Premiere Watch '08: Life on Mars

Life on Mars: "Out Here in the Fields"

I've never seen the original British version of Life on Mars, so I can't draw any comparisons between that and the new American remake (if they ever make an American Shameless, however, I will be all over that, trust me). But I can say that, as a stand-alone entity, I genuinely enjoyed the new American version.

The show's plot is intriguing (which, sadly, does not go without saying when talking about TV pilots), especially now that we know that Maya's safe in 2008, but Sam's still stuck in the past. Why's he still there, and how does he get home? Would getting shot in the past really wake him up in the future? Why's he even there in the first place? Is he really in a coma or did he time travel or is he crazy?

My understanding is that the British version left the show's whole concept as more of a mystery, where as in the American version seem to suggest that Sam is in a coma and the 1973 world is all in his mind. But, I guess it isn't all wrapped up in a box yet, because it seemed like his actions in the past did change the future, and how could that have happened if it was all in his mind? Unless Maya ending up save in 2008 and his exploits in 1973 were in no way connected. Plus, that is one extremely detailed world to have been conjured up in someone's brain. Yeah, now that I think about it, I guess there's plenty of mystery still left on the table here.

The show's cast is strong. Now that Men In Trees is defunct (whaaaaa!), it's nice to see Jason O'Mara (MIT's Stewart, the publisher) in a new vehicle. Hopefully, ABC will be kinder to this one and not jerk it around from time slot to time slot and force it into lengthy hiatuses. Also, as devotee of The Cosby Show and A Different World in my childhood, I find it just awesome to see Lisa Bonet back on television. And I remember Gretchen Mol being dubbed "the next 'it' girl" years back, but I've never seen her in anything, so it's nice to finally get that chance. (Plus I'll admit that I already like her just because she named her son Ptolemy.) Oh, and the bartender was Mike Starr, who played Kenny on Ed! I hope he gets in some more scenes in the future!

One thing I really liked about this show was that modern day detective Sam really cared about the 4th Amendment rights of criminal procedure and the standard rules of police conduct--and the lack of adherence to those things in 1973. I found his advocacy for getting people lawyers when they ask for them and procuring warrants to be downright refreshing, because a lot of the time on TV shows (even those set in the present), policeman don't give a crap about any of that stuff (Without a Trace used to drive me nuts with its rule-bending). Unfortunately, it looks like Sam is going to have to adjust to the standards of 1973, because he doesn't seem to be having any luck in getting 1973 to conform to his.

Also, the show has a really fun '70s soundtrack.

Other thoughts and highlights:

• Sam and Maya were having kind of a heavy conversation while in the midst of speeding to crime scene.
• Well, it would be convenient for alibi purposes to have an identical twin.
• If he'd been listening to another song when he was hit by the car, would he have gone back to another decade?
• Well, at least he already seems to have a life carved out for him here in the 1973.
• The police station looks kind of shady...and grimy.
• He is not making the best first impression here in 1973... He's coming off a little crazy and ornery.
• No wonder girl cops didn't get any serious cases; Annie looks pretty ridiculous in that outfit (esp. with the hat).
• Ha, I was going to say: they showed math on TV in the 70s? Boring.
• Sam: "Who dreams about being yelled at by a closet feminist in the 1973 Policewoman's Bureau?"
• Wow, in the 70s, when the cops were in a hurry, they jumped over desks!
• Really creepy scene where it looked like Sam might shoot the kid to keep him from abducting Maya in the future. Luckily, that entire bad situation seems to have been diverted since Sam could hear Maya tell him that she's okay. So, did Sam's talk with the kid keep him from growing up to become an abductor, and that's why Maya's safe now?

This pilot episode makes Life on Mars one of three new shows (with Fringe and Privileged) that I actually wanted to see more off after the first episode.

Premiere Rating: 8.0/10

(photo: ABC/Life on Mars)

Extended Weekend Recap

The Office:
This episode was fantastic. Give me super-sized Office any day of the week. I could watch a 3 hour episode of The Office and not get tired of it. Heck, I would work at Dunder Mifflin if I could :-)

Highlights:

• Jim making blindfolded Karen step over imaginary "big holes" during the egg race.
• Dwight and Ryan getting into a fight during the egg race.
• Oscar's decision that he'll transfer if Dwight gets Michael's job and his boyfriend can come if he wants to, but if not, he was looking for a way to get out of that relationship anyway.
• Stanley taking Jim out during the sumo wrestling contest.
• Michael looking for someone to replace him with the charisma of "a Hope or a Bynes."
• Pam working up the guts to set Jim and everyone else straight. Good girl, Pammy!

And one of the highlights of this entire television season:

• Andy Bernard falling into the lake in his sumo outfit and floating way! Freaking hysterical. I still laugh just thinking about it. What was he even trying to do, anyway? I hope someone found him and pulled him out of the lake eventually.

Grey's Anatomy:

Thatcher is out of control. Does he really blame Meredith for this? Meredith? Not the chief or Bailey, who were the people actually in charge Susan's care? And it was real supportive of everyone else to just stand around and let him yell at Meredith, when they know he's already smacked her? Geez. Somebody help the poor girl out.

Oh, and add Derek Shepherd to the list of TV characters who need kicked in the face. Geez! Is he seriously mad at Meredith for not telling him about her test disaster? Literally, all the poor girl could do was sit in the waiting room staring straight ahead. She was not in the state to function properly--that's why she couldn't take the test in the first place! Everyone else who cares about Mere looked around the hospital for her to see how she was. Derek is incapable of that? He's acting like such a loser. Cowboy up, McDreamy, for God's sake.

Suddenly Addison's mantra of Derek "emotionally checking out" of their marriage months before she hooked up with Steamy seems to be ringing true. Also now appearing to be prophetic is McVet's warning to Meredith that Derek would hurt her again. Ugh. Bar slut/Reunion girl can have him.

Traveler:

I was so excited about this show (I've been looking forward to it for a year now) and I keep forgetting to watch my tape of it! Oops. I am glad to see that Trey Atwood in a role where he's not attacking Marissa Cooper.

Without a Trace:

Worst. Season. Finale. Ever.

Desperate Housewives:

I actually enjoyed this episode! (Well, at least the first half of it.) Yea! Susan was funny, Edie had some funny moments, and Gaby's comment that marriage to Susan might make Mike miss the coma was great. But then came the Lynette storyline. Ugh. She kind of deserved that bump on the head. Cancer, though, definitely not good. At least Bree's coming back next week! Yea!

Brothers and Sisters:

Tearjerker. Even though little William died, I think Tommy and Julia made the right choice to not having one twin's kidney transplanted into the other baby. Kidney transplants in premature babies have got to be extremely risky. This way, at least they still have Elizabeth Walker.

I think my other favorite part was Kevin taking down the guy who wanted to blackmail the Senator.

Unfortunately, there were no drunken secret-spilling scenes. Maybe next week.