"Life on Mars" Out Here in the Fields (2008)

Director:

Gary Fleder

Writers:

Josh Appelbaum (developed for American television by) &
André Nemec (developed for American television by) ...

TV Series:

"Life on Mars" (2008)

Original Air Date:

9 October 2008 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

After an accident, NYPD detective Sam Tyler inexplicably finds himself back in 1973, where he must help solve a murder that is eerily similar to a case he was investigating in 2008. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On TV Series | Planet In Title | TV Series Pilot

Cast

Jason O'Mara	...	Detective Sam Tyler
Michael Imperioli	...	Detective Ray Carling
Gretchen Mol	...	Annie Norris
Jonathan Murphy	...	Detective Chris Skelton
Harvey Keitel	...	Lieutenant Gene Hunt
Lisa Bonet	...	Detective Maya Daniels
Clarke Peters	...	Captain Bellow
Phyllis Somerville	...	Mrs. Raimes
Mike Starr	...	Nelson
Ken Marks	...	Scientist
Michael Mulheren	...	Patrolman
Austin Basis	...	Willy Kramer
Michael Bertolini	...	Colin Raimes
Carrie Getman	...	Dora Keen
Ramsey Faragallah	...	Raimes' Lawyer

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

Kaufman Astoria Studios - 3412 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Kudos Film and Television

Trivia:

There are a few connections in the show to _"October Road"_, an ABC show canceled before _"Life on Mars"_ debuted. Josh Appelbaum, 'Andre Nemec', Bryan Oh, and Scott Rosenberg, who wrote "October Road," are also writers for "Life on Mars." 'Jonathan Murphy', who played Ronnie in "October Road", currently plays Chris Skelton in "Life on Mars." Meanwhile, the name of the apartment building shown in both 1973 and 2008 is 'Cataldo Houses'. Ray Cataldo was an "October Road" character who built houses.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the first two episodes, shots of the World Trade Center show the television antenna. The antenna was not added to the north tower until 1978.

Movie Connections:

References 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Soundtrack:

Signs

Three Versions Of The Same Story

I have now seen three versions of the same Episode 1, the first British one, the first pilot with Colm Meany and the revised one with Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt Naturally I prefer the British version as it is easier to pick up shades of meaning which I could well miss in the American version. I do prefer Colm Meany to Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt. I think the New York cast are better than the Los Angeles one with the possible exception of Annie who is far too pretty. The New York cast seem more believable than those in the first pilot. I thought that the music in the New York episode was very well selected. I hope to see the sort of banter between the characters which was present in the original series and which NCIS does very well. Gene Hunt will be the problem for any actor. He is such a complicated character. Philip Glenister played him superbly in the British version. There's a feeling over here that political correctness may have gone too far in some respects. Gene Hunt's machismo, direct talking and one liners made a great impression when the series was first shown in Britain. The writers were not afraid to point out the flaws and prejudices in the character. Gene Hunt was,however, prepared to learn even if he could not fully understand what Sam Tyler was saying. I do hope that the American version will leave the rough edges which make Gene Hunt such an interesting individual.