The U.S. version of “Life on Mars” has won at least one fan–the creator of the original British version.
Ashley Pharoah said he liked that the U.S. version has picked up on the “gritty” nature of the original and that he thinks the U.S. version is “marvelous.”
The U.S. version was recently picked up for a full season and will move to Wednesdays at 10 p.m. after “Lost.”
Pharoah said that he understands that the U.S. version was likely to take a different direction from the British version. For one thing, the U.K. “Life on Mars” ran for a planned 16 episodes, while the ABC version could have a first season of 22 episodes and could have many more if it’s picked up for further seasons.
“They’re changing the mythology, which I think is all right,” Pharoah said. “It has to be different. Otherwise everyone just goes on YouTube and sees how it ends.”
It’s widely speculated that the U.S. show will also have a different explanation for the central character’s dilemma: He’s a 21st-century cop who mysteriously finds himself transported back to the 1970s.
I love the American version of Life on Mars.
My wife will be happy, fo’ sho.
Still upset about Journeyman.
I’m sure it’s a great show, but I won’t watch it. Why? it’s a David Kelley production, and to quote our outgoing President, fool me, you can’t get fooled again.” It’s going to be just like The Practice, and Ally McBeal, and Boston Public. A great first season, then about four episodes into season 2 it is going to tank in quality so damn fast it’ll make your stomach, and I don’t like having my favorite TV shows break my heart like that.
Except that David Kelley left the production after the pilot was shot and the new producers completely revamped the show and shot a new pilot. I agree with your views on David Kelley, but this isn’t one of his shows anymore, really never was.