The Remote Island

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• "Life on Mars": "Out Here in the Fields" (Pilot Episode)

  If you've been reading The Remote Island for a while, you know we're fans of the original British version of Life on Mars -- and we've been tracking the American series through all kinds of changes, from new producers to a new cast to a move in setting from L.A. to New York City. So how did the show turn out after all that? Pretty well -- though with all the introductory material in the pilot episode, we don't get to see this fantastic group of actors really show their stuff quite yet. And the story is virtually identical to the BBC's version -- which means if you've seen it, you already know what to expect. If not, you're lucky, because it's a unique and original concept. But let's start from the beginning: Read More... Posted Oct 10 2008, 11:20 AM by Ben Kallen with | with no comments Filed under: ABC, The Cosby Show, BBC, David E. Kelley, Jason O'Mara, Life on Mars, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Lisa Bonet, Gretchen Mol

• "Life on Mars" Casting Update: Gretchen Mol

  We've been keeping you informed on the many changes Life on Mars has undergone since dropping producer David E. Kelley and most of the cast earlier this year. The fantasy cop drama, based on the British show about a modern detective who mysteriously finds himself in 1973, has already pulled in some pretty big guns: The Sopranos' Michael Imperioli as a tough cop, and the great Harvey Keitel as the detective squad's violent boss.   Read More... Posted Jul 29 2008, 05:23 PM by Ben Kallen with | with no comments Filed under: David E. Kelley, Rachelle Lefevre, Life on Mars, Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli

• Today in Mulligans: "Life on Mars" Hits the Reset Button

  A while back we told you about the troubled history of Life on Mars, ABC's remake of the brief but terrific British series about a modern detective who suddenly finds himself trapped in the year 1973. Headed by writer-producer David E. Kelley, the show was going to be set in Los Angeles and contain many elements of the original. Well, problems ensued, as they say. One critic who saw an early pilot said that it was okay but that casting was uneven, despite the presence of the terrific Irish actor Colm Meaney as Gene Hunt, the violent, unevolved leader of the '70s detective squad. Kelley turned the show over to the creators of the recently canceled drama October Road, who moved  the setting to New York City, and it was placed on ABC's schedule for next season. Well, now it turns out that the new producers are changing more than anyone had imagined.   Read More... Posted Jul 17 2008, 12:24 PM by Ben Kallen with | with no comments Filed under: ABC, BBC America, David E. Kelley, Colm Meaney, Jason O'Mara, Life on Mars, Josh Appelbaum, Mulligans

• "Life on Mars" -- Can This Show Be Saved?

  When ABC announced it was planning an American remake of Life on Mars, fans were intrigued. The two-season BBC show, about a modern detective who has a car accident and wakes up in 1973, was a fantastic combination of fantasy and police drama. As Sam Tyler battled crime in the '70s, he also had to deal with that era's lower-technology, higher-violence, civil rights-ignoring attitudes toward police work. At the same time, he tried to solve the overlying mystery: Had he actually gone back in time, or was this insanity or some kind of dream... and if so, how could he wake up? But along with the intriguing concept and some great characterizations, the show's actual police-work plots were often simplistic. So it seemed natural that ABC would hire David E. Kelley, the prolific writer-producer of such shows as Boston Legal, who's known for complex storylines and a fondness for weird situations. But something went wrong along the way, and after several delays, Kelley turned the show over to the producers of October Road. Soon after, even the setting of the show had been changed from Los Angeles to New York City. At this point, no one actually knows what Life on Mars will eventually look like. But the original pilot, made before all the changes went into effect, recently leaked onto the Web. And according to a writer for Britain's The Guardian who watched it, there's reason to worry. Read More... Posted Jun 20 2008, 02:30 PM by Ben Kallen with | with no comments Filed under: BBC America, BBC, David E. Kelley, Colm Meaney, Rachelle Lefevre, Jason O'Mara, Ashes to Ashes, October Road, Life on Mars, John Simms