MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Oct 17, 2008 6:25:07 GMT -5
Anyone watching this yet?
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Post by 4dogg on Oct 17, 2008 6:44:02 GMT -5
watched episode 1....DVR'd #2......1st episode was OK......i liked the reference to "go to the bar and have a drink and a stewart sandwich"....alot of you young folks don't know what a stewart's is
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Oct 17, 2008 7:45:06 GMT -5
Ok, here's the deal. I DVRd both episodes, but we have not gotten to them yet. Should we, or should i give it the slash?
Premise and setting sounds mildly interesting. We figured we would give it a shot. Without spoilers, hows the show?
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Oct 17, 2008 8:16:46 GMT -5
Well, it's harder for me because I have a different perspective. I have seen all 16 of the UK episodes. Arguably, I know the whole deal--unless the American version somehow changes it.
The pilot was very much a remake of the British pilot, with a few notable differences.
The second episode borrowed a lot of scenes from one of the British episodes, though different. So we haven't had that much divergence yet.
Obviously, we are dealing with NY instead of the UK as the main backdrop.
I think the lead character is fine, and the Harvey Keitel character is good, though not quite as good as the UK counterpart.
It's worth watching, though a bit too early to tell.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Oct 17, 2008 8:25:09 GMT -5
We'll give episode 1 a go over the weekend. It would have to be awful for us to bail, so I imagine we'll give it a couple of episodes. We'll let you know how it goes.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Oct 17, 2008 10:00:46 GMT -5
Episode 1 is almost a scene by scene remake of the UK version--not quite though--some notable differences toward the end.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Oct 17, 2008 10:08:14 GMT -5
None of that makes any difference to me. Not only have I never seen the UK version, I had not known before this thread there was a UK version.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Oct 17, 2008 11:05:11 GMT -5
Not only was there a UK version, it had a definitive beginning and end (16 episodes over 2 seasons), and there's a sequel show called Ashes to Ashes. The original UK stars were offered the parts, but turned it down.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Oct 18, 2008 20:02:59 GMT -5
Saw a blurb in the paper that the show is a favorite to get an early axe, and this, culled from TVSQUAD today, does not help matters...
Life on Mars's ratings falling to earth
Last night's second episode of ABC's new drama Life on Mars, the American version of the British hit, took a precipitous drop in the ratings. This is really bad news because Life on Mars may be the best new show of the season, unless you're in love with The Mentalist, which I am not, or maybe The Eleventh Hour or My Own Worst Enemy has tickled your fancy.
What's clear is that ABC is trying to build a solid Thursday with Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty and Life on Mars, but Ugly Betty is off to a rocky start, Grey's isn't the powerhouse it once was, and the pressure is on Mars to keep Grey's lead and improve on it.
The show got off to a good start in the premiere, but last night was off 25%. That's not good.
The way I see it, Life on Mars doesn't really fit on Thursday night. There's nothing thematically similar between Betty, Grey's and Life on Mars to keep viewers locked on ABC for the entire night. CBS's pairing of CSI and Eleventh Hour are a much better set, assuming that most viewers stay on one network rather than switch channels.
Like I said, I like the ABC version of Life on Mars. By and large, it's faithful to the British series on which its based, especially in the first episodes. Setting the American incarnation in New York City works, and in contrast to the propensity of shows that are all about forensics and fibers and prints, Life on Mars is a welcome throwback to Kojak and Cannon, as well as films like Serpico and The French Connection.
Looking ahead, if the numbers don't improve, I'd like to see ABC move Life on Mars to a different night because it's worth cultivating.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Oct 19, 2008 12:09:31 GMT -5
If that happens, I'll tell everyone how the UK version ended.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Oct 19, 2008 12:37:10 GMT -5
We'll continue to DVR without watching, until this shakes out. I think its going to be cancelled, and Im not keen on wasting our time. If it gets cancelled, we'll simply delete and pretend it never existed.
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Post by MSBNYY on Oct 19, 2008 13:34:24 GMT -5
TVsquad also thought Terminator was in trouble, but it just got a full season order. What is interesting will be what happens if Life on Mars goes the full season. A typical season here is 22 episodes, yet the entire 2 season UK series only ran 16 episodes.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Nov 3, 2008 8:39:47 GMT -5
Ok, so yesterday we watched the first two of the four we backed up on the DVR. I myself kinda like the show. Not sure when we will get to the next episode, which means I am not clamoring for it. So its hit or miss, but so far I will file it in the like category. I know the names of the cast, but never saw much of whatever else they were in. I know on paper its strong casting, though, and I liked the cast.
I like the way they move they weave the music into the scenes.
We'll keep watching for now.
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 3, 2008 8:51:24 GMT -5
Harvey Keitel, who plays Gene Hunt, has been all over the place, including Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.
Michael Imperioli was Christopoher in Sopranos.
So far, all the episodes have followed the British show fairly well. There's a little less emphasis on the coma, and a few differences, but in general, I recognized all the scripts and they were basically British scripts with some editing here and there.
I think next week may be something completely new.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Nov 3, 2008 9:21:52 GMT -5
While I saw both Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, I remember little about both of them (well, except for Mr Pink) as I watched them drunk with Bleacher Creatures in my apartment at different times. I have no interest in seeing Pulp Fiction again, as from all accounts its too cute for its own good. I may stumble upon Reservoir Dogs in the future, who knows.
I never watched one minute of even one Sopranos episode.
Balls, no spoilers!
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Nov 3, 2008 9:49:01 GMT -5
There haven't been any spoilers.
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Post by MSBNYY on Mar 3, 2009 10:22:05 GMT -5
Looks like Life on Mars is indeed canceled, and episode 17 will be the finale. I read that the finale, will be different than the depressing British one.
Kind of a shame. The show wasn't bad. The first bunch of episodes were basic retreads of British episodes, with mild adjustments.
But as the show progressed, they finally deviated. The British show actually ended. It was meant to be a 2 season, 16 episode run. This show is being canceled.
Oh well.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 3, 2009 10:38:28 GMT -5
I am sure the show cost a heap of money to make, with the exhorbinant cast. While we like the show, Im not crushed beyond belief. It opens up some time for new shows, and returning shows like Breaking Bad and such.
How many episodes are in the books now? When is the last episode? I wish it was a depressing one.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Mar 3, 2009 10:47:09 GMT -5
They have aired 12, so there are 5 to go. I don't know how expensive this show is. Just set in the 1970s. I didn't even realize you watched the show.
The ending of the British show was terrible.
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$heriff Tom
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Post by $heriff Tom on Mar 3, 2009 10:49:49 GMT -5
The show is expensive, because of the top notch casting. Thats no secret.
Once this is in the books, spill the British ending.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Mar 3, 2009 13:57:02 GMT -5
You got it! The cast is pretty decent.
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Post by baldvinny on Mar 3, 2009 14:03:40 GMT -5
i really like this show....im pissed its cancelled!
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Post by MSBNYY on Mar 3, 2009 14:30:55 GMT -5
You should consider downloading the British version. Very good cast too. The guy who played Hunt was outstanding--so much so that the show currently has a spinoff called Ashes to Ashes, and some of the UK cast is in it.
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Post by iamnotatablelamp on Mar 3, 2009 14:43:13 GMT -5
I was just going to post about this spin-off. In this one, the detective is knocked back to the 80s. Its U.S. premiere is on BBC America this Saturday.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Mar 3, 2009 14:49:05 GMT -5
Is that Season 1 of Ashes or season 2?
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Post by iamnotatablelamp on Mar 3, 2009 14:56:34 GMT -5
not exactly sure. i assumed it was 1.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Mar 3, 2009 15:02:52 GMT -5
Not sure either. The show is starting its second season in the UK very soon, so maybe there is some simultaneous thing. But it also makes sense to air season 1 here again, to prepare for that.
Did you watch the UK Life on Mars?
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Post by iamnotatablelamp on Mar 3, 2009 15:11:50 GMT -5
nope. vin is going to get it and we will give it a whirl.
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MSBNYY
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Post by MSBNYY on Mar 3, 2009 15:13:17 GMT -5
Some of the scripts will look familiar. I would say the first 5-6 episodes of the American version were reworked UK scripts.
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Post by MSBNYY on Apr 2, 2009 6:56:01 GMT -5
Anyone catch the finale? I will say this--it couldn't have been more different than the UK version.
A shame this show was canceled. It was well written, and the cast was outstanding. I actually think Michael Imperioli deserves an Emmy nod for Best Supporting Actor.
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