Production Begins Again on ABC's LIFE ON MARS

I honestly don`t see this being anywhere near as good as the Brit original version.

I'm with you on that, Ponyboy, just not feelin' the heat for this project; 'course it does have Lisa Bonet in it so it can't be all bad.

Wow. The only good things about the original pilot were Colm Meany as Gene Hunt, and Rachelle Lefevre as Annie. Now they're both gone. Granted, I like Mol and Keitel, too, but I don't think they amongst the many problems of the original pilot.

By and large, the original pilot stuck pretty closely to the script of the first UK episode. However, gone was smoking and drinking, and the more overt sexism that helps to define Gene Hunt. It was like "Life on Mars"-lite.

I think if done honestly, as the UK version was, an American version of the show could be interesting as the UK/US perspectives are different enough to put a new spin on things. It'd also be interesting to compare the two shows. However, I'm skeptical that this show will be allowed to be what it needs to be to faithfully carry the name "Life on Mars."

prediction for show - Cancelation with unaired episodes

The U.S. is way too P.C. to portray Gene Hunt like he is supposed to. I mean the UK version allows cursing, drinking,, etc. This won`t even be close.

A P.C. version would miss the point, of course. It would be like Abbot without Costello, Martin without Lewis, Bush without Cheney. I can't believe they'd buy the sandwich and take out the meat.

I don't have high hopes for this import. In part because of the issues cited above (US too PC, etc) and also because the original may be one of my favorite shows of all time. It will be very hard to stand in comparison to that from my perspective. Of course, I thought the US Office had no chance either, and I sure was proven wrong. I won't write this off out of hand, but I just can't imagine it holding a candle to the UK version.

I very much liked the UK version of this show. I missed the first season but caught the second when Sam finally figures what is goin on with him. It sucked that the show was only 2 seasons long though. At first the only reason I watched it cuz the guy that played Sam was the Master in a Doctor Who episode, which is also a show I like very much. He played such a good villian it was an interesting change to see him play the hero. I hope this show does well. In the time slot that it is in, ABC shouldn't have any problems with the racy and crassy tone of the show. I mean c'mon, NYPD Blue pushed the envelope for that network with the nudity and language. So I don't see how they would try to tone this show down just because its on American television. If they did, it would really do a diservice to the fans of the UK version and the UK version itself. Americans needs to get over the whole PC thing especially since the show is supposed to take place in the early 70s. Before Politically Correct was even in our vocabulary! You know how dumb and fake of a show this would be if they did that? Just my 2 cents. Late.

Ashes to Ashes is a follow-up series to Life on Mars. It aired earlier in the year in the UK.

Reminds me of that old Mars mini from the 80's. I really loved that.

"Where are the Martians?" son says.

"Look there in the water" father says, "it's us!"

At the end.