Life on Mars (U.S. TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Life on Mars


caption = "Life on Mars" 's innertitle
genre = Time travel
Police procedural
creator = Original series:
Matthew Graham
Tony Jordan
Ashley Pharoah
developer = Josh Appelbaum
Andre Nemec
Scott Rosenberg
starring = Jason O'Mara
Harvey Keitel
Jonathan Murphy
Michael Imperioli Gretchen Mol
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = USA
language = English
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 1
list_episodes =
producer = 20th Century Fox Television
ABC Studios
Jane Raab
executive_producer = Josh Appelbaum
Andre Nemec
Scott Rosenberg
Jane Featherstone
Stephen Garrett
location =
camera =
runtime = 43 minutes
network = ABC
picture_format =
audio_format =
first run =
first_aired = October 9, 2008
last_aired = present
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related = "Life on Mars"
website = http://abc.go.com/primetime/lifeonmars/index?pn=index
imdb_id = 0787490
tv_com_id = 69238

"Life on Mars" is an American television series aired by ABC and co-produced by 20th Century Fox Television and ABC Studios, about a New York City homicide detective who suddenly finds himself inexplicably transported from 2008 to 1973. The series was adapted from the British series of the same name shown by the BBC.

The series debuted October 9, 2008 on ABC.cite news |url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985551?categoryId=14&cs=1 |title=ABC announces fall schedule |date=2008-05-13 |last=Schneider |first=Michael |accessdate=2008-05-13 |publisher=Variety] It will also air on Global in Canada.cite web|url=http://www.dose.ca/tv/story.html?id=d260c02b-27c1-490b-b420-699c9f9731e5|title=Global's Fall Schedule: Spies, Time-Travel and Spoiled Teens|work=Dose.ca|accessdate=2008-05-04]

Production

David E. Kelley was the initial writer and executive producer of the series pilot, cite web|last=Deans|first=Jason|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1741413,00.html|title=Life on Mars goes stateside|format=Requires free registration|publisher=Guardian Unlimited|date=2006-03-28|accessdate=2006-03-28] but later handed over the production responsibilities to others. [cite web |date= 2008-05-13 |last= Steinberg |first= Jacques |authorlink= Jacques Steinberg |coauthors= Elliott, Stuart |url= http://select.nytimes.com/mem/tnt.html?emc=tnt&tntget=2008/05/13/business/media/13adco.html&tntemail0=y |title= ABC Fall Roster Is Heavy on the Already Proven |publisher= The New York Times |accessdate= 2008-05-13] The executive producers of the show are Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg, the producers of the ABC drama "October Road". [cite web |url=http://abc.go.com/fallpreview/lifeonmars/index?pn=index |title="Life on Mars" - Fall Schedule |publisher=ABC.com |accessdate=2008-10-02]

After reviewing the pilot episode, ABC ordered the series be overhauled with a new format. As a result, there have been significant changes in cast and crew, and production has been relocated to New York "to allow producers to take advantage of recently enacted local and state tax credits for shows filmed in that state." [cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787490/news#ni0243926 |title=Hollywood Productions Moving East |publisher=IMDb News |date=2008-06-03 |accessdate=2008-10-02]

The reshoot, in addition to location change, consisted of a rewrite of the script and an overhaul of casting. In accordance with the script changes and with permission of the original creators, the "unsatisfying" ambiguity of Sam's story was removed in favor of a "mythological element" and "deeper mystery". [cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a112699/life-on-mars-remake-changes-tyler-story.html |title="Life on Mars" remake changes Tyler's story |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2008-07-19 |accessdate=2008-10-02]

Casting

Rachelle Lefèvre was originally cast as Annie Cartwright (the female lead of "the lone female detective in the department" who "forges a mystic bond with the mysterious detective and teams with him to track a serial killer"),cite news |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Cannavale in the 'M.O.N.Y. |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2007-02-02 |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3icc47e3003d27448b537ff64fd9a16b79] and Colm Meaney was cast as Gene Hunt in the original ABC pilot. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6949520.stm |title=Irish actors set for Mars remake |accessdate=2007-08-16 |date=2007-08-16 |publisher=BBC News] However, in June 2008, the two roles (Cartwright and Hunt) began recasting in accordance with an overhaul of the series. [citeweb |last=Dos Santos |first=Kristin |authorlink=Kristin Dos Santos |date=June 23, 2008 |url=http://www.eonline.com/gossip/kristin/detail/index.jsp?uuid=78ff0b91-00b9-4285-a659-40e1a8586a07 |title=Spoiler Chat: Heroes, Daisies, Gossip and More |publisher=E! Online |accessdate=2008-06-28] After revisions by the producers, Irish actor Jason O'Mara, being the only actor kept on from the original ABC pilot, is still in the lead role of Detective Sam Tyler. [cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0629/omaraj.html |title=Irish actor to star in Life on Mars in US |publisher=RTÉ News |date=29 June 2007] He is joined by Michael Imperioli, the Emmy Award-winning actor from "The Sopranos" who plays Detective Ray Carling, [cite news |last=O'Neil |first=Tom |date=July 7, 2008 |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/07/michael-imperio.html |title=Michael Imperioli boosts Emmy hopes of U.S. version of Brit hit 'Life on Mars' |publisher="Los Angeles Times" |accessdate=2008-07-07] and Harvey Keitel was cast in the role of Lieutenant Gene Hunt. [cite news |first=Matt |last=Mitovich |title=Scoop! Keitel Lands on Mars as Homicide Boss |url=http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-News-Blog/Todays-News/Harvey-Keitel-Joins/800043842 |date=2008-07-24 |publisher=TV Guide] Gretchen Mol plays Tyler's 1973 girlfriend, Annie Norris, replacing the Cartwright character. Lisa Bonet, formerly of "The Cosby Show", has been cast as Tyler's present-day love interest, Maya Daniels. [cite web |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |date=August 1, 2008 |url=http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/08/lisa-bonet-join.html |title=Exclusive: Lisa Bonet Sentenced to 'Life on Mars' |publisher="Entertainment Weekly" |accessdate=2008-08-02] Detective Chris Skelton will be played by Jonathan Murphy. [cite web |url=http://abc.go.com/primetime/lifeonmars/index?pn=about |title=About the Show |publisher=ABC Official Website]

Philip Glenister and John Simm, stars of the UK version, had been approached for lead roles in the series, but had turned them down, partly due to family commitments, and partly due to fear of becoming "a nutter in The Priory".Cite news|first=Andrew|last=Duncan|title=Phillip Glenister interview|publisher=Radio Times|date=31 March 2007]

U.S. Nielsen ratings

References

External links

* [http://abc.go.com/primetime/lifeonmars/index?pn=index Official website]
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