A Month of Life on Mars .....

It has now been one month, four episodes, since "Life on Mars" - the latest in a line of Brit hits to jump the pond in an Americanized version - premiered on ABC. Since that night, I've been tuning-in and turning-on to this blast-from-the-past that takes your average crime drama up a step ... and back in time.

In a post earlier this month, I declined to make comparisons between the Brit and Yank versions of the program, suggesting that comparisons were hard to make so early in the series, and that maybe I should wait till later on that.

And now, it's later ...

First, the story line - and it is an intriguing one ... in 2008, NYPD Detective Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara), is struck by a car. Getting up from the asphalt, he realizes that something's not right ... the sight of the World Trade Center on the skyline, maybe? Somehow, his clothes, his car, even his identity places him in 1970s New York City, in the tumultuous times of the Vietnam War, Watergate, women's lib and the civil rights movements - without a cell phone, computer, PDA or MP3 player, or the modern-day police procedures in which he was trained. While solving crimes, he's also trying to solve his own personal dilemna, to understand what has just happened to him, and how he can get back home.

If you're a fan of the original British series, as I am, then this all seems very familiar. But if you're new to LOM, think about the possibilities of someone from today suddenly finding himself in the right place, but the wrong time, with sensibilities and values that must seem almost alien.
Next, the re-write ... there were a number of reports in the entertainment press about some serious re-tooling of the American version . That included changing the setting from Los Angeles to New York City. In my humble opinion, a single scene - the aformentioned view of the Twin Towers (with David Bowie's "Life on Mars" playing in the background) - in and of itself, fully justified the decision to re-set and re-write ... and even re-shoot the pilot.

Then there's the re-casting ... with the exception of O'Mara, most of those originally announced for the cast never made it to the second, approved pilot ... Lenny Clarke, Rachelle Lefevre and - most importantly - Colm Meany, who was set to play Lt. Gene Hunt ... a role every bit as important as Tyler's.

Forced to use a different moral code and without hi-tech crime fighting techniques, Sam clashes with his new boss at the 125th Precinct, the irascible Hunt (Harvey Keitel), who would rather use his fists than his brains to solve a crime. Hunt, who has earned the adoration of the men under him, does his best to hide his humanity behind a gruff exterior and great gut instincts, in contrast to Sam's more politically correct cutting edge style. But the two begrudgingly combine to make a powerful team ... whether they like it or not. Keitel is nothing short of wonderful as Lieutenant Hunt! And the supporting cast - which includes Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol and Lisa Bonet - is first-rate.

The soundtrack? Can't be beat ... I loved it back in the 70s, and I love it now.

As was the case for so many other American adaptation of British programs, these initial episodes appear to be the British series with an American accent ... but the new product is already starting to set itself apart, establish it's own place and set its own course. ... and I'm happily going along for the ride.

But I do have one question ... Brit series' (Doctor Who notwithstanding) tend to enjoy brief runs. Those that make it here on BBC America, then to run for two or three seasons ... then end. Going out with a flourish, while still in top form, while American series have been known to wither before finally being put out of their misery ... so how long will America's LOM last? How long before we find out whether Sam Tyler gets home?

But, see it for yourself, and decide for yourself. It airs Thursday nights at nine o'clock (central) on ABC (KMID-TV in the Permian Basin). And you can catch-up by watching complete episodes on the ABC/Life on Mars website. It is well worth your giving it a look.