Once upon a time, there was this television show about a cop from our time who got hit by a car and woke up 35 years earlier. It was called Life on Mars, and it was British. It kind of rocked, so the studio suits in the US imported it. But there's apparently a law that people with British accents on American TV can only be 1) sneering villains, 2) foppish period-piece gents, or 3) comic relief. I think it was decided right around the time of the Boston Tea Party -- we shan't pay their tea tax, and all TV shows will have American-accented leads, even if they're British or Irish or Australian or Danish! Isn't that what we fought a revolution for?

This spoiler is more fun than marbles!

So here we are, in New York instead of Manchester, England, watching the tribulations of a buff and beefy Sam Tyler who's in love with an African-American woman named Maya instead of the trails of a reedier, more cerebral Sam Tyler who's in love with a British-born Indian woman named Maya.

The story is the same -- almost word for word in some places, much like The Office when it first made the jump to US TV. Sam and Maya are tracking potential serial killer Colin Raimes, and simultaneously fighting over their relationship. Colin is released and Maya follows him in hopes of catching him slipping up. She goes missing, and, just like the other women Raimes has killed, her bloody shirt is found in the park. A distraught Sam races over to Raimes' apartment, and he's hit by a speeding car. When he wakes up, it's 1973 and he's confused out of his mind.

Sam heads over to his police precinct, where he's greeted with cops from the bad old days -- they drink, they smoke, they beat up witnesses and potential suspects alike, and they have no idea how police work is supposed to be done. Fingerprints take a week or more to be analyzed, criminal profiling is unheard of, and lady cops are there to comfort crying children and maybe make coffee.

Sam insists that  this 1973 thing is all in his head-- an opinion that is bolstered when a professor on television starts looking straight at Sam and explaining to someone that Sam is in a coma. Annie, a policewoman -- known around the squad room as "No-Nuts" Norris -- gets to shepherd Sam around, and hears all about his from-the-future rant. She doesn't buy it. Who would?

The other cops in the precinct are officially unimpressed with Sam -- Detective Ray Carling thinks he's a nutball, and Lieutenant Gene Hunt just wants Sam to stay out of his way and stop nattering on about warrants and rights and not beating people up. Sam is just as dismissive of them -- what could these Neanderthals possibly be good for? Well, for one thing, Gene can charm the pants off little old ladies, plying one witness with coffee and pastries until she spilled the information that solves their case -- which, by the way, is identical to the one Sam was investigating in 2008. Same serial-killer M.O., same mysterious substance under the fingernails, same treatment of the victim. But Colin, the killer in 2008, was just a kid in 1973. He couldn't have done it -- but Willy Kramer, his downstairs neighbor, could. Gene and Sam find his latest kidnapped victim, but Willie knocks Gene out and does a runner. Sam eventually corners him, and Willie pulls a gun on Sam. When Will says "It's the way back," Sam gets all perky. He presses the gun into his chest and asks Willy to shoot him. Before that can happen, Gene tackles Willy. Ray is impressed by Sam's insanity, and it looks like he's part of the family now.

That night, Sam takes a gun  over to Coin Raimes' building. He's going to stop this killer before he starts -- actually, before he hits puberty. But before he can pull the trigger, Maya’s voice comes on the radio -- I'm safe, Sam, she says. Come home. If only Sam could figure out how...

Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends

• It's always hard to judge the remake of a show I liked, especially when the script for the tow versions were so similar. I'm looking forward to seeing how this version diverges from the British original. If it's just the same plot with slightly different references... well, why bother?
• There are differences, however. Take Gene Hunt.  I thought the original casting for Gene -- Colm Meaney -- was a great idea. On reflection, he's just too similar -- in face, build, voice, everything -- to Philip Glenister, who played Gene in the original. Harvey Keitel is a great choice for Gene -- he makes the role his own, and brings a manic New-Yorkness to it that makes all the difference.
• A representative line for gene, when Sam asks him what year it is: "It's 1973, or , as our Chinese brethren like to call it, the year of the fist." Wham!
• I love John Simm (the original British Sam), but I'm really digging Jason O'Mara's take. He seems a bit more physical, and fits into his surroundings a bit better, which gives the show a different vibe. The bit at the end where he's talking to young Colin about why fear is good --  it keeps us honest, keeps us good, keeps us sane -- is heartbreaking.
• Much of the fun of the show is seeing Sam's reactions to the past. Take this, when he and Annie go into a record shop: "I bought my first Hall and Oates alb.. uh, my first Led Zeppelin album here! What you see here, all of this, vinyl albums? They all become obsolete. Replaced with CDs and digital music you listen to on MP3 players this big. And the sounds is, um, well, it's much worse. I'll have to find a way to take all this back with me."
• It must be said -- the soundtrack absolutely rocks. I predict many an iTunes search after each episode airs – even if the music really does sound better on vinyl.
• At one point, Sam says he's going to walk the streets to snap himself out of his time-travel hallucination. He theorizes that at some point, his mind will run out of things to show him. "There are only so many details my mind can create..." But thanks to the production designers, costumers, car-wranglers -- really, everyone  -- those details never run out.
• The World Trade Center is the official visual shorthand for New York Long Ago. Whenever we see those two towers standing upright, we know it's the past. I wonder when seeing them will stop being a visceral sort of shock to the system?

What did you think? Did you spend the hour comparing this show with it's British progenitor, or could you not care less what those wacky limeys put on TV? Does 1973 ring true to you? Will you keep watching? Talk!

Comments

I really enjoyed Life on Mars, I never seen the British version, so I can't compare it, but I really enjoyed seeing Sam's views of 1973, I loved when he seen the twin towers, and it just blew him away. Good show, I will be watching.

Nancy | Oct 10, 2008 3:55:43 AM | #

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I watched the pilot episode expecting to not like it as the ads of the 1973 cops creeped me out, but once "Willy" by Sweet started playing I knew I was hooked. It balanced out the gut reaction of "perv" when I see the 70s garb. I guess it's been too soon since all of those ads for "Swingtown" were aired. I did love the actor and the current day counterparts, and Sam is most definitely easy on the eyes. I thought he was much hotter in current day, but it didn't take long for me to appreciate the cords and 70s outfit. (And by the way, CORDS aren't back in style, are they?)

Kim | Oct 10, 2008 5:08:15 AM | #

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If I hadn't seen the original, I'd love this show. But I feel like once they break new ground and make different crimes, this can be a winner. The main problem is that this show wants to run for more than 16 episodes (which is how many the original had), and quite frankly, I don't see how that is possible. I mean any ending other than the original won't be poignant, and if the original ending is still intended, then they can't keep going for several seasons. The British tried to cash in on the original's success by making the sequel 'Ashes to Ashes' which is one of the most awful shows I've seen, so keeping this short might be a good call.

| Oct 10, 2008 6:29:36 AM | #

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Good, but with reservations. Harvey Keitel has become a cliche. I hope this show does not become what "Mad Men" has become: misogynistic. Give the gals a little credit. But the music is great. Record store scene was the best.

jfms777 | Oct 10, 2008 6:50:41 AM | #

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I thought this was a terrific show! I never saw the original British so nothing to compare. When Sam first went back to '73 and was amazed by the World Trade Center towers, it shocked me, too. Everything gritty about the police station, the hippies on the street, Harvey and Imperioli were awesome. I especially loved the tunes though! Life on Mars will definitely be one of my shows now.

Ally | Oct 10, 2008 7:44:28 AM | #

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The one thing I KNEW would happen was that he would see the Twin Towers and I was glad it was close to the beginning so I didn't have to keep waiting for it. It was a bit cliche' but it worked.

I THINK I like this show; I've never seen the other one so have nothing to compare it to so I hope NOBODY GIVES AWAY THE ENDING HERE!

I lived through the 70s and hated them, so it's surprising to me that I loved Swingtown and that I like this show.

I hope it stays interesting but I'm a little confused about whether or not the Raims story will drive everything.

We'll see next week I imagine. ;)

Jan | Oct 10, 2008 7:53:38 AM | #

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I'm with Jan on this one.

It seems nice and mysterious enough (though NBC's "Journeyman" did it better) with the "is he in an alternate world, the past, or in his own dillusion" bit jumping around.

I also haven't seen the original, so I'm just happy to see an old rough-edge cop show make it back on TV.

pakopako | Oct 10, 2008 8:47:01 AM | #

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I still need to see the end of the second series. Sigh. It was very good.

Francesca | Oct 10, 2008 9:00:07 AM | #

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I really enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. I will definitely tune in again!
Love the music, styles and images from 73!

Jana | Oct 10, 2008 9:01:16 AM | #

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I loved the orignal series, and hated the first pilot, but I thought they did a very good job with this one. Amazing what happens to the same source material in different hands, isn't it?
Count me in as another of those who hopes that they don't spend too much time "remaking" the first series. However, I understand from reading interviews with the writers/producers, that they are aware of the fact that they needed to take a somewhat different direction to sustain the show past the 16 episodes of the BBC series. So, I don't think that we have to worry about "that" ending. Sam's story is going to take some different paths.

znachki | Oct 10, 2008 9:13:53 AM | #

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Not bad, but I do not anticipate becoming a regular fan. Mainly, Mars just made me think about how much I would enjoy watching Journeyman Season 2, but alas.

I do not like Lisa Bonet and did not like her here. But Gretchen Mol was a pleasant surprise, just the right blend of warmth and humor.

Mr. Keitel is great in everything he does, but the whole cop thing was way too black and white: 1973 cops were not generally that bad, and guess what? Some of that stuff still goes on today. That was just the worst example of stereotypes in this episode. If they used any more 1973 trivia, memorabilia, or cliches, they would have needed a backhoe.

Gregory | Oct 10, 2008 9:14:51 AM | #

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Yes!!! I was a big fan of the original 16 episode series. (But it really had to be regarded as an extended mini-series. Perfect in its way!)
I was concerned that we would do another marred translation.
But I was both pleased & relieved last night! I agree with each of your major points, Sarah! I'm a fan of Colm & had been disappointed
that he wasn't going to do the important role of Gene - but Keitel brings something important & NYish to the role. And I LOVE having it in NYC in the 70's. It does make it more ours than the original series. Kojak on the TV screen & the WTC & our music & all the local reminders good & bad from those days had a visceral impact that the wonderful original series never quite had for me.

Jaye | Oct 10, 2008 9:51:49 AM | #

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Loved the show. I especially loved the music and found myself singing right along with "Willy".

I've only seen one episode of the original British version and I liked what I saw. Might have to rent from Netflix.

I love seeing Harvey Keitel in the show. He's such a good actor. And having Michael Imperioli, good old Christafuh in the show is wonderful, too.

baltimore cat lady | Oct 10, 2008 9:59:48 AM | #

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Initially, I was very skeptical about the US version because I heard about all the changes behind the scenes. I was pleasantly surprised by this new pilot, and I loved the soundtrack. I have watched the original BBC version, and I have to say that it's too soon to tell if the US version is as good.

GREGORY: I have to agree with you that Lisa Bonet seemed miscast as Sam's present day partner. She didn't come off as a tough female cop, nor did I see much romantic chemistry between her and Sam. On the other hand, I did like the actress playing Annie. She was cute, smart and compassionate, just like her British counterpart in the original series. :-)

I thought I would have a problem with Keitel and Imperioli, but I think they fit in great. I also noticed the attention to details, like the clothes and cars of the era. I even noticed the license plate of the car that hit him in 2008 read "HYDE", so I'm not sure if that's a clue or just a nod to the original Sam Tyler, who was from Hyde, Manchester England.

I will definitely keep watching, since this has been the best new show so far. This pilot was better than The Mentalist and way better than the over-hyped Fringe! I liked this better than Swingtown and Mad Men. However, I agree with PAKOPAKO, that NBC's Journeyman was a more interesting take on time travel (or is he dreaming?). I would give this show a B+ so far.

Paige | Oct 10, 2008 10:30:19 AM | #

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I'm at a disadvantage:
I've seen the orignal series,
and the original pilot set in L.A.
and now is set in N.Y.
same material, different actors
I'll wait to see what happens,
so I can put my .02 cents
but to me...(to me only)
it felt like seeing a rerun,
and I was watching distracted
flipping between this show and
the 11th hour, another BBC
series, reimagine for the US market.
which of course I've seen so
I knew what was happening,
on both shows.

TV-Viewer | Oct 10, 2008 10:44:49 AM | #

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I really enjoyed it.

I've seen and enjoyed the original and it didn't bother me to see this version. In fact, this one has the feel of those old cop shows that I used watch when growing up. The vibe is different and the action will certainly be more different than the British one. It's very New York.

Tania | Oct 10, 2008 11:53:02 AM | #

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This was probably the best premiere episode of any new show this season, at least of the ones I've actually seen. It jumped right in, which is what shows like this need. Character development and overlong explanations can come a few episodes down the road; for now, let's get to the meat, and the premiere did just that.

About the show being possibly "misogynistic"...well, duh, the show is set in 1973, where misogyny was as part of the scene in New York as crime and the Yankees. Regardless of how ugly it was, it was part of the fabric of the time (the same as is depicted in Mad Men), and all the political correctness on the planet can't change the nastier parts of American history. Now what will annoy me is if misogyny becomes almost a character in and of itself. A few references to a female cop's gams every once in awhile will be fine for a show like this--every five minutes will make me want to turn over to watch the horrendously dreadful Eleventh Hour.

The music! God, how I miss really, really good music, which was everywhere, from Motown to the Deep South. Not like now, where it's more prepackaged and fake than most kids' cereals. Give me gritty, sometimes-twanged-guitar-stringed-messy Rolling Stones over some plastic Britney Spears crap any day. And I too sang along with "Willy" while the foot chase was going on. I was only four in 1973 as well, but damn did that bring back some fine, fine memories.

So I'm hooked, and since I've never seen the original series, I won't be bringing any preconceived expectations of how they're going to end it. Oh, and the Twin Towers? Well done, but it still sent a shudder down my spine. You'd think seven years would have healed the wounds but...

Revenant | Oct 10, 2008 12:18:52 PM | #

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I thought "Life on Mars" was amazing. It did not disappoint at all.

The image of the World Trade Center was very respectful and was not a tacky stunt. I am glad that they did not brush off 9/11, because we feel Sam's heart break all over again and not have him mention what happened, it would have been a turn off.

I thought having him still having sort of a "connection" to 2008 is through his television.

Glad that Lisa Bonet is just guest starring and not a cast member.

The cast is wonderful.

Very impressed that the closed captioning included the title of the song and the identity of the band or the singer that sang that song.

I am glad that there is some humor like when Michael Imperoli's character is brushing of the cigarette ashes off the blanket covering the corpse, Gene Hunt pouring liquor into that woman's coffee to get her answer their questions, and that he has to share a bathroom with his neighbors. Gross!

Carly | Oct 10, 2008 12:41:26 PM | #

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What a great show! I watched it again today on ABC.com and enjoyed it even more the second time around. I'm older and come from a police/detective family so I know for a fact that this show nails all of it from that era.

DaisyRose | Oct 10, 2008 2:14:43 PM | #

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I'M IN LOVE WITH "NO-NUTS", IS SHE SOMEHOW RELATED TO "BIG PUSSY" OF THE SOPRANOS

WHOLETRUTHY | Oct 10, 2008 6:25:59 PM | #

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All in favor of lining WHOLETRUTHY up against a wall and having Harvey Keitel hit him/her in the stomach a few dozen times after a heavy meal...or better, have Mr. Keitel take that caps lock key and shove it up his/her nose sideways?

Lilith Says Hi | Oct 10, 2008 8:47:29 PM | #

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I really liked it, not sure because of the plot or because it reminded me of the 70's, either way I'll be watching for a few shows to see how it goes.

Louisa | Oct 11, 2008 12:20:49 AM | #

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It was okay, I'm sure it will get better. I like the actor so that's why I watched.

Me | Oct 11, 2008 8:35:54 AM | #

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Yeah, I really liked this show, I will be watching--hope they give it a chance!! I really liked Sam--the part towards the end where he is gonna shoot this boy--then Mya comes on the radio & says she's ok--& to get back to her was priceless!! SO is this really happening, or is he in a coma?? Never seen the other version eiter!! Liked the 70's vibe, & LOVED THE MUSIC!!

Michele | Oct 11, 2008 8:45:29 AM | #

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Postmodern rubbish. Were the cops really that bad back in the day? Doubtful.

Thus this schtick is merely an effort to preen and show us how far we've come. An occasional bon mot like the vinyl sound dilemma will distractingly reassure us that they weren't all neandertals back then.

All the while television gets to relive its glory days when programs in prime time like Streets of San Francisco were actually watchable.

Plow this one under quickly, coz it ain't Hunky Dory.

David Bowie | Oct 11, 2008 1:37:23 PM | #

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