Life on Mars US - the unaired pilot

[Messianni]

just copying the 1st episode of the UK series is pointless. They could of taken the basic concept and did something to stand alone side the UK series (Like the US Office)

When the US version of the Office became its own show it was excellent

The pilot of the US version of The Office was virtually word-for-word a copy of the UK pilot, so that does not apply. They very well may have gone their own direction after that, you can't say for sure they wouldn't have. You have to start somewhere, after all, and if the pilot is a good way to create the foundation of the series for the viewer than so be it.

 

[Kryton]

Honestly, the BBC "The Office" had such a rep and had been seen on video by so many, I think mimicking the Gervaise/Merchant script and THEN ultimately diverging from it was entirely the intent.

"Red Dwarf"'s producer's fucked it up badly.

But then I think it would be interesting as hell to see a Brit version of "30 Rock".

 

[Messianni]

The US Red Dwarf is not to be spoken of in public.

 

[Kryton]

Which one? (Don't answer...I already know.)

 

[Kryton]

Holy shit! Now that I've seen it, I'm really impressed. I hope the recasting holds up.

Honestly, I'd thought this was a sort of a "Red Dwarf" jokey type of program...I never downloaded any of the original series and now.

Wow.

That wasn't bad. They tried it a few years back with a US show (John Goodman was involved, can't remember the details, never watched) to a degree, but this one might hold my 78-year-old mom's attention. Will pull it on her this weekend.

 

[Venardhi]

Honestly, as much as I love Colm on Trek, he played it too soft here and it really hurt the dynamic.

Besides that, the fact that the lead was so much more imposing than him weakened his place in the cast visually.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

But then I think it would be interesting as hell to see a Brit version of "30 Rock".

It's not really like 30 Rock, but there's Moving Wallpaper which is behind the scenes of a soap, with the writers trying to their best, and the producer constantly giving them stupid shit to do. It's quite good.
They have the "soap" too, it's full of in jokes, but that's not very good.

Holy shit! Now that I've seen it, I'm really impressed. I hope the recasting holds up.

Honestly, I'd thought this was a sort of a "Red Dwarf" jokey type of program...I never downloaded any of the original series and now.

Wow.

You should see it, and it's "sequel" Ashes to Ashes. They're both great.

Honestly, as much as I love Colm on Trek, he played it too soft here and it really hurt the dynamic.

Besides that, the fact that the lead was so much more imposing than him weakened his place in the cast visually.

Colm is a great actor, but he isn't Gene, but would a US network allow a racist, bigoted, misogynist be one of the stars of the show? I suppose there is House...

 

[firehawk12]

I guess it depends on what the 70s were like in LA/NYC.
They had Annie as a full on detective right from the get go.

 

[wamdue]

But then I think it would be interesting as hell to see a Brit version of "30 Rock".

Moving Wallpapers is worth a look, wouldnt bother with Echo Beach however, Echo Beach is to Moving Wallpaper what TGS with Tracy Jordan is to 30 Rock.

 

[Jax]

No Colm Meaney means by interest has just gone to NIL...I have no desire to see the U.S ruin a great British show now.

 

[flandry84]

Would people throw things at me if I said that I prefer the American version of "The office"?

 

[Jax]

Would people throw things at me if I said that I prefer the American version of "The office"?

No because I never watched the British one.

 

[Venardhi]

The US Office is funnier for me. Less of the awkward quiet humor and more of a variety, which keeps it fresh. I only watched about half of the UK office though.

 

[Sheep]

Watched it. Won't be watching it if it actually debuts unless they manage to make the show less bland.

While nice to look at, the actress who played Annie was not good (trying to avoid getting too nasty about her lack of acting ability in this pilot) and all of the other characters phoned in their performances. Meaney, in particular, was utterly wasted.

Good job on shitcanning David E. Kelley because he obviously wasn't up to snuff if this was the best he could coax out of his writers and actors.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Rachelle was spectacular... Though it wasn't hard to shine through when everything was so trite.

The American gene needs to be like Harvey Bullock if they're going to keep the same Sam.

Kelly gave away Life on mars for free in exchange for promises the Boston legal wouldn't be canned. That's smart.

 

[Pingfah]

Would people throw things at me if I said that I prefer the American version of "The office"?

I was a big fan of the English version, the american one has turned into a different animal. If you had to compare s1 vs s1 I think the UK one would come out on top, but since then the US has forged it's own way forward and become a great show in its own right.

On topic, I thought this pilot was better than the trailer, but still crap.

 

[dark angel_707]

just copying the 1st episode of the UK series is pointless. They could of taken the basic concept and did something to stand alone side the UK series (Like the US Office)

When the US version of the Office became its own show it was excellent

The pilot of the US version of The Office was virtually word-for-word a copy of the UK pilot, so that does not apply. They very well may have gone their own direction after that, you can't say for sure they wouldn't have. You have to start somewhere, after all, and if the pilot is a good way to create the foundation of the series for the viewer than so be it.

I know the US version of The Office 1st ep was virtually word-for-word as the UK one. My point is season 1 of the US Office was a copy of the UK show and when it took its own direction, it become its own show, which LOM needs to do

 

[Technobuilder]

Would people throw things at me if I said that I prefer the American version of "The office"?

I wouldn't.

Of course I barely made it through Series 1 and never made it through Series 2 of "The Office" {UK} and still haven't as I keep getting distracted. The show never 'Hooked' me.

As far as the "The Office" {US} I WOULD have said the same thing after watching the first season and then tuning out.

Thankfully however, the show managed to pull me back in with the last episode of the season 'Casino Night' whereby I then rewatched ALL the episodes to get current before the launch of the following season and have been a fan ever since. I got 'Hooked' be Creed stealing Poker Chips to win a Bob Vance Original. The Jim/Pam ship may have helped a bit too.

 

[Top41]

I definitely want to see this at some point, but getting rid of Colm Meany never sounds like a good move in my book. Same with David E. Kelley--he's produced some really good TV. Does anyone know why it's being moved to NY?

I do want to see the UK version--I loved Simm in Dr. Who.

 

[Jack Bauer]

I definitely want to see this at some point, but getting rid of Colm Meany never sounds like a good move in my book. Same with David E. Kelley--he's produced some really good TV. Does anyone know why it's being moved to NY?.

New York passed some favorable tax breaks making it cheaper to film there and in NYC it's easier to fake the 1970's than it is in Los Angeles. LA looks a whole lot different now than it did back then. I think larger parts of NYC haven't.