[moonmonkey]

>> IF YOU ARE JOINING US AFTER OCTOBER 08 THEN LOOK TO THE BOTTOM OF THE THREAD <<

Ok, I just finished series 2 (the final) of Life on Mars by the BBC and it has blown my mind.

Its one of the most well written, well produced and clever TV shows I have ever seen.
IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!

Well worth the download.

[analogika]

I was going to say "Best Bowie song ever", but then I clicked the link and read that the sequel would be called "Ashes to Ashes", at which point it became obvious that the title WAS a Bowie reference.

That sounds really good - thanks for the recommendation!

Oh, and that's seriously the best Bowie song ever. One for the "5 songs" thread.

[Mastrap]

I just started watching it and so far it's really cool. If you like British cop shows from the 70's then The Sweeney is a good one to check out. (Cockney Rhyming slang: Sweeney Todd = Flying Squad.)

[LegendaryPinkOx]

Originally Posted by analogika 

Oh, and that's seriously the best Bowie song ever.

Hells Yeah! symbolizes loss of innocence: that mystical wonder as kids we once had of films, which has now been replaced by corperations, power struggles, and all round quest for profit. Such a powerful tune too!

Its on Amerika's tortured brow, that Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow. Now the writers have stuck for fame, cuz Lennons on sale again...

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by analogika 

I was going to say "Best Bowie song ever"

Moonage Daydream holds that distinction, IMO.

[Face Ache]

Watching an episode of Life on Mars the other week, I noticed that the back dash of their Ford Cortina was falling apart. Torn up and rotten, it looked every inch it's 35 years old and spoiled the illusion of it being a new car. Pity they didn't restore the inside for the series.

Great show though. I can't help but feeling if I were trapped in 1973 I'd want to stay there.

[nonhuman]

Probably one of my favorite shows ever. I'm enjoying Ashes to Ashes so far too, but not sure if it's quite as good.

Originally Posted by analogika 

I was going to say "Best Bowie song ever", but then I clicked the link and read that the sequel would be called "Ashes to Ashes", at which point it became obvious that the title WAS a Bowie reference.

In the very first episode the Sam (the main character) is listening to Life on Mars on his iPod/8-track.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

Great show though. I can't help but feeling if I were trapped in 1973 I'd want to stay there.

Yes, but you'd be trapped in 1973 Britain. Food, not so much.

[OwlBoy]

I love this show! Its great. Too bad Ashes to Ashes seems to be a stinker.



-Owl

[Face Ache]

Holy crap, according to Wiki a US "remake" has been commissioned.

[moonmonkey]

Prepare for 8 straight seasons....

[LegendaryPinkOx]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

Holy crap, according to Wiki a US "remake" has been commissioned.

Yeah we've ran out of ideas a long time ago. Its just a shame that we hardly give any credit to you guys. I've shown episodes of the original office to my friends and they thought you copied us! ugh.

[brassplayersrock²]

you mean... WE copied THEM. The horror!!!! </sarcasm>

[OwlBoy]

Yeah, I will be telling anyone who listens to watch the original and not the US version. When I read that I was thinking that The Office worked ok in a new american version that did it's own things. But I don't think Life on Mars would lend its self to such a thing.

-Owl

[moonmonkey]

Originally Posted by LegendaryPinkOx 

Yeah we've ran out of ideas a long time ago. Its just a shame that we hardly give any credit to you guys. I've shown episodes of the original office to my friends and they thought you copied us! ugh.

Most Brits grew up watching crappy UK versions of Silverspoons, family ties etc. which they thought were british ideas, so the show is on the other foot now, you can still point you finger at Trisha (the UK version of Opera) and laugh mockingly.

[alligator]

Is the show available for free anywhere, or did you torrent it? I refuse to download any shows illegally so I'm stuck with whatever they offer for free.

[moonmonkey]

Its on itunes in the UK, you could order it from Amazon.
Its on BBC America

[Mastrap]

It was on BBC Canada, but I think it has finished now.

[glideslope]

Forget Mars. Are there Hot Women on Venus!!!!!

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by analogika 

I was going to say "Best Bowie song ever", but then I clicked the link and read that the sequel would be called "Ashes to Ashes", at which point it became obvious that the title WAS a Bowie reference.

That sounds really good - thanks for the recommendation!

Oh, and that's seriously the best Bowie song ever. One for the "5 songs" thread.

Made even better when covered by Yann Tiersen.

[OwlBoy]

I thought the Bowie version was the cover…

[- - e r i k - -]

Cover hierarchy

Life on Mars by David Bowie (November 1971)
- Life on Mars by Barbra Streisand (October 1974)
- Liv på Mars by Frida (1975)
- Life on Mars by Snakepit Rebels (1992)
- Life on Mars by Rick Wakeman (1995)
- Life on Mars by The Flaming Lips (March 1996)
- Life on Mars by Manix (1998)
- Life on Mars? by Marti Webb (September 21, 1999)
- Life on Mars by Yann Tiersen & Neil Hannon (1999)
- Life on Mars by Geoff Keezer (January 25, 2000)
- Life on Mars? by Cybernauts (December 27, 2000)
- Life on Mars by Jasper Steverlinck & Steven and Stijn Kolacny (2003)
- Life on Mars by Scala featuring Jasper Steverlinck (May 12, 2003)
- Life on Mars by Michelle Branch (September 1, 2005)
- Life on Mars? by Ed Alleyne-Johnson (October 30, 2006)

[OwlBoy]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Cover hierarchy

Life on Mars by David Bowie (November 1971)
- Life on Mars by Barbra Streisand (October 1974)
- Liv på Mars by Frida (1975)
- Life on Mars by Snakepit Rebels (1992)
- Life on Mars by Rick Wakeman (1995)
- Life on Mars by The Flaming Lips (March 1996)
- Life on Mars by Manix (1998)
- Life on Mars? by Marti Webb (September 21, 1999)
- Life on Mars by Yann Tiersen & Neil Hannon (1999)
- Life on Mars by Geoff Keezer (January 25, 2000)
- Life on Mars? by Cybernauts (December 27, 2000)
- Life on Mars by Jasper Steverlinck & Steven and Stijn Kolacny (2003)
- Life on Mars by Scala featuring Jasper Steverlinck (May 12, 2003)
- Life on Mars by Michelle Branch (September 1, 2005)
- Life on Mars? by Ed Alleyne-Johnson (October 30, 2006)

Well how bout that. I guess the number of covers might be what confused me. And add to that Sebastian Karlsson in 2005, on Swedish Idol. Wikipedia lists even more it seems: Life on Mars? - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . This song gets around.

-Owl

[TravisReynolds]

I love astronemy, how much more till you guys think we will go to mars?

[Face Ache]

Another great BBC show, if you get the chance to catch it: Jekyll

Jekyll (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (link has major spoilers)

It's like The Singing Detective meets Hannibal Lecter.

[Peter]

Life on Mars is really really good

[Gene Jockey]

Originally Posted by OwlBoy 

I love this show! Its great. Too bad Ashes to Ashes seems to be a stinker.

[/URL]
-Owl

Ashes to Ashes is certainly not Life on Mars, but it's not too bad. I keep tuning in, er, torrenting every week I'll likely buy it when it comes out on disc in May.

[OwlBoy]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

Another great BBC show, if you get the chance to catch it: Jekyll

Jekyll (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (link has major spoilers)

It's like The Singing Detective meets Hannibal Lecter.

Speaking of other shows, this ain't BBC, it is E4, but… Skins is great too.

Skins (TV series - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

-Owl

[Face Ache]

Just watched the first episode of Ashes To Ashes. That was some seriously bad acting by Keeley Hawes.

[OwlBoy]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

Just watched the first episode of Ashes To Ashes. That was some seriously bad acting by Keeley Hawes.

Yeah, thats how I felt. Not sure I will follow that one.

[moonmonkey]

OK, just thought I would bump this to say the US remake will air on ABC Thursdays at 10pm ET beginning October 9. It will also air on Global in Canada.

They have managed to get Harvey Keitel to play Gene Hunt, and i'm really looking forward to it.
According to wikipedia they have simplified the plot for the US market, so I might be able to understand it now.

[Paco500]

I don't know if the pool of talented UK television actors is limited or if there is some relationship between these shows, but if you enjoyed Life on Mars, I would reccomend checking out Clocking Off and Blackpool. There is very little similar between these three shows, either in content or style, but they share many of the same cast and there is a what can best be described as a similar vibe. Blackpool is based on a concept that sounds terrible but turns out to be sublime. It was remade in the US as the horribly reviewed Viva Laughlin, but don't let this travesty sway you.

[Charles Bouldin]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

Moonage Daydream holds that distinction, IMO.

Yep. The version on "David Live", circa 1974 has Earl Slick delivering one of the best guitar solos every recorded.

[Nick_G]

Superb show and one of the best TV series in the last 10 years IMO. I have both seasons on DVD.

'Ashes To Ashes' is watchable but not a patch on 'Life On Mars'. LOM is going to be remembered in 20 years as one of the greats I think.

[moonmonkey]

Has any one seen the new US version?
Any good?