Screener Girl Checks Out The Series Premiere Of Life On Mars

Definitely Appointment Viewing For Me

I was worried about ABC when they said that they were doing a remake of BBC’s brilliant series Life on Mars.  For every “The Office,” there is a “Kath and Kim” (review coming soon) and “Coupling,” so the foreign to American remake isn’t a guarantee.  I worried about them even more when they lost David E Kelley as the showrunner.  My fears were slightly quelled when I spent some time with Jason O’Mara, Andre Nemec, and Josh Applebaum over the summer, but I was still worried going into the season as they went through reshoots and recastings and everything dangerous to a brand new pilot.

Having now seen the final-for-air pilot, I’m thrilled to say that I think they’re on their way to a solid hour of television (complete with same intro credits as the BBC series).  Jason O’Mara plays Sam Tyler, a man hit by a car in 2008, and transported through some wormhole into 1973.  A cop in both worlds, he’s not sure how he ended up where he is.  If Jason O’Mara doesn’t finally hit it big after this series, I will be seriously upset.  He’s fantastic.  

In 2008, Lisa Bonet is his girlfriend (and a fellow cop); he disappears to the past after she was kidnapped.  In 1973, he meets the pretty “No Nuts Norris”, Gretchen Mol’s character Annie, and I sense something a-brewing!  It’s almost like the Gene Hunt role was written with Harvey Keitel in mind.  He’s perfect as the brooding head of the squad.  Michael Imperioli is a walking 1973 cliché, complete with long shaggy hair, equally shaggy mustache, and the cheesiest euphemisms and catchphrases ever.  Awesome.  Jonathan Murphy, the show runners’ only October Road holdover, actually brings a good “sidekick” vibe to the team, and I look forward to seeing what they get him in to.