Life on Mars, ABC

I watched the first couple of weeks, and liked it, but haven't remembered to watch it since. It's an interesting combination of retro cop show and sci-fi/time travel.

What's it about? Why do you like it so much?

Nope, haven't run into it yet. What's it like?

I watched it after LOST tonight. Interesting. I had meant to give it a try. Great cast, that's for sure.

T
K
O

It was initially here on ABC - i.e., public television, not commercial, an English show. Then it was picked up by a commercial channel and repeated (English programme). Yesterday I saw a trailer for what appears to be another version. Is there an American version around? As I had the sound muted, I don't know what it sounded like.

PS - I guess from some of the tags there is a US version. Certainly wasn't a Harvey Keitel or NYPD in the show I saw. It was set in some English city, Sheffield, maybe?

It's set in Manchester. I would have thought that the regional accents would give some trouble to US viewers.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifeonmars/

The original was a British version.

An american version has been released here in Aust. it starts in march. I assume that is what lilk refers to

The British show was good, not great, in my opinion, but alright just the same.

It was on here ages ago.

I was going out with some fella who liked it.

I didn't watch it again after he got the flick...though it was kind of interesting to look at the social changes it reflects.

No wonder I was so angry!

Oh?

It'd be a change if the Yank version was better.

Usually, they suck in comparison to the originals.

I spoke of the Brit show.

Is Harvey Keitel actually inthe US version?

Whoa...I'll look out for it.

The Brit version had quite a devoted following in Oz. I assume it did in the UK, too.

What is this thing about (re)producing US versions of successful UK productions? I don't get it at all. Why not just enjoy the original series & produce some completely fresh stuff? This would employ quite a few US script writers, too!

I've not seen the series. Some Brit shows get done over in the US, and it's usually because they have a good premise. But they are probably changed because the boys and girls in Hollywood make a series of decisions about the the original, such as that the humor will not fly unless reworked in an American version, such as that Americans won't understand or won't be impressed with Brit references to their insular society, such as that Americans won't even necessarily understand Brit actors speaking with strong regional accents--and that last one is reasonable.

Brit shows are shown on American television in the original form, usually on public television, and usually comedies. "Are you being served?" and "Keeping up appearances" are two examples of programs which have been successful on American television. Especially now with cable or satellite television and the resulting specialization of channels, this has become true. BBC-America of course does this, in addition to American public television. Both "Monty Python" and "The Benny Hill show" were popular in the United States in their original form (any eight year old should be able to "get" Benny Hill).

Others have been altered from the original form, and done quite well on their own account in the United States. The comedic television series "All in the family" was based on the Britcom "Til death do us part," and was hugely successful, being the number one situation comedy on American television for five consecutive seasons. Whether or not something translates is a matter of the skill of those who re-work the show.

Haven't seen the UK version, have been watching the US version. Entertaining -- though you could take the hole sci-fi or whatever angle out of it and make it a straight 70s NY cop show and I'd like it just as much (maybe more).

Personally, I find the US version of the Office to be much funnier than the UK version, but I know a lot of folks differ in that opinion.

They're also making a version of Kath & Kim (was that the Oz title?) here. Hideously unfunny, from the couple that I've watched...

These weren't sit-coms or dramas...but I, Claudius and Rome were both British productions and were absolutely stellar...and very well received here in the States.

Oops, forgot. Don't watch Mars thing...but I love Harvey Keitel...and probably should. In fact, I will because of LittleK's recommendation.

You've just made me wonder if "I, Claudius" is available on DVD. I loved the books too...I adore Graves.

I have been looking at "Rome" in shops. I missed it on TV.

i've seen them advertised in a bbc magazine in canada

i've never seen the tv series, but i've read the books I & God, at least 4 times

Yep...they're available but expensive.

Have to save my pennies! Or see if I can rent them.

I greatly enjoyed the "I, Claudius" novels and the television series, and the television series was very popular here, although that's been a long time ago now. As is so often the case with English television, the "I, Claudius" television series was broadcast on public television. "Rome" was broadcast, though, by HBO, which meant that it was only originally available to cable or satellite television viewers who pay for the premium services, of which HBO is one. Later, it was broadcast (with commercial interruption) on the History Channel, which is usually bundled into the cable or satellite package. I watched a few episodes, and was impressed with their dedication to realistic sets, costumes and artifacts--which undoubtedly stems from the fact that most of the production and filming were done by Italians and in Italy, and by Croatians and in the former Yugoslavia (long having close ties to Italy).

What always amused me though, in the Claudius series in particular, is that the lower classes are identified by "lower class" English accents, and the aristocracy by English public school accents. I'm sure the point was to signal to English viewers who was who. That was less noticeable in "Rome." The series "Rome" was mostly not about historical events, though, as it relied a lot upon speculation and "dramatization" about members of the Patrician class, and was heavily involved in the affairs of members of the Plebeian and Equestrian classes. As i like to say, it was based on actual fiction. The reliable historical events to which it referred were properly handled, but only provided a backdrop for the "continuing nighttime drama."

Kaloo kalay! Just added I Clavdivs to my rental queue.


Set, I can't think of a better way for a British series to indicate class than using the cues for English.

It's not like the audience all spoke Latin.