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.
Frankly I couldn’t understand why such a smart and non-formulaic show ever made it onto network television, but I will miss it nonetheless. It’s a real shame.
Not a happy viewer here to learn the show is done. Like the rest of the viewers commenting ABC has a thin line up and this show was the only show I watched on your network. Bad decision ABC….very bad.
Dear ABC:
Last year I / we lost “Men in Trees” after two frustrating years of moving it around. This year we lose “Life on Mars” without even a second season… The four weeks it was gone KILLED THE SHOW!!! Please reconsider or send it to the Lifetime network. Anything would be better than this kiss of death.
You have just taken my two favorite shows off the air in back to back seasons.
Bob
I’m VERY upset about this. I LOVE life on mars the characters are amazing. The plots are great and there are always funny parts. “i’m shaking in my snappy white shoes” 🙂 haha. I think it was absolutly rediculous for it to get canceled. Its an unbelievably great show and i now think ABC is dumb.
Im not at all happy! Very dissapointed as it was a very well thought out and authentic show about 1973 and a time traveller from 2008. Its happenned again! A show I like and have become attached to has been cancelled. I hope you reconsider! Its not too late,esspecially with the brains of Micheal Imperioli there.This is the only TV show on network TV that I actually watched regularly. Maybe theres a way to SAVE IT! Please axe some of the stupid reality shows like “The Bachelor” among others and actually keep s show that is worth keeping! Maybe I… Read more »
I agree with David. It is the only show in the ABC Arsenal that is worth watching. It is a creative show with interesting, funny and original plots. It appears that ABC gave this show a limited chance to succeed. I really enjoyed the music, the actors and was excited to watch this show for seasons to come. I was depressed when I found out that is was going to be cancelled. Hopefully the series finally will be aired. For all those who enjoyed the show, hopefully another series will come along to fill the void.
Well, looks like next Wednesday will be my last day watching ABC. I really enjoyed this show and looked forward each week to watching it, really too bad they couldn’t have done a better job marketing it. Farewell ABC. Hope the LOM DVD comes out soon, otherwise I’ll just be watching “24” & “Lie to Me” on FOX!
Having been a huge fan of the British LoM, I was not impressed with the American version at first. But it has been coming into its own, next week’s episode looks downright thrilling, and then it’s over? There really is no reason to watch network tv at all.
Cancelled?! This is the ONLY show I actually make a point to catch every single week! It’s the most creative thing ABC has in their arsenal. Oh please, bring back “Who Wants To Be A Mindless Game Show Watcher?” or some other drivel. Even when they were jockeying it all over the schedule and took the never ending hiatus, I made a point to keep track of it. No wonder it can’t find an audience, you put it on in the last slot before the news. It should have been on Tuesdays at 9:00 instead of “Dancing With The Has-Beens”.… Read more »
I am so disappointed, finally a show that is worth watching. Well once this show goes off the air, there is no need to watch ABC. ABC you better hope to win the super bowl rights for 2010.
This is crap the first show I watched loyally since Seinfeld. Continue the show ……make a movie whatever……This show was awesome!!!!!
NOOOO! Finally, a show that I look forward to and make time to watch and it is canceled. I’m so bummed. I loved this show. Harvey Keitel is great in this series. I thought for sure that it would do well. Not fair.
I agree with so much that was said here. I don’t watch much TV, but seeing the initial promos about Life on Mars got me hooked. This wasn’t a far-fetched CSI type fairy tale with outrageous technology that has tainted our real-lfe judicial system with un-realistic expectations. This is a good old fashioned cop show taking us back to the heart of entertainment…good acting! Sure the time travel aspect is a bit out there, but we have yet to really learn if that is what happened to Sam. Bottom line, its a trip down memory lane, and for this real-life… Read more »
Cancelling this great show is a sad mistake. ABC stinks lately, they deserve to be in last place! Lets have some more stupid reality shows, I guess the idiots that be believe every one watching tv these days is into reality junk, and that there is no intelligent viewers left… so sad….
ABC you are a garbage network. Learn how to build an audiece and keep it morones. After Lost is done next year I will never watch another ABC show again.