The TV Zone

Boys wondering about life after death of "Life on Mars" (ABC)

Did you know that ABC is about to get a full save-our-show treatment from diehard fans of the recently canceled "Life on Mars?" You do now...

This campaign sounds like a fairly low-key one - truckloads of Mars Bars, in other words, will not be delivered to Steve McPherson. But these fans do sound serious... (I'm a little surprised: Certainly much to be admired about "LoM," but it did turn awfully awfully silly, and that end - dreaming of being a cop in "French Connection"-era New York? While en-route to Mars? While in a deep freeze? Where does this show go from here?)

Here's what the group says:

"Our goal at this point is to solicit ABC to rerun Life on Mars over the summer in an effort to increase the fan base with the end result being a renewal of this phenomenal program. To date, our efforts have included appealing to ABC in a congenial and collaborative manner. We are not attacking ABC for canceling the show; rather, we are conveying a professional attitude. ABC is a leader in the introduction of original and innovative programming, and as consumers of their programs, we are endeavoring to work with them from an audience perspective to ensure quality programming, like Life on Mars, has a chance to succeed. Pairing Life on Mars with a similar show like October Road over the summer is one way in which we could draw new viewers."

Hardcore fans contact Frank...at fabal2@aol.com.

It's over for "Life on Mars," or will be this May. ABC has given the show notice that it won't pick up another season beyond this one.

And that's that.

TV Week has the story this morning, and quotes ABC boss Steve McPherson, saying that giving the show to May gives it closure and the fans closure...

"We felt it was the right thing to do for the producers and the fans and creatively."

The show began with high, high hopes, even after David Kelley was ejected as show-runner. The new guys, Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg, were parachuted in and put together a terrific pilot. But after that, I fear, the show tailed off into silly-land. I'm a big admirer of Jason O'Mara, but he never seemed to carry the show. Meanwhile, ABC is certainly doing the right thing here - the BBC run was limited too. This "Life" has run its course too.

Jonesin' for "Life on Mars" until it comes back in January?

No prob: ABC has a pretty cool doo-dad at its corporate site. It's called Life on Mars Radio -- a nonstop jukebox of all kinds of outasite early-70s music.

It beats the heck out of your typical "classic rock" station.

Here's a typical set heard earlier today: " Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" (Rolling Stones), "Whammer Jammer " (J. Geils Band); "Mr. Big Stuff" (Jean Knight); and " Jet" (Wings -- hey, that came out in '74!).

I could listen to this stuff all day, but I gotta split and watch the Watergate hearings on the tube.

In the meantime, here are the Stones performing "Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)." And don't forget Mick opens with that great "Mars"-appropriate verse: "... the po-lice in New York City/They chased a boy right through the park/And in a case of mistaken identity/ The put a bullet through his heart"

I have to admit at first I was stunned, then I was really really p.o.'d at what ABC ihas done to the only new show I've committed to watch in real time this season. (What they used to call in the quaint old days, appointment television.)

At the end of Thursday night's "Life on Mars" -- a helluva episode in which Sam learns that his father was a mega-dirtbag -- the network informed us that "Life on Mars" will return, following "Lost" on JANUARY 28.

Huh? Where did that come from? What is ABC thinking? That's more than two months from now. Do they really expect anyone, except hardcore Martians such as myself to come back then. Even if it will now air after "Lost," which makes a lot more sense than "Grey's Anatomy."

This show belongs on cable, where it can run interrupted for 12 satisfying weeks without interruption.

Hey ABC execs, you are hereby condemned to a day strapped on a polyester couch listening to the absolute worst songs of 1973, like "Brother Louie," "Half Breed" and "Delta Dawn" in an endless, painful loop.

See you in January.

Photo of Michael ("Don't Call Me Christo-pha") Imperioli, courtesy of ABC

There are a million things to love about "Life on Mars," starting with Michael Imperioli's 'stache 'n burns combo.

Among other things, we're partial to the period music each episode contains that really heightens the mood.

And we're happy to share with you in advance what the four songs you'll hear tomorrow night at 10, thanks to ABC.

1. EVERYTHING I OWN (BREAD) -- A little too mellow, but at least they didn't choose "Guitar Man."

2. REELIN' IN THE YEARS (STEELY DAN) -- Excellent song for a time traveler.

3. LIFE ON MARS (DAVID BOWIE) -- Well, duh! And the episode is titled "The Man Who Sold the World," a ref to the title track of Bowie's third album as well as the song that was the B-side of the 1973 "Life on Mars" single. This is all too meta for me! (And if you have to ask what a B-side is, you're probably not watching "Life on Mars.")

4. SPACEMAN (NILSSON) -- Which seems to sum up Sam's mental state pretty well. Check out this cool song yourself:

.

This is almost too good to be true. On last Thursday's >"Life on Mars," which takes place in an imagined 1973., Harvey Keitel's Lt. Gene Hunt was part of a group held hostage by a guy who had taken over the psych ward of a hospital....

Now back in the real 1973 on the very first episode of >"Kojak" -- the spiritual godfather of "Life on Mars" -- a group of innocents is held hostage by a gang of desperate armored car-robbers, led by.... Harvey Keitel.

Cue "Twilight Zone" music and enjoy: