Nix | March 3, 2009
2 comments

ABC Cancels Life on Mars

Life on Mars was one of those shows with an intriguing premise that I always intended to watch, but for one reason or another (mostly because of laziness), I never got around to watching it. Apparently neither did anyone else, because after struggling through its first season, the show, a remake of a British show of the same name, has been officially canceled by ABC.

THR has your cancellation news:

The network has decided not to renew the series starring Jason O’Mara as 2008 Detective Sam Tyler working as a cop in 1973 New York.

The series, from 20th TV and ABC Studios, will complete its 17-episode freshman series order with the season finale written as a series finale that will wrap the loose story ends, explain how Tyler got transported back in time and (maybe) bring him back to his own time.

Well, Life on Mars fans, at least it looks like the producers of the show knew they were going to get canned, and have fashioned an honest to goodness series finale complete with wrap-ups for you guys. Isn’t that all we can ask for? I know I’m still waiting for my New Amsterdam series wrap-up. Stupid FOX, always canceling my shows before they get a chance…


Category: Life on Mars (US Remake) TV Series, Sci-Fi TV News |
  • http://www.joshuabean.co.uk David James Munday

    It it not surprising that this show has failed to attract an audience.
    The show is a remake of an award winning UK show. Any time someone thinks they can adapt or rewrite an original show like this are doomed before they begin. The elements that make the show what it is are the writers and cast. It was a mix that just worked like in chemistry or cookery, you have to use the SAME ingredients to get the same results.

    Here in the UK we put up with so many imported US shows, many are very good and attract huge audiences as a result. We would never consider adapting any of them for our “British culture”.
    You won’t see on our TV screens British versions of Monk, Desperate Housewives, Star Trek, Lost or any other US award winning TV show. Why?
    Because we are ‘OK’ watching shows about other cultures. We are not bothered by the fact that our heroes may be American or French or Chinese.
    Sometimes I wonder if remaking these shows isn’t fuelled by a little jealousy. So what if they didn’t think of it first! Life on Mars is a Great Show in its UK format. Don’t mess with it. It’s best left well alone!!
    Why not just run the show on a major network in the US and show the nation what Good British TV is all about.

    • Rabbitt Doe

      All the good US shows and music are British. The orginal UK version of Life on Mars IS run on US TV, but unfortunately I found that out during the last episode and only Ashes to ashes is on now. Life on Mars was my favorite US show because the cast is awesome, so it figures it was cancelled.