BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)

Subject: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Dazbo
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 06:55 AM

Watched the first episode of the second series last night (I'd videoed it). Thought it was brilliant although darker and less humourous than the first series. A cracking start to the series and the omens look good for the rest, shame it'll be the last. Is he mad, in a coma or really gone back to 1973?

I've heard the US are developing their own version, I wonder what it'll be like? If it's as big a success as the BBC's version I bet it'd run for more than two series (seasons as I believe it's termed over there)

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 06:58 AM

I haven't worked it out yet either.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 08:06 AM

As I live in Manchester I like trying to work out where the locations are (yes, I'm a sad bastard, I know!). I was living here in 1973 but life was then mainly about getting up and going to work in surroundings that I found almost unbearably grim and ugly. Manchester's still pretty ugly - but with added 'designer' buildings - and I'm used to it now.

The character that fascinates me is DCI Hunt. I knew people exactly like that, in 70s Manchester (fortunately, no policemen!), but the actor who plays him (Philip Glenister) is, apparently, a Londoner. Surely Glenister must have lived in Manchester at some point? It's a piece of writing and character acting of pure genius!

The first episode of the new series was not quite up to the standard of the last. Sam Tyler passed out so many times and babbled so much nonsense that I doubt he would have been kept on the case!

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 10:17 AM

****Transatlantic Misunderstanding Alert*****

In Britain, a series is generally a run of 12 or 13 pro grammes, as the schedules are based round 4 series a year. In the US, series are normally 25-26, as far as I can tell.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 12:19 PM

4 series a year.
But not normally the same series.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 02:41 PM

Life On Mars is in 8 episodes.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 02:49 PM

Life On Mars? (David Bowie)

It's a god-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling "No"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on

Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?

It's on Amerikas tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on

Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 03:24 PM

I luv that song

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 04:31 PM

Me too.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 08:25 PM

Just for you, Linda:

Life On Mars?

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 10:02 PM

Hmmm, hope the BBC version makes over to here. If they try to do a US version, they will probably muck it up; American versions of BBC series tend not to get the same nuances etc. I'd much rather watch the BBC's version.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Dazbo
Date: 16 Feb 07 - 03:11 AM

It has been shown on BBC America (and BBC Canada too)

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Dazbo
Date: 16 Feb 07 - 08:07 AM

Trailer for series two

another trailer

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Dazbo
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:09 AM

Well, it's all over finished (and it was brilliant) and now we know what happened to Sam Tyler
































...or do we?

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:15 AM

This series passed me by, as many do, I'm not a great TV watcher. However it seems to have caught the public imagination, and I hear from my faithful steam radio that they may be planning another series, but based on going back to 1981 this time.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 05:08 AM

The thing that made 'Life on Mars' was the 1970's music... I can't remember much about the music of 1981 that would be worth going back to... although the premise of going back to the Thatcher era and fighting it just that little bit harder could make all the difference.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 05:35 AM

I have to confess to being disappointed with the ending. A bit predictable. I was hoping for some stunning plot twist of pure genius, but sadly it was more a case of "Oh yeah - that's what I thought might happen."

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 06:04 AM

Predictable? It certainly wasn't what I expected - I'd assumed it was going to have him meet up with Gene in 2007. Held me to the end with so many twists and blind alleys.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: webfolk
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 06:33 AM

I have to say, I too was addicted, from beginning to end. Best TV drama for years (since 1973) and a great ending.
I'm glad it's over, for reasons of story, plot, over stretching an idea etc, and I now wonder how to spend Tuesday evenings at 9pm. Perhaps i will have to get out and play some music again.
If it comes back in '81 (Ashes to Ashes - I heard) then I look forward to it, if not, I will go back to the DVD's.
I will miss the total non PC humour and drama.
Brilliant!

Geoff
www.webfolk.net

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 07:29 AM

harumph...

just knew he was going to do that.

haaaaaarrrruuuuuuummmmmpppphhhh

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: DMcG
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 08:48 AM

As I was out, I taped the last episode and haven't yet watched it. I haven't read any of this thread, in case it contains spoilers and normally I wouldn't even have opened this thread (yet) for that very reason.

BUT:
Why on earth (or indeed Mars), did the Today program on Radio 4 this morning broadcast details of the ending?

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: webfolk
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 12:23 PM

They weren't the only ones, it was being discussed on Radio 5 last night after the show had finished.
I do feel the BBC are extremely indulgent at plugging their own programmes on chat shows etc etc, DR Who being another example.

Geoff
www.webfolk.net

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:01 PM

Like Ruth Archer I was disappointed with the ending. It was not, in my opinion, very thoroughly thought through.

I think that the beeb wanted a series which combined nostalgia, police procedural, a reminder that, in the 70s, some british policemen behaved very badly (which they don't now, of course!) and the usual 'character driven' plot including a 'will-they-won't-they?' love interest. And they came up with the 'he's in a coma and imagining it all' plot device. This probably seemed like a good wheeze at the time ... and then they had to come up with a satisfying and convincing ending ... and then the imagination ran out ... oh dear!

I did think that the 'Test Card Girl' motif was pretty chilling, though. I wonder what the equivalent in the US would be?

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: MMario
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:05 PM

I'll have to look for this. Haven't ever noticed it on BBC America.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:06 PM

Worth it last night to hear Tom Waits in the background. Gene Hunt in London should be entertaining.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 04:41 PM

I set the video, but watched the beginning and end. I haven't yet worked out how Sam managed to jump off a roof in 2007 and land uninjured in 1973.

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Apr 07 - 05:46 PM

Not at all clear what was supposed to be happening.

I rather think the idea is the whole thing was some kind of near-death experience, in some kind of purgatory in the form of a TV series set in 1973.

In which case the 2007 section was a lie of some kind, a sort of sidetrip into an alternative hellish afterlife, courtesy of The Tempter, the devilish Morgan. And Sam managed to escape back to where he was meant to be, which meant he at last accepted being dead.

Or does anyone have any better ideas?

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 10:02 AM

There's a good Manchester blog here which provides some of the answers.
As a confirmed televison-hater, Life on Mars actually got me looking forward to watching something. A truly excellent piece of drama.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 01:15 PM

Guest,Shimrod:

The 'test-card girl' could also be taken as a reference to "The girl with the mousy hair" from the Bowie lyrics above.

The bowie lyrics appear to have been the inspiration for the show:
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show


CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 04:57 PM

Nigel,

I really hope that the 'Test Card girl' wasn't derived from a Bowie lyric (I've always thought that he is a monumentally silly tw-t!) - but given the aptness of the lyric that you quote, I suppose you could be right ... I'm just off to fling myself off a police station roof in Manchester.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 09:28 PM

What I find hard to believe is that Sam Tyler got paid in 1973. We have new officers joining all the time and it takes months before our pay branch get around to recognising their existence and giving them some money. The 1973 Mancherster police pay branch must have been super efficient to come to terms with someone dropping in from the future and making sure his pay cheque came through every month!

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 07:56 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 02:59 PM

Arnie, are you sure he was from the future (the present to us)? Maybe he was delusional in the 70s, and blacked out in the railway tunnel. He had a brief dream of the future, and the only "Back to Reality" was to dream he threw himself of a building.
We didn't see him hit the ground, a classic happening for dreams!

Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 05:42 PM

That doesn't work - not with all thise referances he made to future events, such as the Birmingham Six.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 03:27 AM

I loved the programmes but why didn't he tell his colleagues to bet on Sunderland to win the FA Cup ?
Doh ! maybe he didn't know.
Well, I'm tired.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 09:20 AM

fat B*****rd.

Who would have believed him?!

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: GUEST,Angle of Spangle
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 10:01 PM

Never mind all these theories, the main question for me was who was the sexiest, Sam Tyler or anti hero Gene Hunt??

At first it seemed Tyler was primed to be the obvious heartthrob, with his caring sharing PC ways, but as time went on I found myself warming to Hunt, at least he had spontaneity and zest, never mind the grubby copies of Just Jugs on top of his desk...

In contrast Tyler turned out to be something of a box-ticking, mealy mouthed, health 'n' safety conscious, NuLabour party 7 pooper..

Looking forward therefore to seeing Hunt in Ashes to Ashes, set in 1981. Wonder if he'll have moved on from 'oops to Ravioli?

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 07:04 AM

Though I've never worked for the police, I must say that that while I was watching, the question of how Sam was paid, as mentioned by Arnie above, did make me think that maybe there was another level of unreality at work here. (Though it must be really hard for a writer to land someone in another time-frame and tie up all the loose ends that go with it.)

Could have done without the occasional remark 'You're joking me!' which doesn't actually make sense, and definitely wasn't heard until it spread rapidly (via 'Eastenders'?)a year or so ago - in 1973 it would surely have been 'You're kidding me!' I'm nostagic for those cars, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 09:34 AM

Party 7 really was crap beer, I can remember that. I can't imagine a bunch of knowledgeable coppers putting up with it.

I think people are issing the point if they saw it as being set in the period. It was set in the TV series of the period, and playing with the cliches involved.

"You're joking me" - I've never come across that in real life.

Subject: RE: BS: Life on Mars (BBC TV)
From: JohnB
Date: 17 Apr 07 - 10:37 AM

I am originally from Manchester, although I have lived in Canada since 1977. I don't get any decent television reception where I live (at the bottom of a deep valley, there is a ski hill just across the road, get the picture,I don't)so, this programme came on at 2.00 am on Boxing day morning when I was staying at my daughters place. The first scene was a shot of Moston College, where I went in the 60's so, I had to stay up and watch it. It did seem interesting but as I only saw the one episode it was a bit difficult to follow.
JohnB