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Originally posted: August 6, 2008
'Life on Mars' begins production
Posted at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, from Nebraska
After losing executive producer David E. Kelley, ditching the original pilot and purging the entire cast save series lead Jason O’Mara (left), ABC issued a release Tuesday saying production finally has started on its fall drama “Life on Mars.”
The show, a new version of the excellent British drama about a modern cop who is transported to 1973, is set to debut at 9 p.m. Oct. 9.
The show’s latest exec producers—Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec and Scott Rosenberg, had better get to work. They have a lot of catching up to do to meet that deadline—and from the sounds of it, the show’s new direction is problematic.
The main plot of “Life on Mars” has O’Mara playing NYPD Det. Sam Tyler, who wakes up in 1973 after being hit by a car in 2008. Harvey Keitel plays his head-bashing boss, Lt. Gene Hunt, and Michael Imperioli stars as Det. Ray Carling. Gretchen Mol is Annie Norris, a member of the Police Women’s Bureau.
That all sounds similar to the British version, but the ABC release then offer this side story that’s a bit concerning: “In his 2008 life, Sam was in love with Maya Daniels (Lisa Bonet) and, although Maya and Annie will never meet, Annie’s workplace battles have paved the way for Maya to become a full-fledged cop. A fascinating, unique love triangle evolves between Sam’s ‘real’ in-the-moment friendship with Annie, his longing to get back to Maya and the fantasy of what could be.”
Gag. It sounds like the new producers, the team that brought the canceled soap “October Road” to TV, are injecting some heavy melodrama into this already tested premise. And sadly, I’m not looking forward to "Life on Mars" nearly as much.
Tribune critic Maureen Ryan thinks the new direction for “Life on Mars” sounds similar to another failed show, “Journeyman.” Read her wonderfully scathing The Watcher.
in 2008-09 TV Schedule, Broadcast networks, Drama | Permalink
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Comments
I agree with your assessment of the romantic subplot addition, Curt.
Barring some really glowing reviews, I think I'll stick with watching the original series on DVD when Netflix finally gets it.
Curt's reply: That might be best, L.
Posted by: Laura | Aug 12, 2008 9:59:48 AM