Posts with tag LifeonMars
Posted Nov 27th 2008 1:01PM by Kona Gallagher
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Programming, TV on DVD, OpEd, Cancellations, Friday Night Lights, TV Squad Lists, Pushing Daisies, Reality-Free, Life on Mars, The Mentalist
It's Thanksgiving morning right now and I'm sitting in my dad's kitchen watching people cook. I'm thankful for so many things this year, but since this is a TV site, let's talk about the things in TV that I'm thankful for--things besides the murder that the poor Detroit Lions are going to face at the hands of the Tennessee Titans today.
1. Netflix Watch InstantlyI've had Netflix basically since its inception, but with all of the TV that I watch, my Netflix movies have had a bad habit of collecting dust for months (I finally sent
No Country for Old Men back after about six months on top of my DVD player). Even though I've known about the Watch Instantly feature for a while, I've never actually tried it out. I just watched
Friday Night Lights Season 2, and let me tell you. it's so nice to just hit "Next" and have all of the episodes right there without having to change disks. Does that make me ridiculously lazy? Probably. I don't care.
Continue reading What Kona is thankful for
Posted Nov 21st 2008 12:00PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Programming, OpEd, Watercooler Talk, Cancellations, Ratings, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Reality-Free
As you all know by now, ABC
failed to pick up three of its sophomore shows --
Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money, and
Eli Stone -- for a full season, essentially ending each after 13 second-season episodes (in other ABC news,
Scrubs will start on Tuesday, January 6, and
Life on Mars gets four additional episodes for its new post-
Lost timeslot, which starts on January 28).
Daisies and
DSM (and
Private Practice, which is being moved to Thursdays after
Grey's Anatomy in the "duh" move of the season) were both held back after the writers' strike last year and didn't come back until the fall. Seems like a logical thing to do, right? I mean, the shows had growing followings but still very modest ratings. ABC learned from the CBS
Jericho disaster that holding a freshman show for any period of time will sink the ratings. Turns out, though, that holding them for
even longer will sink the ratings even further. Who knew?
All sarcasm aside, though, ABC was in a tough spot. What could they have done differently? More thoughts after the jump.
Continue reading Did ABC make the wrong move with Daisies and Sexy?
Posted Nov 14th 2008 1:00AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Life on Mars
(S01E06) Gotta love that old school funk that the episode started with. I've been constantly commenting about how similar the individual plots and characters are to
the original British version of the show (which has been noticed in the feedback), but in this episode I saw a lot of the show coming into its own. Some of the plot differences even make more logical sense that the original version.
The attention to detail from the entire series is superb. Little bits like Sam's frustration with using an old style typewriter add to the flavor of the show. As usual,
Michael Imperioli gets the best lines. It wouldn't surprise me if he got a best supporting actor Emmy nomination for this role, despite its cartoonish nature.
Continue reading Life on Mars: Tuesday's Dead
Posted Nov 7th 2008 12:24AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Life on Mars
(S01E05) "Have you died and gone to moron heaven?" - Gene HuntWhat we had here, my friends, was a real theological episode. There were lots of references to angels, miracles, prayer and the question of whether or not Sam is dead. If so, is he in purgatory or hell or heaven? Does that explain his predicament? And is the old gray beard a vagrant or a heavenly messenger?
Overall, what I really thought made the show percolate was the teaming up of Sam and Clams. "Clams" we learn is Fletcher Bellow, Sam's mentor, and he pops up in the middle of a potentially explosive riot, with African-Americans going after Puerto Ricans when a little girl plummets from a rooftop at the hands -- or so it seems -- of Angel Ramirez.
Continue reading Life on Mars: Things to Do in New York When You Think You're Dead
Posted Oct 22nd 2008 5:11PM by Patricia Chui
Filed under: Video, Interviews, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Jason O'Mara is the star of the new ABC drama
Life on Mars, but the show features a few other actors who look even more familiar ... such as
Michael Imperioli, otherwise known as Christopher Moltisanti (or as I always think of it, "Christapha") on HBO's
The Sopranos.
O'Mara and Imperioli sat down for an
Outside the Box: Life on Mars interview to talk about the show -- which, at the time they taped the interview, was getting its pilot completely scrapped and redone -- and some other stuff, including guilty pleasure shows, their worst acting jobs ever, and what TV family they wish they could be a part of. (And no, Imperioli doesn't want to be a member of The Sopranos. Again.)
In this clip exclusive to TV Squad, it's again with the Sopranos! This time, O'Mara asks Imperioli about the difference between filming an HBO series and a network series -- and they ALMOST bust out the swear words. Darn it, maybe we should have given them some beer.
Watch Outside the Box: Life on MarsPosted Oct 17th 2008 12:31AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Life on Mars
(S01E02) I said it before and I'll say it again:
Life On Mars has a fantastic soundtrack. They also continue their use of yellow filter to simulate the dirtiness of New York City in the 1970's. When they go to scenes from 2008, the filter becomes blue. I wonder if the creators intended a deeper significance with that?
Continue reading Life On Mars: The Real Adventures of the Unreal Sam Tyler
Posted Oct 10th 2008 12:23AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Life on Mars
(S01E01) Having been a fan of the original BBC version of this show, I was somewhat skeptical of the idea of an American remake. After watching the first episode, I was both elated, as it seems to translate well into an Americanized world (I practically predicted a shot of the Twin Towers before they appeared on screen), and concerned over some of the differences.
Let me start with the differences...
Continue reading Life on Mars: Out Here in the Fields (series premiere)
Posted Sep 4th 2008 2:44PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Contests and Giveaways, Reality-Free
The good folks at the
New York Television Festival have been nice enough to give us
four full festival passes to give away this week! These passes will not only get you into all panels and pilot screenings (except the Industry Day panels on Monday the 15th), but will also get you into all of the
premiere screenings and after-parties (21 and up only) that will be held that week, complete with the stars and producers of each show.
Among the shows that will have premieres that week:
Fringe,
Life on Mars,
Life, and
Worst Week. The Festival will be held from September 12-17 at New World Stages in midtown Manhattan.
To enter, leave a comment below before 5:00PM Eastern, Tuesday, September 9 simply telling us which of the premieres you most want to see. As always, we'll randomly choose four winners amongst the eligible entries. Some other details:
- To enter, leave a confirmed comment below stating which NYTVF premiere you'd most like to see.
- The comment must be left before September 9, 2008 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Four winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Four winners will receive a full festival pass to the New York Television Festival (valued at $175).
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 21 and older.
- Winners will be responsible for their own transportation to, from and within New York, and lodging.
Click
here for complete Official Rules.
Posted Aug 5th 2008 1:20PM by Richard Keller
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, Other Reality Shows, Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Industry, Programming, Boston Legal, CSI, Desperate Housewives, ER, House, Law and Order, Rescue Me, The Shield, The Simpsons, Smallville, Grey's Anatomy, Family Guy, Entourage, Prison Break, My Name Is Earl, Bones, Supernatural, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, How I Met Your Mother, King of the Hill, The Office, Dancing With The Stars, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Brothers and Sisters, NCIS, Damages, Pushing Daisies, Chuck, Private Practice, Life, Dirty Sexy Money, Samantha Who?, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Lipstick Jungle, Eli Stone, Reality-Free, Gossip Girl
It's coming. The table is set, the players are on the field, the sails are raised, and the pretty maids are all in a row. Of course, I speak of the 2008-09 television schedule. In just a few short weeks viewers will be able to dine on a number of favorite and new dishes that are being served by the networks as well as the increasing number of cable channels who are delving into original programming.
While other fall seasons have come and gone with nary a whimper, this season may be different. Due to the prolonged Writers Strike many shows ended their seasons quite early. Programs like Life, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, and Heroes haven't aired original episodes since the end of 2007. Heck, there hasn't been a new episode of The Shield since June of last year! So, the beginning of the 2008-09 season will be a second chance for some of these shows, particularly the ones that premiered last season, to show their worth to fans and the networks.
Continue reading TV Squad presents the 2008-09 fall schedule
Posted Jul 30th 2008 10:39AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, Casting, Reality-Free
I was really excited about the prospect of
Life on Mars coming to ABC television. I speak in the past tense because everything that has happened since that initial announcement has me doubting that ABC's Americanized
Life on Mars will ever make it out of the first season. It may not even air six episodes.
There have been production changes, the first pilot was trashed, they've inserted new characters, they've remade the mythology of the show (with the approval of the British creators), and now more news. The character of
Annie Norris on Life on Mars will be played by Gretchen Mol. Yes, the beautiful, sexy and very blond Gretchen Mol. (Okay, she can dye her hair.)
I have the ultimate respect for Ms. Mol. She was excellent in
3:10 to Yuma (a really amazing Western that should have gotten some Oscar consideration). I just think she's the wrong choice for the role of Annie.
Continue reading Life on Mars gets female cop, played by Gretchen Mol
Posted Jul 30th 2008 10:02AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Reality-Free
A few weeks back, I enthusiastically reported the plans for
One Life to Live's 40th anniversary celebration. Viki was going to have a near death experience and heaven; a classic
OLTL moment would be re-created, the Iguaza Falls plunge; and in an elongated mini-arc, Bo and Rex would be transported back in time to 1968, the year
OLTL began. It was an ambitious undertaking, but it was still nice to hear that they were thinking big, as opposed to
General Hospital which did virtually nothing to commemorate their 45th anniversary in April.
So, now that Viki's visit to heaven -- which did not include Pearly Gates -- has concluded and Sarah and Cristian have gone over the falls -- and look to be dead -- I felt compelled to comment. First, Viki. I really, really like Erika Slezak. She's the Meryl Streep of daytime, able to take on all kinds of stories and make them work. Fortunately for Erika, she didn't have to sing any crappy ABBA songs like poor Meryl in
Mamma Mia!Continue reading TV Squad Soap Report: Heavenly fun on One Life to Live
Posted Jul 29th 2008 4:43PM by Keith McDuffee
Filed under: OpEd, Kyle XY, Reality-Free, Comic-Con
(Check out part one of this four-part report)FridayMorning was weird, as I was still on east-coast time. My alarm was set for 7 AM, but I was wide-awake by 5:30. I was scheduled to go to an X-Box breakfast that morning, but I was getting freaked out that I'd miss getting in to wait for the
Stargate panels, most of which I was saving for Rich but I knew would be incredibly popular and busy. Thankfully I made the right decision -- the line for Ballroom 20 was already insane by the time I arrived.
As I waited for Ballroom 20, I saw another line creeping up the patio outside. I learned that this was just a glimpse of what to expect with waiting for panels in the enormous Hall H, as the line I saw was for the popular
Watchmen panel. Trust me, part of me was jealous I wasn't in that line to see the new footage.
Continue reading My post-Comic-Con report, part two
Posted Jul 17th 2008 3:03AM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Industry, TCA Press Tour, Reality-Free
For some reason, reporters were kicked out of the ballroom so ABC could set up for this press conference. But all I saw when I walked in an hour later was palm trees and 1973-era ABC signs (like in the picture above). Wonder why I had to abandon my laptop for that?
Anyway, because many of the critics were fans of the BBC original, the gathered throng of testy TV watchers were eager to question the panel for ABC's version of
Life on Mars. It was a relatively small panel, with executive producers Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec, and stars Jason O'Mara and Michael Imperioli. You have to realize that having no pilot to base questions on makes us critics a cranky bunch, and the fact that the show is undergoing a show-runner change (from David E. Kelley to the Applebaum and Nemec), a massive recasting (all of the original pilot's cast, except for O'Mara, is being recast as we speak) and location change (LA to New York) only fuels more questions.
All things considered, the critics took it relatively easy on the panel.
Continue reading Life on Mars panel: A new mythology ... and many more choices - TCA Report
Posted Jul 16th 2008 6:25PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Industry, Lost, Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, TCA Press Tour, Pushing Daisies, Private Practice, Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Reality-Free
After
Jimmy Kimmel left the room, ABC Entertainment Steve McPherson got on with the business of facing the press at his executive session. I kicked it off with a question about
Scrubs, following up on
what Bill Lawrence told me in May about a possible "next generation" ninth season.
"We do think there's an opportunity after (this eighth season)," said McPherson. "If any or all the cast is a part of that, I think there's a growth (opportunity) there. It's a show that, despite being moved around into like 17 time periods and really never being given the marketing support, has really performed unbelievably well on NBC." He went on to say that they hope "it won't be a one-season situation."
Other than that, most of the conversation revolved around the network's returning shows, which makes sense, since the network is only debuting a few new shows (none of which had pilots that the network thought were suitable for preview) this fall.
Continue reading ABC president: We're prioritizing returning shows, and Heigl is staying - TCA Report
Posted Jul 11th 2008 1:41PM by Kelly Woo
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Interviews, Ask TV Squad, Celebrities, Reality-Free
Wondering what the deal is with new fall TV show
Life on Mars? Now, you can ask two of its stars, Jason O'Mara and Michael Imperioli, yourself!
AOL TV's new video interview series, Outside the Box, takes questions submitted by fans and poses them to cast members of the hottest shows. We're already gathering questions for
Scrubs,
Private Practice and
Dirty Sexy Money.
If you don't know much about the series, O'Mara plays a modern-day police detective who suddenly finds himself transported back in time to 1973. There's been a lot of
buzz and gossip surrounding around this show, which is a remake of a popular British hit.
If you've got questions for O'Mara and Imperioli, submit them in the comments below by Tuesday, July 15. Be sure to include your first name and city/state. We'll take the best entries and ask some of them in the interview. Good luck!
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