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 too am tired of all my favorite shows being canceled. I loved the ensemble cast in this series and loved the premise. Why do shows have to be canceled after one season. You used to get more opportunity to watch a show and build a following. This was just a dumb move on ABC’s part. They at least were different – you weren’t getting the same derivative shows that CBS (NCIS CSI) or NBC (Law and Order, SVU) etc. offer.
I agree with Carla and the others…. we need to keep the good shows on the air. Why do you keep cancelling all the good ones. I HATE all those reality shows and all the violence…. Eli and Life on Mars were different. So what if you don’t have the highest ratings it still give us a chance to see real programming and escape from our own reality. I will have to switch from watching ABC since you aren’t giving me a reason to stay.
My favorte show on Wednesday night is Law & Order, have watched from the beging but when LOM came on I started taping L&O to watch at a later date, I didn’t want to miss LOM what does that say about fan dedication to a new show? Since LOM was up agains L&O and Damages on FX (another great show) maybe you should move its time slot, did you think of that before you canceled? LOM is the only show I watch on ABC so I guess I’m back to not supporting ABC television again.
lets cancel ABC and stop watching them
ABC what is your problem stop doing this you are loosing my support dirty sexy money pusing daisys eli now the best show ever your always switching times days hiatus etc i am switching to satellite and switching from you
ABC is A.D.D. They can’t keep focused on anything. Except Lost for some reason. I can’t believe they keep cutting the creative shows and keep the crap like Lost running aimlessly. I’m done. I’m not going to get involved with any more ABC shows. They put Life on Mars on after Lost. What did they expect? Lost has everyone LOST! Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone all with great casts and creative story lines. Let’s just put on another damn reality show. Just move Rock of Love to ABC. That’s the kind of quality they’re headed toward.
What a horrible year. First, The Shield ends (my favorite show, period). Now, Battlestar Galactica is over and Life on Mars is cancelled (the only thing I watch on ABC). Well, at least the weather is getting nicer and I will have plenty of time to get outside now!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME THE MOST UNUSUAL AND NEW CONCEPT OUT THERE FOR A TV SERIES.
MAYBE SOMEBODY AT ABC IS IN A COMA
PLEASE RECONSIDER
Just realized yesterday that this show is cancelled. Unbelievable. It’s the best show on TV right now. But wait, this is ABC. Same network that killed Pushing Daisies. Why am I surprised?
I was shocked when watching last night and heard the series finale was in two weeks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What the fudge? I thought for sure it would continue for many years as everyone I know watches it. Every time ZI told someone to check out the show the became hooked in one episode and watche them all afta that. To not continue this show is plain retarted. ABC sucks as a network and LOM is one of their rare bright spots. I am done with them unless they have a last minute change of heart. I keep praying USA network picks… Read more »
This is the only program my 3 brothers and I watch on ABC (ages 23-31). It looks like we won’t be watching ABC anymore. It is a great show that keeps us wanting more every week and we love the music that is picked for the program.
What a huge disappointment. Here is a show with everything a TV viewer could want. Great plots good characters, acted out by some of the best actors in the business. A unique look back at a time when alot of us were coming of age. A weekly stoy line surrounded by the original story line. Many references of how far we have come along since 1974. The writers did a fine job of developing each character. We the viewer are left to ponder every week, is Sam in a coma, abducted, and sent back in time, on a virtual planet… Read more »
it never fails every time a good show gets started you get some idiot that decides for all the fans to cancell it, every time theres a two week break in between episodes or preempted because of sports or something else showes lose the continuity, bad decision, thanks alot, this sucks.
This is a sad day. Where is the bail out money for LOM? This is the only show i look forward to watching on ABC. Of course, hoping that this will not turn out to be something outragous like Sam Tyler is an astronaut being probed by some alien. Either way this is a sad day. What next? Cancel “Arrested Development”? Oh yeah, Fox killed that one.
Please reconsider
A lways
B e
C ancelling
If anything can be done to save this amazing show, sign me up. Most replies have already said my feelings. PLEASE DONT KILL THIS SHOW!!!! Maybe another network will pick it up. But if they’re gonna give away the ending(bad idea) then I guess it’s done for anyway.