To no great surprise, ABC has opted not to order a second season of their Wednesday night drama, Life on Mars. The show was one of the most anticipated of the season. So, what happened? Will viewers be left hanging or will the show’s mysteries be resolved?
A remake of a UK show of the same name, Life on Mars follows Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) , a modern-day NYPD detective who’s investigating the abduction of his girlfriend (Lisa Bonet) by a serial killer. After being hit by a speeding car, Tyler wakes up in 1973. While trying to figure out what’s happened to him, he ends up becoming part of his precinct in the past. Is he in a coma, insane, or a true time traveler? The stand-out cast includes Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, Harvey Keitel, Jonathan Murphy, Dominick Mancino, John Cenatiempo, Chris Miskiewicz, Tom Stratford, Matthew Cowles, and Tanya Fischer.
The series debuted on October 9, 2008 to a solid 11.33 million viewers and a 3.8/10 rating/share in the 18-49 demographic. Unfortunately, the numbers fell significantly in the second week, to 8.22 million and a 2.5/7 — a loss of 25% of the total audience. The ratings for the next five episodes averaged just eight million, sinking to a low of 7.77 million and a 2.5/7 rating/share on November 20th.
Mars then went on a two month hiatus, which is essentially like a death sentence for any serial drama. As expected, when the series returned at the end of January, following Lost, the numbers got even worse. For the past four weeks, Mars has been averaging a terrible 5.5 million viewers, hitting a low of 4.63 million and a 1.6/4 rating/share.
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As expected, ABC has decided to cancel the series at the end of its 17 episode season. On the positive side, it’s being reported that the producers have time to make that last episode an actual series finale. Though there are many outstanding questions that need to be answered, it looks like most of them will be answered. ABC Entertainment Group President Steve McPherson told TVWeek, “We felt it was the right thing to do for the producers and the fans and creatively.”
Of course, whether ABC actually gets around to airing the episode remains to be seen. Considering that fans are still waiting to see the final episodes of Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, and Pushing Daisies, the network’s track record isn’t so good.
For now, the plan is to continue airing the series though the March sweeps period, with Mars finishing on April 1st. Let’s hope that actually happens and it isn’t some twisted April Fool’s joke from the network execs.
Image courtesy ABC.
I have not regularly watched a weekly network show since Seinfeld went off the air. I was intrested in the premise of this show and was hooked from the first episode. When watching the show I find that when a commercial comes on I feel like I’ve awoken from a trance because I’m so into trying to figure out how Sam got to 1973. I like the little clues we see in the episodes and the music/ coustumes are very 70s. I guess I’ll give the networks another 10 years to put something good on.
I agree with the ABC cancelling this show. The first episode was fantastic but since then the show has lost its edge.
I’m both surprised and terribly disappointed that ABC is canceling “Life on Mars” — I’ve been watching and enjoying it, ever since the first episode. I’m also a fan of “Gray’s Anatomy” (which has become much ‘edgier’ this season, I’m glad to see/say), and GA followed by LOM was one helluva 1-2 punch for ABC. Sadly, LOM was moved to Wednesday evenings, but I dealt with it. Now, however, I’m going to lose one of the few network shows which I regularly watch. Why do I even both with TV? Most of the time I’m online, reading a book, or… Read more »
Keep Life on Mars on the air. I can’t even convey the disappointment that I felt when I heard you were to cancel LOM. This is a show that I and my family look forward to watching each week. My 20 something kids watch the show and we discuss aspects of the show which promotes discussion, learning and togetherness.
Please keep Life on Mars on the air.
Please save Life on Mars. It is a well written, well acted creative series. Give it a chance to gain a following – PLEASE! We do not need to be force fed reality television to the point of regurgitation! Do not stifle creative script writing, fantastic acting and the brains of your viewers.
Please reconsider your cancellation. You are making a huge mistake by letting this show go off the air or to one of the pay channels.
Thank you in advance for keeping it on the air.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!! I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!! This is one of four shows that I watch on television for the week. It is a great show and I am sure if you give it time more people will watch and agree what a great show this is. Why would you cancel this show??? I am so sick of stupid reality shows and competition reality shows. This is one of the shows that I really look forward to watching. Again….another network that is only catering to the reality show watcher. If this show is cancelled I will have to stop… Read more »
ABC Hellooooooo. Ever heard of DVR’s. People DO record and watch shows when they can!!!! Please don’t cancel yet another quality show for more reality crap! LOM is great. Keep it and give it a chance.
I have just finished watching one of the last episodes of Life On Mars. As usual it was a well-written, snappy, and solid episode. The powers that be have chosen once again to cancel a show that has great potential. The fact that Showtime and HBO are looking to save Life On Mars should tell anyone with half a brain that show is not garbage. When you take a show like Life On Mars and change it’s date and time and then set it on the shelf for almost 2 months people are bound to lose interest. You did this… Read more »
This is why I am watching more IFC.. ABC needs to be renamed ADD because they have the attention span of a five year old at an opera. They have NO patience to allow a show to grow and create a following. Why do they keep repeating the same mistakes when it comes to their programming? They invest all this time and money into new shows and bag them after the first season. It just feels like it’s entertainment suicide. I really truly enjoyed watching this show (As well as Eli Stone but we know what happened to that). I’m… Read more »
The networks are reminding me of the recording industry in their failure to stay up with the times. The RIAA fought downloading songs for years instead of adapting to the world that was obviously going to download. They should have embraced it and planned a business model to offer legal downloads for a reasonable price. The networks need to realize that people frequently watch shows on their tvs–some people (odd, I know) don’t even OWN a tv anymore. They say they can watch whatever they want on the computer online. Neilson is old and not an accurate measure of how… Read more »
Why do they do this to us?? The cast of this show is great. It has cool twists and turns I never see coming. I am very sad it is being canceled. Apparently there is not enough filth on it for the network wonks. I refuse to watch so called reality tv. It seems tv is becoming more & more dedicated to mindless morons. I’ll be reduced to watching just 24 and my dvds of Monk I guess. Adios ABC!
I liked this show, but really it is good it is cancelled. It never makes sense and they never answer questions. I am going to watch it unitl the end but I am happy it’ll be over!!!!!! GREAT decision ABC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also, NO, PLEASE DON”T PICK IT UP, CABLE!!!!
What is ABC thinking of???? If ABC cancels it, I’m gone from that network. They cancel an awesome show like LOM for people with intelligence and continue to give us yet one more ridiculous reality no-brainer garbage. Do the networks think we’re all stupid?
Give LOM another season. We need a thinking show. I don’t want my brain to go into a vegetative state..
Pathetic! I am done with ABC. I will never try another new show again!!! Everytime I do, they cancel it (What about Brian!!)
ABC used to be my channel of choice. Not anymore. I now have only 3 more shows on ABC that I watch and none of them are reality shows. When they are gone, and they will be because they are good, then I will be gone. I will not even give any new ABC show a chance. I apologize to the actors and writers for that. I watched LOM in support of the October Road writers only. I actually made the decision to leave ABC a while ago because I knew they would do this again and I decided to… Read more »