ABC cancels Life on Mars

[johnnystorm]

This truly sucks- I was really liking the show. As usual, if they hadn't taken it off the air for two months then moved it around, it might have had a chance. At least they will film an ending for it. Make a nice DVD package, huh?


"LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – ABC's "Life on Mars" won't return for a second season.

The network has decided not to renew the time-travel series, which stars Jason O'Mara as 2008 Detective Sam Tyler working as a cop in 1973 New York.

The show will complete its 17-episode freshman-season order with an episode written as a series finale, wrapping the loose story ends, explaining how Tyler was transported back in time and perhaps bringing him back to his own time.

Filmed in New York, the series boasts one of the strongest acting ensembles on TV with O'Mara, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli and Gretchen Mol.

"Mars" enjoyed strong support from ABC brass and ran in some of the network's premiere schedule slots -- Thursday 10 p.m., after "Grey's Anatomy," and Wednesday 10 p.m., after "Lost."

Still, the show, based on the British series of the same name, didn't click with viewers.

With its serialized nature, many considered "Life" to be better suited as a limited series, the way it aired in the U.K."

[The Toyroom]

Sonofa....! How come EVERY freakin' time I get interested in one of these serialized dramas, they get yanked?! 2nd time this year ABC has done this to me (Pushing Daisies)...They need to give these kind of shows a chance because once Lost is gone after next year, they're going to have a big gapping hole to fill.

[Mikey]

It kind of figures they would cancel it.

My guess is a cable channel will buy it and make more seasons.

[garagesale]

I'm just getting into it... I just finished episode 10. It's really, really good. Amazing, in fact. Harvey Keitel is just WOW! Shame on ABC, but I'm glad they're at least wrapping it up. Maybe it's for the best. I just think about really terrific shows like The 4400 that went on WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too long and began to suck. Still, Life on Mars could have been good for a little while, maybe 3-5 seasons.

JamesD

[Mikey]

The problem with ending a show after only 1 season is it totally kills it's syndication value.

1 season show's syndication value is basically 0

[palitoy]

Aggggghhhhhh!

At least they're wrapping it up, I can live with that.

[ScottA]

This blows. One of the few shows I actually make an effort to watch. The 2 months it was gone certainly didn't help it. But like everyone has said, at least we get an ending.

[johnnystorm]

I think they went into the nanobot stuff etc too heavy as well. To me show worked best as a '70s period piece, the music and such. Sometimes the time travel got in the way of that, for instance the TVs always showing current stuff to Sam. If they had got to Season Two I think a good point would have been to explain how Sam got to 1973, say he's stuck there, and just go with guy from the future knows stuff is gonna happen, but 99% of the show is '70s cops.
At least they wised up and dumped the girlfriend in the future stuff, but that leaves the question as to why Sam wants to go home. Me, I'd a stayed there, kept my mouth shut, bought a lot of toys, invested in Microsoft, and boinked Gretchen Mol.

[spotter]

IF you habe'nt seen John Simm in the Uk version Add it to your Netflix it is really a good show; BBC has a spinoff series too about Gene which I haven't seen yet but I am waiting for

[megoscott]

Too bad, but I'm not surprised...The art direction was gorgeous, and what a great cast. Keitel and Imperioli, who looked so good in the 70's...But it was a very uneven show, the characters didn't make a lot of sense. The time travel mystery was never really dealt with--these bizarre things would happen and the lead character wouldn't really pursue them. In general everything was too contrived. This is the kind of show HBO or Fox Cable might have done a better job with. The network drama is dead. Too expensive and too conservative to do anything great with. LOST will be the last great serialized drama for awhile I bet.

[Marvelmania]

Disappoiunting news! One of the few shows I enjoy. While it will be good to see an ending I'd much rather it come after 3-4 more seasons. The cast, music and all things 70s were great!

[aquatroy]

IF you habe'nt seen John Simm in the Uk version Add it to your Netflix it is really a good show; BBC has a spinoff series too about Gene which I haven't seen yet but I am waiting for

The original BBC production is a lot of fun! Thanks for the tip on the Gene Hunt spinoff. I'll have to look that up.

YouTube - Gene Hunt - Male Bonding - Life On Mars

[toys2cool]

That sucks

[johnnystorm]

The original BBC production is a lot of fun! Thanks for the tip on the Gene Hunt spinoff. I'll have to look that up.

YouTube - Gene Hunt - Male Bonding - Life On Mars

The Gene Hunt sequel series ASHES TO ASHES starts this Saturday night on BBC America.

[Mikey]

The only problem with BBC America is they commercials like every 4 minutes .. and they're always the same ones over and over and over.

BBC America is really annoying