TVSquad

Let me start this story by saying that I'm really hoping and praying that Patrick Swayze staves off the cancer that's trying to kill him and lives for many more years. The powers that be at A&E Network are hoping and praying, too. A&E has given the greenlight to The Beast, a cop drama that will star Patrick Swayze. Co-starring with Patrick in the 13 one-hour episodes is actor (and former Calvin Klein underwear model) Travis Fimmel. According the the doctors caring for Patrick, he is well enough to do the shows and, presumably, continue with the series if it's a success.

The premise for The Beast isn't a typical law and order type. It's like Training Day meets Internal Affairs, only without Denzel Washington and Richard Gere, respectively. Patrick plays an FBI agent who does things his own unique way. He's very good at his job, but rubs people the wrong way. He's asked to train a younger agent, Fimmel, at the same time that Swayze's being dogged by a secret internal affairs team.

Patrick has said this role was a long time coming for him. "I have searched for quite a long time to find a character that is this muti-layered, unpredictable and downright entertaining as well as a project this current and cutting-edged."

(S02E08) "My name is Sam Tyler. I had an accident, and I woke up in 1973.

"Am I mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever's happened, it's like I've landed on a different planet.

"Now, maybe if I can work out the reason, I can get home."

Well, did Sam Tyler get back home?

Warning: spoilers after the jump.

As it it needed validation, the brilliant BBC sci-fi/cop time-travelling drama Life on Mars has picked up two awards at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards here in the UK.

It was named Best Drama Series and also won the Writer's Award.

The first series of the show already picked up the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series in November 2006, and back in January it won the Best New Programme category at the Broadcast Magazine awards.

However, just like The Office, and now Extras, this is one BBC show we're not going to be force-fed until we choke, since it ends when the current series finishes up in three week's time.

(S02E04) Four down, four to go -- and Life on Mars just gets better every week.

I recently read a story in The Guardian that suggested when David E. Kelley re-writes this series for a US audience, Rachelle Lefevre will play a lone female detective who forges a mystic bond with the mysterious time-travelling detective (i.e. Sam Tyler) and teams up with him to track down a serial killer.

Forget all that rubbish.

Just watch this series; it's the best thing on television since Doctor Who returned.