Life On Mars

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

An example of a shoddy show getting even worse as it went on is the 63 episode horror of Two Pints Of Lager and a Packet Of Crisps.

Especially when 61 of those episodes were criminally unfunny.

I dare you to describe the other two epispodes

[Skummy]

The musical one, which if memory serves me correctly had a half-way amusing ballad about biscuits, and one early one with the following exchange;

"I could lend you some locomotive horse pornography..."

"Wait, that exists?"

"Well, I could make a collage".

The rest of the episode was still probably gash, though.

[Scott McFly]

I could be wrong, but don't US shows tend to have a team of writers whereas UK shows are generally written by one or two people. That would also explain why seasons are longer in the US than the UK, although there are exceptions such as My Family which has a US-style writing team and brainstorming sessions and all that jazz. And that's another show that's absolutely outstayed its welcome.

[Nick Adams]

Speaking of shows on ABC, Life on Mars might not last. They tend to take a bunch of good ideas and not let them develop, and instead take a load of shitty ideas and hope that those will garner ratings from the average individual. Which sucks, but American television watchers generally are morons who would rather see twenty drug busts that all have the same general purpose in the course of five episodes than to see a long story line play out. It's why cable networks are getting more viewers. They actually bother to stick with shows for a while before they end them.

As it stands, Life on Mars in the US tends to be very inundated in American post-Nixon pop-culture and the environment of New York City itself. It's really a US thing, so unless you're from the US or understand the environment back then, chances are you might not "get" the show.

Edited February 2, 2009 by Nick Adams

[naiwf]

There's only been about 8 episodes shown in the US and there was about a 2 month gap between the 7th and the one this past week. I like it quite a bit, but I don't see it surviving more than another season at best since nothing seems to these days.

Multiple sources are confirming that ABC has canceled my beloved Life on Mars. Per an insider, the network recently advised the show's producers that it would not be ordering a second season. The heads-up will allow them to make this year's season finale a series finale, thus leaving no questions unanswered

I hate being right about the shows I like getting whacked early every season

[GhostMachine]

If the American version has been cancelled, I can see why. It only has 3 things going for it, none of which have to do with the writing:

1. Harvey Keitel. But that's a frickin' given.

2. Gretchen Mol is smoking hot with a 70's style hairstyle....even if she is wearing a policewoman uniform.

3. Michael Imperioli. I thought he was pretty damn good on the Sopranos and when he filled in on Law & Order while Jesse L. Martin took a leave of absence, and I believe his work on this show is just as good as his work on the Sopranos.

I've only seen 3 episodes of the American version (the last two episodes and one of the early episodes, but not the first), but I haven't seen the U.K. version; BBC America was about to start showing it when I had to dump a bunch of cable channels, and it was one of the channels that went because I had to get rid of the package that it was a part of.

Was the U.K. version of The Eleventh Hour any good? The American version is okay, but I only watch it if there's nothing else on.

[nufan]

I have enjoyed the series so far.. Jason O'Mara is so so as an actor but Harvey Keitel and Michael Imperiolli are freakin awesome

sad to see it end, perhaps another network will pick it up

[Timmoru Suzuki]

Was the U.K. version of The Eleventh Hour any good? The American version is okay, but I only watch it if there's nothing else on.

We only had 3 feature length episodes IIRC (more like 3 TV movies more than anything), but we did get Patrick Stewart as the lead, which was awesome. I watched two of the three and they were fine. Nothing special, and probably just something to watch if there was nothing else on.

[YI]

Teachers (40 episodes over 3.5 series with series 3 being by far the best)

LIIIIEEES!!! Series 2 was the best. Season 3 was a close 2nd, but Season 2 is the best. I love how you refer to season 4 as ".5" seeing as none of the original main cast is present, although the likes of Bob and Liz got a more prominent role...without Damien and Bob, season 4 would have been shit.

Yeah, just realised I'm like a month late to this.

Oh, and UK version of Life On Mars is excellent, I never watched it all the way through, but I would sit down and watch odd episodes from time to time and it was hilarious. Never seen the American version.

[Dan]

Two pints is great :@