It's On America's Tortured Brow

[khaosworks]

In other pre-air pilot news, I just watched the US version of Life on Mars. It's pretty much the same script as the first episode of the UK version, but of course set in 1972 Los Angeles instead of 1973 Manchester.

Given how much I enjoyed the UK version, I don't think I managed to approach it at all objectively, or maybe I'm too used to the original. It's workmanlike, but the performances and the performers had no chemistry at all, and as a result the whole thing seems actually boring and flat - the biggest tragedy of all being that Colm Meany as Gene Hunt is actually unfunny. Meany's a terrific actor, but his Hunt doesn't have the way Phillip Glennister's has of dominating the screen every time he enters it. One of the best things about Life on Mars was seeing the way John Simms and Glennister managed to focus your attention entirely on the relationship between these Sam and Gene: when they were in the same scene, they were the centre of the universe.

Maybe it'd be better received by someone who's never seen the original. I don't know.

But it seems that it's all moot anyway, since this version of the pilot will likely never make it to air as David E. Kelley has left the show and they're not only changing the location from L.A. to New York, but also making changes in the cast. However, given that it's on the Fall schedule, that doesn't give them much time to get their shit together. And it doesn't look like they're going to.

Comments

[shannachie.livejournal.com]

I loved "Life on Mars".
I must admit, however, that it really and truly irritates me that US movie/TV makers find it necessary to "redo" good shows as US pseudo-originals as if Americans were too stupid to accept that of the 195 countries in the world 194 are not the US. Understand me right: I think Americans are NOT too stupid to comprehend that things might run slightly different in different countries. But I do think everybody would do well to accustom themselves to a globalised reality and to appreciate the new and the different in a spirit of cultural curiosity.
Being able to bldy well watch a British show as a British show would be part of that process.

[querldox.livejournal.com]

However, there's a reason for "adapting" English shows for the US. LoM had what, 12-14 episodes total before resolving everything and ending. In the US, that's a mini-series or a summer fill-in. To get one US season, they'll need almost twice as many episodes as exist of the British one. And the real money's in the aftermarket of selling to cable/other countries/DVD, so they'll really need several seasons.

Now, it can easily be argued this results in a lesser series. For example, a lot of people commented on how much better and tighter the seven ep (known in advance) second season of Jericho was. But this is how US television operates, and they really need more than just 12-14 episodes to bother with doing it on a network.

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

I am hoping the American show fails so that they'll release the UK version in NTSC. I want to see it, but have consistently missed the show on BBC America and have never really had a chance to see the episodes in order, something a localized box set would solve pretty handily.

[nelladarren.livejournal.com]

Seconded.
It hurt me so much I didn't even manage to suffer through the whole thing.

Basically I'd also second what Ju said. Wouldn't it be for Queer As Folk - I didn't particularly like the UK original but I loved the US interpretation; but they just took some vast plot lines, and then made something completely different out of it. (Except the last half season - that sucked...)

I could kinda comprehend, in theory, that there is some potential in an American LoM version - focusing on a typically American 70s feeling. But not like THAT.

Also IMHO any further development can only be improved by David E. Kelly leaving - I totally despise his works.

[syphilis.livejournal.com]

I forget if I ever thanked you for introducing me to Life on Mars! At any rate, thanks!