Original “Life on Mars” Pilot Online

by Larry on 20 Jun 2008

lom 225x300 Original “Life on Mars” Pilot OnlineWe reported previously that producers were planning on overhauling the pilot for the North American version of “Life on Mars”. TV Week is reporting that the original pilot has crept online:

A copy of David E. Kelley’s ABC drama “Life on Mars” has popped up on [bittorrent sites], the filesharing site that drives broadcasters crazy. The posting follows the recent Internet arrival of J.J. Abrams’ “Fringe.” But there’s a big difference between the “Fringe” and “Mars” postings. Fox plans to air the “Fringe” pilot pretty much as is this September. ABC, on the other hand, is planning major retooling to “Mars,” and has even brought in new showrunners to overhaul the show.

This isn’t the first unaired pilot to hit the internet, and it won’t be the last. I don’t believe that producers have to worry about comparisons between this pilot and the retooled one, as the article suggests. They’re going to have to worry about comparisons with the widely popular BBC version.

Will you search out this pilot? Now that David E. Kelly has been replaced, what are your expectations of this new series?

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“Life on Mars” Pilot do over

by Larry on 04 Jun 2008

lom 225x300 “Life on Mars” Pilot do overIn May, we posted that the BBC Drama, “Life on Mars”, was being adapted for ABC. Now there is talk to dumping the pilot and starting over. The LA Times reports:

The network and producers are talking about tossing out the pilot and starting over. Or not; maybe they’ll just tweak a few details. Some of the actors might get canned. Not necessarily, though. One thing we know for sure: Over the last few days, the decision was made to move the series out of Los Angeles — in both its setting and its production — to shoot on location in New York City, giving it a very different look.

Nearly all of the time, I’d prefer the show come directly from BBC to U.S. television (i.e. Doctor Who) instead of being ‘re-imagined’ (i.e. Coupling). “Life On Mars” is a show that would work well, and I don’t believe it needs translation. However, if they simply would have created an entirely new show “based on Life On Mars“, it would make more sense to me. Just use the same premise to inspire a new show.

I’m unsure reshooting or recasting at this point in time is good or bad news. Is it good news?

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