals from the Weather Underground target the police with bomb threats, and it becomes all too personal to Lt. Hunt, who loses several close friends in the incendiary aftermath. As the investigation heats up, Sam, Annie and Hunt uncover mysterious connections to one of the students and a political science professor. The bomb threats continue as Hunt, suspiciously secretive, attempts to discover the professor's possible connection to the Weather Underground's dead leader; is the motivation politics or revenge, and do the Weathermen have the right target? With the 1-2-5 walking a dangerous tightrope to discover the target of the next bomb, the case takes a totally unforeseen but deadly turn. (Contains elements of Series 2 Episode 3 of UK original and Series 1 Episode 8 of "Ashes to Ashes") | |||||
| 14 | "Coffee, Tea, or Annie" | David Petrarca | Adele Lim & Bryan Oh | March 11, 2009 | 1ANY14 |
| When a Pan Atlantic air hostess turns up dead, Annie volunteers for a dangerous undercover mission posing as the murdered woman to help solve the second in a possible series of brutal homicides. Then, after an unlikely suspect is uncovered, an invitation to a lurid swingers' party leads to an evening full of sensational surprises — not just for Annie and Sam (who attend as a couple) but Lieutenant Hunt also, who arrives with a special guest to mix it up. Juicy sexual escapades bring the swingers' party to a fever pitch, but will the murderer be revealed? Finally, Annie confronts Hunt with the courage of her convictions about her future at the 1-2-5. (Contains elements of Series 2 Episode 4 of UK original) | |||||
| 15 | "All the Young Dudes" | Darnell Martin | Sonny Postiglione & Tracy McMillan | March 18, 2006 | 1ANY15 |
| When Sam poses as a streetwise tough to infiltrate a vicious New York City gang led by Irishman Jimmy McManus who is suspected of truck hijackings, he’s pushed to the limit not to blow his cover, and he reveals a much darker side. A bare-knuckled fist fight with a gang member, a late-night deal to buy a truckload of stolen VCRs and even time behind bars at his own precinct are all necessary elements of Sam’s scam. But can he keep up the ruse when he’s told to shoot a bound-and-gagged woman? And his attraction to McManus' sister also seems to be part of a recipe for disaster. Jason O'Mara's real life wife, Paige Turco, plays his romantic interest. (Contains elements of Series 2 Episode 8 of UK original) | |||||
| 16 | "Everyone Knows It's Windy" | Alex Zakrzewski | Mike Flynn | March 25, 2009 | 1ANY16 |
| Following Irish gangster Jimmy McManus' shooting of Ray and Chris, crime fighting gets extremely personal at the 125th Precinct. When McManus is subsequently murdered outside a neighborhood bar and FBI agent Franklin Morgan is sent to the precinct, both sides of the law suspect Sam of murder, leaving him to question his own innocence. With the evidence stacking up against him, Sam must rely on his friends at the precinct to bend the rules as he tenaciously searches for the real killer. (Contains elements of Series 2 Episode 7 of UK original) | |||||
| 17 | "Life Is a Rock" | Michael Katleman | Scott Rosenberg | April 1, 2009 | 1ANY17 |
| Sam wakes up after dreaming about his 2008 apartment with 1973 characters and is told by his hippie neighbor Windy that he's most likely closer to going back; later on a mysterious caller offers Sam a chance to return to 2008; all he needs to do is complete three tasks, but a confusing set of circumstances inside and out of the 1-2-5 makes him think twice about whether he even wants to go back. At the end of the episode, the final truth about Sam's life is revealed. | |||||
Reception
Commentary
In a UK interview with SFX, Matthew Graham—co-creator of the original Life on Mars—was asked his opinion on the US remake. His opinion was "Have you seen it? It beggars belief, doesn't it?" He goes on to speak of how he discussed future Ashes to Ashes endings and theories with the US team, stating they thought the UK ending "wasn't extreme enough". He spoke of how strong endings should be there for the viewer to work out, whereas the US ending was like "coming up with something and going 'Hey-hey, you never knew this, but Gene is a Martian!'", which he felt was a mistake.[15]
U.S. ratings
| # | Episode | Rating | Share | Rating/Share (18—49) |
Viewers (millions) |
Rank (night) |
Rank (week) |
Air date (m/d/y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Out Here in the Fields"[16] | 8.2 | 14 | 3.8/10 | 11.33 | #3 | #15 (tied) | 10/9/2008 |
| 2 | "The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler" | 5.7 | 10 | 2.7/7 | 8.47 | #8 | TBD | 10/16/2008 |
| 3 | "My Maharishi is Bigger Than Your Maharishi"[17] | TBD | 9 | 2.5/7 | 8.06 | #11 | TBD | 10/23/2008 |
| 4 | "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In the Shadows?"[18] | 5.7 | 10 | 2.7/8 | 8.41 | #8 | TBD | 10/30/2008 |
| 5 | "Things to Do in New York When You Think You're Dead"[19] | 6.0 | 10 | 3.0/8 | 9.62 | #8 | TBD | 11/6/2008 |
| 6 | "Tuesday's Dead"[20] | 6.0 | 10 | 2.9/8 | 8.94 | #8 | TBD | 11/13/2008 |
| 7 | "The Man Who Sold the World"[21] | 5.3 | 9 | 2.6/7 | 7.97 | #9 | TBD | 11/20/2008 |
| 8 | "Take a Look at the Lawmen" | 4.0 | 7 | 2.3/6 | 8.89 | #7 | TBD | 1/28/2009 |
| 9 | "The Dark Side of the Mook"[22] | 3.7 | 6 | 2.3/5 | 6.02 | #5 | TBD | 2/4/2009 |
| 10 | "Let All the Children Boogie"[23] | 3.0 | 5 | 2.0/6 | 5.14 | TBD | TBD | 2/11/2009 |
| 11 | "Home is Where You Hang Your Holster"[24] | 3.5 | 6 | 2.1/6 | 5.78 | #7 | TBD | 2/18/2009 |
| 12 | "The Simple Secret of The Note In Us All" | 3.2 | 5 | 2.0/6 | 5.55 | #8 | TBD | 2/25/2009 |
| 13 | "Revenge of Broken Jaw" | 3.5 | 6 | 2.1/6 | 5.66 | #6 | TBD | 3/4/2009 |
| 14 | "Coffee, Tea, or Annie"[25] | 3.0 | 4 | 1.5/4 | 4.58 | #13 | TBD | 3/11/2009 |
| 15 | "All the Young Dudes"[26] | 3.3 | 6 | 2.0/6 | 5.27 | #11 | TBD | 3/18/2009 |
| 16 | "Everyone Knows It's Windy"[27] | 3.5 | 6 | 2.1/6 | 5.67 | #8 | TBD | 3/25/2009 |
| 17 | "Life Is a Rock"[28] | 3.6 | 6 | 2.1/6 | 5.86 | #7 | TBD | 4/1/2009 |
International distribution
| Country | Channel | Premiere date |
|---|---|---|
 |
Network Ten | 5 February 2009 |
 |
RTL Crime | 14 May 2014 |
 |
TV3 Lithuania TV6 Lithuania |
7 November 2011 30 December 2011 |
 |
TV3+ | 5 January 2012 |
 |
RTL7 | 17 April 2012 |
  |
Fox | 9 October 2009 |
 |
Action X |
References
- ↑ Matthew Gilbert (2008-10-09). "Time warp twists a police procedural". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ↑ Alessandra Stanley (2008-10-08). "Imports Suffering Identity Problems". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ↑ Dorothy Rabinowitz (2008-10-31). "Out in the Past". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ↑ Deans, Jason (2006-03-28). "Life on Mars goes stateside" (Requires free registration). Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-03-28.
- ↑ Steinberg, Jacques; Elliott, Stuart (2008-05-13). "ABC Fall Roster Is Heavy on the Already Proven". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- ↑ "Life on Mars — Fall Schedule". ABC.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ↑ "Hollywood Productions Moving East". IMDb News. 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ↑ "Life on Mars remake changes Tyler's story". Digital Spy. 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ↑ Schneider, Michael (2008-05-13). "ABC announces fall schedule". Variety. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- ↑ "Global's Fall Schedule: Spies, Time-Travel and Spoiled Teens". Dose.ca. Archived from the original on 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ↑ Kevin McDonough (United Media) (2009-01-28). "TUNE IN TONIGHT: 'Mars' hopes to survive the New York competition". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
- ↑ "Life on Mars canceled". TV Series Finale. Archived from the original on 2009-03-05. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
- ↑ Tyler's rank is stated by a jealous Ray Carling in Episode 1.
- ↑ Jersild, Sarah (March 25, 2009). "Life on Mars: Friend or figment?". Retrieved 2009-03-30.
- ↑ "Ashes Exclusive". SFX Magazine. 2010-05-22. Archived from the original on 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
- ↑ Cf. line "Out here in the fields" from song "Baba O'Riley".
- ↑ Cf. phrase "My Dad is bigger than your Dad" used by boys.
- ↑ Cf. song "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?".
- ↑ Cf. song "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead".
- ↑ Cf. song "Tuesday's Dead".
- ↑ Cf. song "The Man Who Sold the World".
- ↑ Cf. album "The Dark Side of the Moon".
- ↑ Cf. line "Let all the children boogie" from song "Starman".
- ↑ Cf. expression "Home is where you hang your hat".
- ↑ Cf. book "Coffee, Tea or Me?".
- ↑ Cf. song "All the Young Dudes".
- ↑ Cf. line "Everyone knows it's Windy" from song "Windy".
- ↑ Cf. song "Life Is a Rock".
External links
- Life on Mars on IMDb
- Life on Mars at TV.com