TV shows on DVD
   

Life on Mars (US)

Life on Mars on ABCNetwork: ABC
Episodes: 17 (hour)
Seasons: One

TV show dates: October 9, 2008 – April 1, 2009
Series status: Cancelled/ended.

Performers include: Jason O’Mara, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, Harvey Keitel, Jonathan Murphy, Dominick Mancino, John Cenatiempo, Chris Miskiewicz, Tom Stratford, Lisa Bonet, Matthew Cowles, and Tanya Fischer.

TV show description: Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) is a modern-day detective for the NYPD’s 125th precinct. He lives with his girlfriend, Detective Maya Daniels (Lisa Bonet), who is kidnapped by a serial killer they’ve been investigating. Soonafter, while chasing a criminal, Tyler is hit and knocked unconscious by a speeding car. When he wakes up, Tyler finds that he’s been transported back to 1973.

Confused, Tyler makes his way back to his precinct building where he finds that the surrounding and attitudes are very different. Strangely, everyone at the precinct has been expecting him, thinking that he’s a transfer from Hyde Park.

Sam immediately clashes with his new boss, the irascible Lieutenant Gene Hunt (Harvey Keitel), a man who would rather use his fists than his brains to solve a crime. Eventually, the two begrudgingly become a powerful team — whether they like it or not.

Which version of Mars is better?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  

The other squad members are a unique group. Detective Ray Carling (Michael Imperioli) is a sexist tough-guy, Hunt’s former right-hand man, and a handy guy to have in your corner. Police Women’s Bureau member Annie Norris (Gretchen Mol) is often the smartest person in the room but she’s relegated to menial tasks because of her sex. Tyler often defends her and the two develop a relationship. Rookie Detective Chris Skelton (Jonathan Murphy) is a sweet guy trying to make it in this uncompromising world. He likes Tyler’s modern thinking and begins to emulate it.

When he first arrives at the precinct, confused Tyler demands to know why his computer, desk and chair are missing. The detectives wonder if Tyler has a unique way of establishing authority, is a science fiction fanatic, or both. Once things quiet down, the police delve into a case that strongly resembles the one that Tyler was investigating before his apparent time travel.

Tyler continually tries to figure out what’s happened to him and receives various subliminal messages through televisions, phones, and various hallucinations. Can he find a way to return home, in time to help his girlfriend in peril? Is he in a coma, insane, or a true time traveler?

The series is based on a UK show of the same name that ran for two seasons.
space

Series Finale

The show has been cancelled.

space

What happened next?

There are currently no plans to revive or remake the series.

space

Image courtesy ABC.

More about:

 

Newer and/or Related Articles

{ 107 comments… read them below or add one }

Karl Hildebrand July 31, 2011 at 4:13 pm

This was a great show, the situations, the actors, the stories were much better than most TV fare. It make you wonder why the junk shows go on season after season and something like this gets canceled? I loved this show and wish they could bring it back with all the actors onboard.

Reply

Jeff Burkhart October 28, 2011 at 4:27 pm

I enjoyed the show from the start and couldn’t believe it wasn’t going to have a second season. I have just come across the series at the public library and have a few people hooked on it. They are mainly people from 1960-1980 that have a memory of 1973 and that’s what made the show great for me. Hippies, big knotted ties, leisure suits, etc. We also have the chance to compare how life was in 1973 vs. today. “Have anyone seen my cell phone?” “Why are you trying to sell phones?”

Reply

Leave a Comment

Note: This post is over 3 years old. You may want to check later in this blog to see if there is new information relevant to your comment.