Network: 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.
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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.
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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.
The show has been cancelled.
There are currently no plans to revive or remake the series.
Image courtesy ABC.
PLEEEEASE, life on mars was GREAT ! my wife and I loved it. IF ABC is going to cancel any show it should be The totaly LAME show L O S T. everyone I talked to can’t stand LOST. Gee ABC lets fill it in with ONE MORE CSI stupid show or some teen drama crap. ABC start a NEW trend….. … not what everyone else does.
Well, I can’t believe ABC cancelled another great show. Maybe they’ll be smart enough to release this on DVD in a few months. Although I’m happy that they at least tried to tie up some of the loose ends, there were still so many questions left unanswered; for me, anyway. Great writing, cast and crew…I’m sure a lot of good stuff got left on the cuttingroom floor, too.
RIP “Life on Mars”, “Dirty, Sexy Money”, “Pushing Daisys”, “Eli Stone”, and of course, the ever popular “Boston Legal”.
I will not watch ABC. Loved Life On Mars
I used to hate watching network television, with all the reality crap and uninteresting comedies that were spoon-fed to the public. But Life on Mars was a different kind of a show… One that the characters were built very well, and they played on that big-time. The script was written pretty well, but it was specifically the setting, the great acting, and the twists that really sucked me into this show. It was like I got punched in the gut when I found out ABC was pulling the plug on this show. I mean, they really don’t know a good… Read more »
i hate ABC i loved life on Mars,,ABC should be cancelled not life on mars,i wish fox or nbc would pick up this show at least they dont cancel shows that you invest your time into..im very disgusted withABC television and will never have nothing to do with this dumb network ever again
I loved this show! I loved the story line, LOVED the music and thought the characters were fantastic and beautifully played. Everything about the show was wonderful. I thought the endingwas perfect….. it tied up all the loose ends and they were all still together as friends on a different type of adventure. I hope we see more of these fun shows. Thank you to the writers for such a great show…… so sorry to see this end.
we loved life on mars,i will never watch abc television again!!why would you guys cancel such an amazing show! that is the final straw for us and we will never watch abc television ever again.the music was awsome the plot was great,the actors were cool and i guess abc dont care about a good show like life on mars, just the crappy ones they got on t.v right now….see you forever you losers at abc
Sorry, I forgot to thank the shows producers , writers and actors for giving this show closure, most shows don’t do that.. Thank you, Mike
LIFE ON MARS–This show was one of the best shows I have seen in a long time. Pushing Daiseys was also a good show and they took that off too. Another show thrown to the dogs was Journeyman(NBC)-.. It seems all the networks want is reality tv–98% of that is BORING.. I guess the networks will do what they want and not what the public wants. I am totally fed up with what is on tv these days. A lot of GARBAGE. They introduce a great dramatic interesting show (Life on Mars) and cancel it??????WHY?? What fools they all are.… Read more »
Why why why? We cannot believe that Life on Mars is cancelled! My boyfriend and I looked so forward to this series every week. Growing up in the seventies we enjoyed the setting and the music was great! I was just getting going and the ABC started creating the end! What a shame! Great actors, awesome plot, boy these actors must be pissed! Somebody please pick up this show and give it the chance it deserves! ABC get over Lost you losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY would ABC cancel such a GREAT show ! and they leave the garbage shows on? doesn’t make sense. Life on Mars has charisma,,,,,, great storylines, awesome props..and they can it..but yet they leave the stupid shows on…and create even more stupid shows . They lost me as a viewer
I can’t believe ABC cancelled Life On Mars. We loved the show. They cancelled another great show Eli Stone. I guess they are only interested in reality shows or filth. What a disappointment.
This program is really good. The decision was really great and you could think The network has cancelled the best dramatic series (Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sex Money and Eli Stone) in the last six months – I don’t want to invest any more time in programming from ABC because they just seem to cancel it.
I cannot believe ABC is canceling Life on Mars! It’s the best show my husband and I really enjoy watching every week. We watch others too, but, this one is the best. I agree with Gary above, too many “reality” shows, and not enough dramatic series!!
Life On Mars has been the best show on television since M*A*S*H… Network TV has too many “reality” shows, and not enough dramatic series! Programming really needs some work.