A Glimpse of Life on Mars

20-May-08 4:33 PM by
Filed under Television; 3 comments.

I've been eager for developing news on the American TV series Life on Mars ever since it was first announced more than a year ago. Based on the British series of the same name, this local adaptation similarly tells the tale of a modern-day detective involved in a car accident who wakes up to find himself 30 years in the past. He must acclimate to the technology and procedures of that era's police force, all while questioning his sanity and the reality of his circumstances.

Finally, a trailer for this ABC series has surfaced, along with confirmation of it airing Thursdays at 10 PM this fall:

I'm a bit surprised by the casting — I'd been led to believe that Colm Meaney would have the lead role, which the Trekkie in me was eager to see. But I find the casting of Jason O'Mara (also an Irish actor) more believable, though that's based only on this brief preview, as I've not seen any of his other work.

It also seems odd that this trailer suggests an almost comedic element. A time-travelling cop hunting down a serial killer sounds like the Dennis Quaid movie Frequency, which had a certain element of incredulity and wonder to it, but humor was not its overarching theme.

As I don't have TV service, I missed the similar show Journeyman and will have to catch it upon its eventual DVD release. Life on Mars will probably come to me via a similar route, a year after everyone else has enjoyed its premiere. If my hopes prove true, it will be worth the wait.

(Hat tips to TrekToday and Den of Geek)

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3 Responses to “A Glimpse of Life on Mars”

  1. Ken Gagne adds:
    16-Oct-08 10:34 AM

    This show debuted last week, but apparently the above trailer is from a scrapped pilot. The only actor to survive the transition to the aired pilot is star Jason O'Mara. Colm Meaney — the whole reason this show popped up on my radar in the first place — is not in the show after all.

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  2. Ken Gagne adds:
    04-Mar-09 11:29 AM

    ComingSoon.net reports:

    ABC has decided to end "Life on Mars" after a single year — but in an unusual move, the network will keep the show on the air through the end of its full run, reports Variety.

    That will give the series a rare opportunity to sign off with a proper finale, wrapping up the series' core mystery.

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  3. Ken Gagne adds:
    14-Mar-09 10:37 AM

    Look for the complete series on DVD on September 29th, reports TVShowsonDVD.com — or get the first season of the original British series on DVD on July 28th.

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