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Jason O'Mara Finds <I>Life on Mars </i> (Or Vice Versa)
Celtic thesp Jason O'Mara, who had the lead in ABC's new take on investigator Philip Marlowe (but, alas, that pilot was not picked up), is still set to do some sleuthing, only this time in the '70s. According to the Reporter, O'Mara has been tapped to front Life on Mars, David E. Kelley's BBC-series-inspired ABC pilot about a detective mysteriously transported three decades into the past after his girlfriend is kidnapped.
O'Mara's role was deemed so tricky to cast that Life was suspended from this past development cycle, and now hopes for a mid-season bid. What About Brian's Rachelle Lefevre has the female lead, playing the rare lady detective during the disco days.
O'Mara's recent creds include Men in Trees and In Justice.
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Jun 29, 2007 3:12 PM
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So they got an Irish actor to play an American in a rehash of a series featuring a British actor. WOW! What a stretch. This whole project is best left alone. I am a fan of the original version of "LoM" from the "Beeb." Please Mr. Kelley pick on another series, and leave this one alone.
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Jun 29, 2007 3:53 PM
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I loved the BBC version of this show and I believe that it can work even better in an American setting. David Kelley doesn't always do quirky shows, he has a good history of developing dramas too! I felt that one downfall of the BBC show was it's overly depressing outlook throughout! I think that Kelley will produce a quality show and I love Jason O'Mara!
I for one am looking forward to this show - and will be tuning in!
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Jun 29, 2007 4:58 PM
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I really, really hope ABC doesn't mess this up. If Life on Mars US is half as good as the original, count me in. And being half as good as the original is no easy feat in itself!
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Jun 29, 2007 5:33 PM
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I don't know Jason O'Mara's work, but if they decide they need someone else I wish they would look at Andrew Lincoln. Or maybe just need another character. Sigh. I hate falling for a UK actor & can't watch most of his work. The US needs this guy. Really! 
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Jun 29, 2007 5:56 PM
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I saw on the BBC America website that there was a second season on the BBC. Does anyone know when/if it will air over here?
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Jun 29, 2007 6:20 PM
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LuvGems - Jason O'Mara has appeared on the TV shows In Justice, guested on The CLoser, CSI; MIami, Men in Trees, and Criminal Minds. He is married to Paige Turco!
katzen - I have been looking for the second season of the BBC version also. If I remember right it is scheduled to start in August!
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Jun 29, 2007 6:22 PM
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You know who would have been perfect for this role? John Simm! Oh, wait a minute, he's already played Sam Tyler to perfection. I guess I won't need to be watching this.
This is just a train wreck waiting to happen. Please Mr. Kelley, keep your hands off my TV show.
ETA: The second series of Life on Mars on BBC America has been pushed back until January at last word.
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Jun 29, 2007 7:13 PM
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I'm torn. I really love the BBC America version. And usually, if I've watched the British version, I don't like the American version.
But I do like Jason O'Mara. What's a girl to do?
Maybe in this case I'll just take a wait-and-see attitude......
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Jun 29, 2007 10:18 PM
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I have become a fan of Jason O'Mara over the last five years. I feel confident he'll do a great job with the material he gets. I just hope the writing is up to par.
And, no worries, O'Mara does a great American accent. I had no idea he was Irish until I saw his bio.
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Jun 30, 2007 2:02 AM
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I'm not familiar with the show but I love Jason O'Mara. I'm looking forward to this.
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Jun 30, 2007 2:54 PM
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Why does the US insist on copying anything that's successful in the UK? You can't improve on perfection, and "Life on Mars" is pretty close to that. Forget even trying to come close to John Simms' portrayal of Sam Tyler, I don't care if you came straight from the British Monarchy.
And what's this about Life on Mars being pushed back until January???? After almost a year without Sam Tyler, I am in serious withdrawal. Say it isn't so.
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Jul 2, 2007 9:40 AM
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This is a special series that could easily be diluted by trying to stretch eight episode BBC seasons into 22 episode American seasons.
This isn't some sitcom like All in the Family. It's a tightly woven novel in a TV format. It's a great concept. Leave it alone and come up with something original.
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Jul 2, 2007 12:03 PM
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As soon as I saw the first episodes of the Kudos production I knew that LIFE ON MARS could be adapted as well or better here in the States, providing we gave it A-list attention. I think that's happening - the delay to find the right lead is a good sign.
The general notion of going back to the early 1970's in a tough inner city crime world works fantastically here. For the UK series they considered both London and Leeds before settling on Manchester for basically political reasons. It's a generic setting, really. You can bring it to Cleveland or LA and it still works.
As for the old fashioned slam-bam policing style that Sam finds himself in the middle of, I *think* that the world of Serpico and Dirty Harry can handle it!  The rough riding Ford Cortina Cowboys of Gene Hunt's squad were directly modeled after THE SWEENEY, an enormously influential 70's British cop show starring John Thaw (Inspector Morse) as the "Guv" of a Flying Squad unit in London The Sweeney was a huge hit because it gave British viewers some American-style action instead of constables on bicycles. So it all comes full circle.
As for the number of episodes, there was nothing special about the 16 total shows that Kudos made. They could have done more or fewer, and still gotten the broader story arcs across. I expect to see some of the same elements introduced throughout the series, while the individual episodes are retooled as American cop show teleplays. Hopefully good ones.
I do expect them to backpedal the racism and sexism a bit, partly because that's going to be even more of a distraction in the States than it was in the UK, but also partly because no show today can resist diversity in casting. You will probably see more Black, Asian and Hispanic officers, and more women in prominent roles, even while Annie confronts the glass ceiling of sexism on the force.
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Jul 10, 2007 7:21 PM
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