Life On Mars returns to ABC tonight.

[laststeamtrain]

The best of the quirky-emotionally ill-vaguely metaphysical-paranormal-detective-cop shows in the post-Monk era.

The music is great.

Give it a try.

[dbonds]

1. Post-Monk? Monk is still going strong.

But yes, it is a good show with a good music.

[laststeamtrain]

3. I meant, in the wake of Monk, there's been a few knock-offs...

with similar formulas.

The Mentalist, 11th Hour, etc.

The only one I like is Life On Mars.

I don't like Monk that much. But it's spawned these other shows.

I guess Monk is still going. I haven't seen it in awhile.

:hi:

[Ex Lurker]

5. it's okay, but as an homage to seventies cop shows,

the Beastie Boys did it better with "Sabotage."

[aquart]

2. I like it even better than the British version, actually.

[laststeamtrain]

4. That's interesting.

It seems so set in mid '70s NYC the Brit. version must be very different.

:hi:

[aquart]

8. Very.

Remember, the principle difference is the Brits limit a series to say, six episodes a season. The show was basically what we call a miniseries. It had a definite, if GRIM, ending. When they retooled for America, they had to write for a multi-season, 13-22 episode lifespan. It alters the tone immediately.

[MaineDem]

6. I loved the British version

I can't seem to get into this series, though.

[truebrit71]

13. The "sequel" Ashes to Ashes premieres this Saturday fyi...

...DCI Gene Hunt is back!!!

I too couldn't get into the US version, maybe because I didn't move to the States until 1982...

[MaineDem]

14. I saw that advertised. I can't wait.

Thanks for the reminder.

[semillama]

7. First time I've seen it.

and it hooked me. What a satisfying show!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Oh no, I forgot that it was on tonight (1/29)

What happened in this episode?

[laststeamtrain]

10. As it turned out I missed it too.

The good news is ABC is rerunning the episode tonight (1/31) at 10.

I hope we both get a chance to see it.

:hi:

[EraOfResponsibility]

11. God I love that show

you really feel like you're in the seventies when you watch it. It's good stuff.

[a kennedy]

12. Like it.....love whats his name.....ah, oh shoot....gotta go look for his name....

Harvey Keitel, yeah, that's it. Love him.

[semillama]

15. Too bad ABC just cancelled the series.

http://www.mania.com/abc-cancels-mars_article_113450.html

"After dropping the genre aspect of going back in time and focusing more on the "NYPD Blue" aspect of it, ABC has decided to cancel their new series "Life on Mars", which has been following after "Lost" every Wednesday. In an unusual move, the network will keep the show on the air through the end of its full run to give the series a rare opportunity to sign off with a proper finale, wrapping up the series' core mystery.

Like "Eli Stone", network insiders said they were fans of the show and pleased with its creative chops -- but that the ratings ultimately didn't warrant the series continuing. The most recent episode of "Life on Mars" averaged just a 2.0 rating/5 share among adults 18-49, as well as 5.5 million viewers.

Five more episodes of "Life on Mars" remain out of the series' 17-episode order. As previously announced, the show's Wednesday 10 p.m. slot will go to newcomer "The Unusuals" in April."

[bikebloke]

16. For people who watch TV-on-DVD

The UK version will be released on DVD on 28 July. It's not listed on Netflix yet.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Life-Mars-Series-1/11423

[4lbs]

17. Life on Mars had it's Series Finale last night.

It was pretty decent and made some nice "current event" mentions.








***** SPOILER ALERT *****

(IGNORE AND SCROLL PAST THE BELOW TEXT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FINALE)














It turns out that the whole thing was a cryogenic dream sequence on the first manned mission to Mars. It was the year 2035 and Sam Tyler was one of the astronauts on this mission where he was supposed to "dream" he was a police officer in the year 2008. However, an electronic glitch due to a meteor storm had him transported all the way back to 1973. The apartment 2B is actually the number of his cryo capsule, and the sultry female neighbor Windy is actually the mission computer (think a female version of H.A.L.).

The police chief character, Gene Hunt, in 1973 is actually Sam Tyler's father, on the mission with him. There was a mention made that they would be heroes if they could find some genetic material and one of the other astronauts mentioned that they'll find some on this "gene hunt".

They also made mention of President Obama wanting to be there to greet them when they awoke, but **> SHE <** and her sister needed to be with their sick father. That's when I realized they were talking about the older Obama daughter, Malia, being US President in 2035 and the father is our current POTUS, Barack Obama.



*****************************************************

[Onceuponalife]

18. Just saw the finale

:wtf:

You forgot to mention Harvey Keitel's character is named "Major Tom" which is too hilarious for words. Also, Annie is a colonel and the commander of the mission. Plus I don't remember seeing Lisa Bonet but she was listed as a guest star. What's up with that?

I don't know about you but that ending wasn't really doing it for me. Talk about jumping the shark! It was way too far out. But I give myself props for guessing a long time ago that Sam was the only one who could see Windy.