I keep hearing negative ...
Question: I keep hearing negative commentary from message boards, blogs and TV critics about the pilot for ABC's
Life on Mars. I read that they are recasting, retooling, moving the show to New York and, it seems, basically starting from scratch. Am I correct in my assessment? And if so, what actors are actually going to be in this show come this fall? It sounds like they have some challenges ahead, and at the same time I feel the criticism is unfair.
Answer: Of all the fall pilots being retooled (which is why we've seen so few official pilots yet),
Life on Mars is unquestionably getting the biggest overhaul. New producers, a new locale and, outside of Jason O'Mara (the sole survivor from the original pilot), a new cast, which now includes
The Sopranos' Michael Imperioli and Harvey Keitel (replacing Colm Meaney in the crucial role of O'Mara's gruff boss). I'm not in the business of reviewing unfinished shows, so I haven't sought out the original pilot of this or any other show that hasn't presented an official version to me. But yes, any criticism of the show at this point is not only unfair, it's meaningless.
