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.
This is blasphemy! Why would you even consider canceling a show that really is a ‘GREAT’ show? This drama really sticks out from all the other half-fast remakes. If anybody at ABC has some sense, they will save this show from being canceled. I really can’t believe this. Lost has been on for years… I wonder how the hell that happened?
I love this show!! Geez what are the nitwits at ABC thinking?? This is great television. I like Jason O’Mara. I liked “In Justice” too. Another great show that they dumped. What a bunch of pinheads!
why does ABC have to cancel this show? I love life on mars, its one of the best shows on right now.I think maybe people got thrown off by the name of the show thats why ratings went down.I think ABC should avertise the show more and maybe ratings will goup again.
I am not surprised. The only show I watch on ABC was Ugly Betty and they are taking it off too, for a terrible show with Christina Applegate. They actually had me turning to their channel from CBS and Fox twice a week for LIFE ON MARS and UGLY BETTY. Switching the time with “Mars” was a bad idea because most are like me and only go to ABC for a show here and there. They obviously are out of tune with what the viewers want because every time they have a good show they cancel it. By the way… Read more »
I love Life on Mars and Jason O’Mara is great. I also like Dirty Sexy Money. Pushing Daisy is lousy
Joining from Italy all the people who will miss Life on Mars. I’ve known about its end just a few minutes ago (I’ve just watched the last episode and I was kind of worried, so I checked it out).
…Goodbye! 🙁
PS all reality shows svck (at least in Italy), and they do them just to make dumb people even dumber (at least in Italy…since we have the mafioso dwarf who’s controlling tv channels for his own benefit). About Lost, I stopped watching it after the beginning of the second season. I think it isn’t that good too. Bye
Life on Mars is a great show and something that is truly different from the majority of offerings on network TV. I hope someone comes their senses and saves it … otherwise it’s even less watching of ABC at my household.
We will surely be disappointed if ABC decides to cancel this show. Are we going to be left to watch nothing but reality shows IF we watch at all. Life on Mars was one of the best for a long time. They deserve a second season.
I knew this show would be canceled by ABC. It’s too intelligent, edgy and creative for ABC management, corporate culture and audience. Most successful shows take time to be nurtured and gain traction. The executives mismanaged the distribution and scheduling of the show from the beginning. This show would have been a blockbuster on Fox. ABC is dedicated to generating mindless garbage (ie non-reality), then complains about losing market share and revenue to Cable.
Disney should give it up and go back to Micky Mouse and leave TV to true professionals FOX, CBS & Cable.
I made it a priority to watch this series from the beginning, as the possible time travel aspect intrigued me (I thought NBC’s Journeyman was great), and, I’m a BIG fan of the brilliant Harvey Keitel and the lovely Gretchen Moll.
Life on Mars will be missed, and as far as ABC goes, if it weren’t for Scrubs, I’d delete channel 7 from all my digital cable boxes.
I love Life On Mars and will miss it. It actually was something different to watch!
When will these executives realize to simply stop airing tv shows at 10pm. They could air Lost at 10pm and it would eventually fail. Life on Mars, Journeyman, Ely Stone, Jericho… All 8pm-9pm quality shows that were cancelled because most working people are in bed by 10:30 so they DVR the show. Screw you corporate executives.
Are you people at ABC freaking CRAZY?
Take all of that Reality Crap (makes me want to puke) of the air, and focus on great programs like “Life On Mars”
This is such a great show. I love the cast, the theme, the era, the music. Just awesome!
ABC! Think about what you’re doing. You’re onto something big here, and you’re about to blow it.
THE NOSE KNOWS
This is why I stopped watching TV a few years ago. I gambled on Life on Mars and lost. This show is too good to be canceled, but it got shuffled around the schedule board in favor of vapid shows for mindless viewers. ABC seems to enjoy losing their audiences by keeping them guessing when their favorite shows will be on again. All in all, ABC is a lousy network. They shouldn’t be allowed to air good shows if they can’t promote them properly and keep them anchored to a schedule.
But I’ll bet you we’ll have more Bachelors and Bachelorettes – Wae up America and start looking for something that challenges your intellect.