Join Scott & Tom as they break down this week’s pilot: Life on Mars.
Life on Mars is a 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 & Television, 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios.
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For me the biggest and yet most subtle change that helped to make the US version a miss and not a hit, was the Sam/Gene dynamic.
In the original series, Gene Hunt is basically a caveman. He represents the “old” way of doing police business. Brutal and rough with a near constant threat of violence. Offset by Sam Tyler, who is not physically threatening, he has to use his brains. He is the future. It was the classic brawn versus brains dynamic. By casting Harvey Keitel they broke this dynamic. You don’t feel that Gene could pull Sam’s head from his shoulders. Gene doesn’t present that physical presence.
The second thing I didn’t like was that the US version didn’t have the right feel. While it looked like the 70’s, it didn’t really have that 70’s cop show feel. That was what made the UK version special. It wasn’t a real representation of the 70’s, it was the 70’s as seen through a television lens. The US show would have had to have been much campier, but that would have helped sell the idea that this just might be all in Sam’s head.
While I liked the show, and this was just the start of the disappointments with this show, I do think this was not the right group to bring this show to the States.
I am still in shock that Tom hasn’t seen the entire UK run of “Life on Mars” and that he hadn’t seen “Ashes to Ashes.”
Great podcast by the way, it has been added to my rotation.
The UK version IS better…..but for the purposes of this podcast, the one you picked to talk about is ideal. This is what Autopilot should be about, whenever possible
Scott did you say Johnny Depp is American??
The US one was the better one, and the best ending.
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Why don’t you give us a heads-up when you review a pilot that’s not on Netflix? At least show in the notes that you’re reviewing the unaired pilot.