ABC “Life On Mars” Cancelled
ABC has cancelled police drama Life On Mars after just one season on the air, The Hollywood Reporter announced on Tuesday.
The show, which is based on the award-winning British series of the same name, stars Jason O’Mara as modern-day Detective Sam Tyler working as a New York City cop in 1973.
The series is expected to complete its 17-episode run with a finale offering an explanation of how Det. Tyler got transported back in time.
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On March 4th 2009, G Puleo wrote:
Too bad about Life On Mars. Its a good show, maybe they think we need more reality T.V. Like the stupid Bachelor!!
On March 5th 2009, randy padula wrote:
ABC blows it again!!! This show is one of the best shows on TV and now it’s gone…Just like October Road
On March 5th 2009, Sandie wrote:
Please give Life on Mars a chance. This is a interesting different show with excellent actors and a great plot. It is so much better than all the other detective show (same old , same old) .
You have a great show, give it a chance.
Enough with the no brain reality shows. Give the viewing audiance something good to watch for a change. I am really disappointed that it is cancelled.
On March 5th 2009, rrogers wrote:
Very surprising that an intelligent, engaging and beautifully written gem like Life on Mars could not survive on your network. I guess our only hope for good programming is still with your poorer cousin – cable stations.
On March 5th 2009, Kate Madeley wrote:
This is a great show! Please don’t cancel
it! Very refreshing….. I can’t take another
reality show!!!!!
On March 5th 2009, Nicholas Wyborski wrote:
Life on Mars is one of the few shows that has been worth watching this year. Why is it being cancelled?
On March 5th 2009, Jo Paradise wrote:
This is the most unique show currently on TV. The acting is great. Name another show that compares what we only dreamed of in the 70s that actually came to fruition. Its too bad if this one slips away.
On March 5th 2009, TravB wrote:
Life on Mars is a great show. Once again tv execs show just how far they have their heads up their asses. Every time there is a new great show it gets axed before people get a chance to see it.
On March 6th 2009, janet madigan wrote:
Once again, I am disappointed with ABC. There were only a few shows on this network worth watching and Life On Mars was one of them. ( along with Eli Stone ) It seems that only the good shows get dropped to make room for the “dumb” type of show or a dumber reality show!!! Please change your mind and give us another season!!!!!
On March 6th 2009, UnNaturalSuperGirl wrote:
are you freaking kidding me! This show has be awesome from the start, never a dry moment and this is what you do to it! Its ridiculous and the most stupidest thing a TV netwok has done, even stupider than The CW not picking Supernatural up for a 5th season! I mean what the hell is wrong with ABC, as a matter a fact, whats wrong with networks that start with ABC! ABC Canceling LOM and ABC Family wacking Kyle XY on off the air! And for what, a TV series that sucks! This is the biggest mistake ever and it better off rethinking! Life on Mars is the greatest Detective series that at least isn’t soley based on criminal offenses! It actually has a twist that keeps people interested!
On March 6th 2009, Li'lDavey wrote:
Life on Mars rocked, it was one of the few shows my wife and I watched together, congrats ABC, we don’t watch anything you currently offer!
On March 7th 2009, Wademan wrote:
Really? With the exception of LOST, I can’t remember a show (other than MARS) that I actually watch on ABC. You ride Reality to death! Why not give MARS a chance? But I stand corrected, you rode “According to Jim” to death 3 years ago, but it is finally done now? Thanks for nothing, I will watch “House” reruns vs. your crap everyday! Maybe you could bring back the Olsen twins!
On March 8th 2009, KellyMC wrote:
I think it is truly sad that a great show such as this
has bee cancelled. Great actors, always an interesting story and super music!! ABC, this is one of the shows on your network that is woth watching. Did the show do better when it was on Thursday nights? Come on, ABC…..what will you replace it with, more reality tv???? Let’s hope another network picks it up.
On March 9th 2009, Ray wrote:
It sucks that they didnt give it more time . reality tv is horrible , as a previous person commented.. the only shows I watched recently both got cancelled …Life on mars .. and October Road..were two great shows with potential . Its tough to find anything good to watch during the week anymore .dancing shows ? whats with that garbage . or idol? I guess the ratings boxes end up in shallow minded households…
On March 9th 2009, Steve Ellis wrote:
What is wrong with ABC, we waited so long for a new style of cop show, it finally arrives and now you chop it. Great actors with a great script. Shame ABC Shame …
On March 10th 2009, camarsfan wrote:
Lost and Life on Mars are the only two things I watch on TV. Why are they canceling one of the few intelligent things to watch on TV? Now I’ll have to cancel my cable when Lost concludes because there won’t be anything worth watching.
On March 11th 2009, Epsilon Process wrote:
I love Life on Mars and hope ABC sees how much support there is and reconsiders. Wishful thinking. I wonder how many people really watch LoM compared to what the ratings say, or any show for that matter. This was a well-done show, great writing, great actors and nicely done 70’s re-enactment. I’m currently also watching the BBC series, which is also very enjoyable. I love comparing the UK 70’s vs the NYC 70’s. Quite different. Anyway, I know there was only a 16 episode run for the UK version, so it compares to the 17 we’re getting, but I still think the show had enough potential for at least another season.
On March 12th 2009, Mark and Gayle wrote:
PLEASE, Please do NOT cancel this show!! Who made this decision? Certainly no one with their pulse on the American public. Retro is so in and you are one of only a few places to experience it. Your advertisers will get the reward because people who watch this show have money. They are the backbone of the economy. Rethink this decision before it is too late.
On March 13th 2009, bil allen wrote:
i usually do not vote or write about shows, but this show is worth it. it’s almost historical quality is worth saving showing our younger generation what it was like then. The research dept. does a great job, and it’s a great show. No more fake Reality shows. ABC. stands for Always Being Canceled. No wonder cable channels are more popular. Wake up Eisner.
On March 17th 2009, maggie wrote:
What a damn shame! Finally a quality show, and it gets dumped, I guess we live in a garbage society when all that makes it is a bunch of reality junk!!!
On March 18th 2009, John wrote:
Probably to be replaced by an insipid, cheap and pornographic so-called reality show like The Bachelor.
No wonder viewers are running away from the former major networks. Brain-dead decisions like this ensure their continued collapse toward irrelevance.
On March 18th 2009, jim foster wrote:
lost is losing it, this show was picking up where lost was lacking and now what?………bacheloer results shows?…………yay
On March 18th 2009, mike blagg wrote:
This really sucks. I enjoyed the series so much that I had it put on DVR. I wonder why the series is wrapping it up? Didn’t another network want to pick it up? Damn you ABC…….I put this show up there with Quantium Leap and Sam Beckett…a show that I NEVER missed as a kid.
On March 18th 2009, Larry wrote:
Are you kidding me? Life on Mars is one of the best shows on ABC. Please give it another chance. It’s a quality show with an interesting twist. Not the same old detective show. Shame on you ABC.
On March 18th 2009, Mike wrote:
A good show not like all the rest great actors great writing please bring it back.
On March 18th 2009, Brandon wrote:
I think this is actually interesting and almost fitting, seeing as how the British series that it was based on only ran for 2 series (16 episodes in total) and they resolved the issue of Tyler’s time travel in a manner that will probably not happen here (due to our sensitive sensibilities) at the end of the 16th episode. That’s the only sad thing to me, because otherwise they have been fairly loyal to the British source material, which is a credit to the show.
This doesn’t need to be like The Office, where they take something brilliant and then drag it on longer than it needs or was ever meant to run. In this day and age, with the landscape of TV changing so rapidly, i think we should be prepared to get used to shows with shorter runs but that fuller and more complete stories in those runs, instead of hundreds of shows that never see proper endings because they are just pulled for bad ratings.
Besides, they may pick up and re-do Ashes to Ashes – the sequel series to Life on Mars in the UK (which is currently running on BBC America)
On March 18th 2009, teresa wrote:
ABC you suck. Life On Mars was one of the best shows on tv. I hate reality shows and that is all you seem to offer. I was a teen in the 70s and tis show could have been a cult classic.
On March 19th 2009, Chris wrote:
Does everyone remember when Seinfeld began in the first year and half it was one of the lowest rated tv shows at the time. The folks at NBC kept it going and it became one of the highest rated tv shows on network tv. Life on Mars had that potential, but the execs on all networks only care about “instant success” and “corporate dollars.”
On March 19th 2009, JP wrote:
Figures…finally something worth watching and it’s curtains after one season. As a child of the 70’s I was really digging it. Won’t be any reason for me to watch TV on Wednesdays now, either!
On March 19th 2009, Mike wrote:
We enjoyed this show and it has such great promise…not to mention production value, acting, and music! The out of touch networks are again demonistratng that they have no idea what the people want! Force-fed reality is all we are gonna continue to get! Too bad.
On March 19th 2009, Diane wrote:
It just sickens me that the greatest show on air is going to be cancelled. I will not watch another ABC show again.
On March 20th 2009, Dave wrote:
I hate abc and will never watch them again! Every time I get hooked on one of their shows they cancel it.
Never again!
On March 20th 2009, Bill wrote:
I am truly disappointed with ABC on their decision to cancel Life On Mars. The only reason I can think why is because there isn’t enough sex and nudity like most programming on ABC as in Private Practice and Desperate Housewives. It’s hard to believe that ABC is owned by Disney, poor Walt is rolling over in his grave.
On March 20th 2009, Scott wrote:
Ditto … ditto … ditto … ditto. I agree with everything written on this message board.
My girlfriend and I LOVE “Life on Mars” and, if we’re not together while watching, we always call each other during commercials to discuss the twists and turns and excellent story lines.
This is terrible news for intelligent viewers who don’t like reality TV and just want a good, well-written, creative show to entertain them and, once in a while, provoke thought.
ABC minus LOM = crap
On March 20th 2009, FlyGirl wrote:
I loved Life On Mars and I don’t feel it got a fair chance. I’m getting a little sick of ABC cancelling every new show just when I start to really get into them. Its no wonder they can’t maintain a viewership of their shows. I think they need to give it a chance to catch on. I miss the really good drama with a smattering of comedy, which is exactly what this show gave us. Sorry to see you go LOM.
On March 21st 2009, Mike wrote:
Great show bad executives over at ABC….As a police officer myself I was a fan…and thought that it had some of the best chemistry out there….realism from the 70’s point of view…..
Sucks whats being done….would love to see TNT or USA or even the FX network pick it up….I’d bet it would kick ass at 10p or 11p on Friday or Saturday night ON CABLE….
We should all remember though….its about money….but then again…ABC brought “SCRUBS” back to life…..hasnt that sucked for the last 2 seasons!?!?!?
what do i know?
C’YA from texas
On March 22nd 2009, Rob in KS wrote:
NO MARS????? SAY IT ISN’T SO!!!!! I can’t BELIEVE ABC would cancel the ONLY decent show (Aside from the Sunday lineup) on the entire network????
ARE THEY ON DRUGS? PLEASE EMAIL ABC AND LETS PETITION TO KEEP THIS SHOW ON THE AIR!!!!!!!!!!!
On March 22nd 2009, Rob in KS wrote:
Everyone NEEDS to write ABC and let them KNOW how we feel about their decision to cancel Life on Mars at the address below:
http://abc.go.com/site/contactus.html
On March 22nd 2009, Mark wrote:
Hard to understand the thinking of network programing. To start with I didn’t care for “Life on Mars” mostly cause I didn’t care for Harvey Kitel’s character, but they seemed to have played it down lately. The recent episodes have become more interesting and I’ll certainly miss Annie. One of the few programs I never miss. Hope the network reconsiders.
On March 22nd 2009, Scott Bieber wrote:
Was watching Life On Mars when they announced series finale in two weeks. I couldn’t believe it. This show is well written and acted. Always kept my interest. ABC is making a big mistake.
On March 23rd 2009, R David wrote:
When I first read the show-cancellation article, and found LIFE ON MARS on it, I thought I must be misreading it. WHY in the world would ABC cancel it? It is awesome. I know that Sam Tyler couldn’t stay in the ’70s FOREVER, but one season? Come on! There are very few shows left that ACTUALLY are worth watching. Many of us don’t watch reality tv, and are always on the search for a good quality tv program. This one was it. So for the life of me, I just don’t get why it was cancelled….
On March 23rd 2009, Janet wrote:
Sooooo disappointed in hearing Life On Mars will be gone. It was really a great show, the whole dynamic (tho nicked once again from the BBC) was well played out. The whole group played great together, the music was great – and whodathunk Harvey Keitel doing TV would be so good. Cable should pick LOM and Eli Stone up. Shame on you, ABC. You screwed up again. When are you going to learn?????
On March 23rd 2009, Kevin wrote:
They just dont give shows a chance anymore. I was stunned after watching Mars and them say the show last episode. Big mistake!!!!!!
On March 24th 2009, Ralph C wrote:
When I see all the reality type drivel type of shows we’re given, it’s so disappointing to see a quality series like this be axed. The cast was outstanding and the writing was great. Hope that ABC will reconsider this poor decision.
On March 25th 2009, MELINDA wrote:
OMG I LOVE THIS SHOW…. I DONT UNDERSTAND .. ITS WAY MORE INTERESTING THEN DANCING WITH THE STARS AND AMERICAN IDOL… I CANT BELIEVE THIS! IM SO UPSET.. EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WATCHING IT.. I THINK IT JUST HAD A BAD TIME SLOT.. TO LATE FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH.. THEY SHOULD TRY IT EARLIER FOR ONE MORE SEASON AND SEE HOW IT WORKS.. PLEASEE.. WHO DO WE HAVE TO CONTACT TO TELL THEM.. = (
On March 25th 2009, ANNALISA wrote:
ARE YOU KIDDIN ME.. I AGREE WITH THE GIRL BE4 ME.. CHANGE THE TIME.. IT WAS ON WAY TO LATE.. AND IT IS WAAAAAAY BETTER THEN WATCHING PEOPLE DANCE AND MAKE FOOLS OF THEM SELF.. TOTALY THE WRONG DECISION.. ABC NEEDS A KICK IN THE YOU KNWO WHERE.. COMMING.. ITS A GREAT SHOW… DONT END IT..
On March 25th 2009, LuCy RoSaDo wrote:
This is one of my favorite show on tv, besides Brothers and sisters!!!
LoVe ThiS ShoW BuT TheN AgaIn, HoW LoNg Can You Be StuCk In The 70s!!! Iam!!!!!
On March 25th 2009, Frank J. Mannino wrote:
What a waste cancelling a great show like this and keeping some of the idiotic shows like Bachelor, Greatest Race, and Biggest Loser. If it does not compete well in this time slot, give it a chance on a different night or time. Thanks.
On March 25th 2009, maddog wrote:
This show had its problems from the very first episode. I’m sorry, but Harvey Keitel is now too old to play the overbearing police squad leader. It’s embarrassing to watch him wheeze through his lines and struggle with the physical action requirements. Secondly, Michael Imperioli was cast as the peer on the squad who is always giving Detective Sam Tyler a hard time. Unfortunately, as he displayed in his earlier role on “The Sopranos”, Michael’s niche is not tough guy, but bad guy with a heart (albeit a conflicted, wavering psychopath). Sure, ABC can afford the rights to the great 70’s music that the BBC obviously could not afford. But you run into problems right away when the original UK series was planned as a one-season-only presentation, and everything on the American “telly” is initially planned to run for years.
On March 25th 2009, chuck wrote:
Lets find another reality show? NOT
Why do I bother watching tv,I guess ill read a book.
On March 25th 2009, Cynthia wrote:
What can we do to stop them from cancelling this GREAT show?
On March 25th 2009, Ed wrote:
I loved this show, so many great actors, and the plot was great. ABC just has no clue.
On March 25th 2009, Judy Jones wrote:
Why would you every cancel “Life on Mars”. It is wonderful and has a wonderful cast. There are so many crappy shows that go on and on. This is the first decent and entertaining show I have seen in a long time. This is a very bad move. Please being it back.
A devoted fan,
Judy Jones
On March 26th 2009, ray wrote:
As a brother of a NYPD officer I know many cops watch this show. I am also certain that applies to cops around the country.
Accordingly, ABC’s polling for audience must be off. Furhter, serious people who watch it have deeper pockets than the reality show crowd. Even Boston Legal which is another show for grow ups appear dead also.
Once these people go to the cabvle channels like History, TCL, Discovery from having their favorites continually cancelled they will not be back.
On March 26th 2009, Judi wrote:
Another bad decision by ABC like they made with Eli Stone and countless other good programs. I am glad for cable TV stations. The problem with all the TV stations is putting all the popular programming on the same day, same time and different stations. A person can only DVR so much programming at a time.
On March 26th 2009, po'd wrote:
What the ………..? LOVED Mars! First Eli Stone, Men in Trees, Ugly Betty………..what is left on ABC to bother with? Bring back the good stuff! (Especially LIFE ON MARS!!!)
On March 27th 2009, cherie scott wrote:
Well, like everyone else I can’t believe ABC is cancelling Life on Mars. It’s such a fresh idea and all the actors are top notch. One season is just not enough for a great show like this.
There are so many brainless sitcoms etc that go on and on and on. What is it that sinks such a good show? If it’s lack of ratings, try moving it around some more. It’s too good too let go so quickly. Amen!!
On March 27th 2009, ben wrote:
great show and I hate to see it go
On March 30th 2009, tlfanning wrote:
I can’t believe this. This is the only abc show I watch. why, why, why, are you giving up on this show? Don’t you watch your own programs? This is really fun. I’m so sick of dancing and singing shows.
On April 1st 2009, Kendall Brown wrote:
Hopefully someone else will pick up this show. Actors were perfect for their roles. ABC does really have a poor line up. Suprising since Disney owns it. I guess the magic is gone.
On April 9th 2009, Ken wrote:
im not a lost fan but am a life on mars fan ABC must be retarded to cancel a most enjoyable show on tv sorry ABC i wont be watching your network cause there is absalutely nothing on your network worth watching i sure hope CBS or NBC or any other network picks this series up it was fun to watch had great actors great writers you really BLEW it this time ABC
On May 12th 2009, Arnie wrote:
I loved this show. It was so good. A hundred times better than lost, and why the hell is lost still running!!!!!
On September 14th 2009, TRR wrote:
ABC has done it again, Life on Mars a big hit, great shows and then….given many months break, moved to a new night, then a terrible last show, made no sense, what a let down. This is why I don’t watch ABC shows any more, it is called tweaking, they can’t leave well enough alone. Anyone with any knowledge would tell you that you cannot take a serial type show off the air for several months and then expect the viewers to remember what the sequence is. Another stupid decision by executives. Life on Mars, joins the original Practice and Alias in the dustbin.RIP