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.
IDIOTS!!!!!…the brass at ALL the networks seem to be idiots! In the past few years any unique show with smart writers and a great cast seemed to be canceled in the blink of an eye. Life on Mars, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, Men in Trees,My Own Worst Enemy, Jericho,New Amsterdam,The Riches,Boston Legal,Book of Daniel,Dead Like Me, Commander in Chief,Surface,Arrested Development and Car Poolers were all great, unique shows. We don’t need any new CSI’s or Hospital shows. And NO ONE needs any more “reality”! I don’t care if they are cheap to make. They are mindless drivel and I won’t… Read more »
i also cant believe that abc has once again cancelled a quality show, i.e. boston legal, i do hope someone on cable is smart enough to pick up life on mars it is a wonderfully directed acted and edited show.
thanks again for nothing abc
Oh great…Here we go again. I am so sick of these executives that put a show on, promote the crap out if, get you interested, show it for 5 weeks, take it off for 3 months, then put the show back on a different night and expect the viewers to keep up. They did this with Men in Trees, then Eli Stone now Life on Mars. Such b/s. Once Lost is over next season, I am so done with ABC…They suck!!! I did watch Grey’s but hell they could put that show on daytime television. It’s like watching a soap.… Read more »
What do you expect from the powers that be. Drama has been replaced by that god awful reality t.v Can we just have some real acting in a fictional work of art. Instead of that pitiful non-scripted scripted crap that is on television now.
To echo others sentiments, this means I will not start watching any new series on ABC. There is no point. I was curious about Castle and the Unusuals but will not even start either. This is just one too many good series that has been canceled before it could find an audience.
INCREDIBLE! Cancelling one of the most creative, fun, cliff hanging shows on TV in a long time. What are you thinking. I don’t care what the stats say, you are making a big mistake again (ie October Road). I sincerely hope you have a change of heart or at the very least give us an ending to the show that so many of us love.
Please Showtime or HBO help save Life on Mars!
Its amazing how shortsighted the networks are.It no wonder cable kills them for emmys every year. Life on Mars is well crafted and acted show and the first since Seinfeld I have bothered to watch. No wonder why I gave on network TV years ago. I guess it will replaced by some cheap,mindless realty show. Back to cable for me. Maybe Showtime will pick it up.
I actually love this show so much, every Wed night this and LOST. I had a feeling that theyd cancle it eventually but… C’MON!!! At least they have time for a propper series finale…. I’m sad to see such a great show go. Now i guess I’ll watch the British one…i guess.
This is complete b/s I love Life On Mars. The studios wouldn’t know an amazing show if it hit them in the face. I am so sick of all my favorite shows being cancelled first Eli Stone now this I have never been a big watcher of ABC programming and this is one good reason why they get rid of the great shows to keep on crap shows. Maybe if you let a show run long enough they would get the ratings instead of cancelling before it has a chance to build a solid audience. This is garbage.
I am so tired of my favorite shows being canceled just because the networks think that they don’t have enough viewers. Where do they get their numbers anyway?? I almost didn’t start watching this show for fear that this would happen but I did anyway and now I am paying the price. It is unfortunate that the only shows that seem to continue endlessly are the ones that you need no brain cells to watch, no morals, no taste. I have never been a big fan of ABC and now I know why. The only other show I have ever… Read more »
First Pushing Daisies and Eli Stone and now this. When Lost is over I am done with ABC. I was going to try and watch Castle, but why bother? It will be canceled or put on hiatus in five weeks. Wednesday night had become my favorite night on tv with Lost and LOM. A fantastic double header. I am so sick of lowest common denominator tv. Some of us actually like to think and be entertained by something other than crappy reality shows. I agree with the person who said there should be a network off all the show that… Read more »
Dear ABC,
Your shortsightedness has failed us for the last time, are there really enough Nielsen families alone out thereto buy your sponsor’s products, because now that I know how you treat quality shows I won’t be foolish enough to follow another one on your network again.
Lowest common denominator programming will only ever net you adequacy, we your intelligent audience will not settle for that anymore. Goodbye ABC we will be watching Dexter, True Blood and Burn Notice.
Call us only when you are sure you want to make a commitment to quality.
Sincerely,
Your Intelligent Audience
Hey, it would be a real big mistake to cancel “Life on Mars” or haven’t you been watching the show! Let’s pretend your a detective and like a good detective you pay attention to the clues presented to you. In this case the clues aren’t hidden they’re right there on the television screen for everybody to see. Remember, you’re pretending to be a good detective not some clueless knuckle head that can’t tell great from bad. Although, if you were a clueless knuckle head, and the Lieutenant got a hold of you, he could be very persausive, so persausive that… Read more »
I can’t believe they are cancelling this show… Especially that I know so many people that watch it!! I agree LOM was the ONLY reason I watched that channel… That’s it for ABC!!!