Jason O'Mara, Life on Mars
In a rare instance of mutual forethought and cooperation between producers and a network, ABC's Life on Mars will wrap up its abbreviated freshman run this Wednesday at 10 pm/ET with a proper series finale, bringing to a close Detective Sam Tyler's time-tripping odyssey. Here, executive producers Scott Rosenberg and Josh Appelbaum reflect on their Mars journey, reveal the one song that done them wrong, preview the "straight-out scary" follow-up they have planned, and promise closure for fans of their previous project, October Road.
TVGuide.com: The episode airing this Wednesday, is it more or less what you had envisioned the series finale as being? Or is it slightly different, if only because you had less time to build up to it?
Josh Appelbaum: We always knew that the season finale was going to be this episode, and we always knew what our series finale would be. Basically we went to [ABC] and said, "Our ratings are grim. We want to ...
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October Road
New releases announced today, January 27:
8 Simple Rules... - Season 2 will be coming out April 21
October Road - The Complete 2nd Season will be coming out May 5
Wolverine & the X-Men - Volume 1: Heroes Return Trilogy will be coming out April 21
Visit TVShowsOnDVD.com for the complete stories on these and other news items.
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Jonathan Murphy
"October" has always been good to Jonathan Murphy. The actor got his big break on the now-defunct October Road, and his latest TV foray, Life on Mars (Thursdays at 10 pm/ET, ABC), debuted Oct. 9 and showed, well, life. Murphy plays clean-cut newbie Det. Chris Skelton on the decade-warping BBC remake and took time out of the busy New York '70s streets to chat with TVGuide.com about the show forging its own path, how he prepared for the role and why Luke Perry better watch out. Oh, and for all you Roadies out there, get an update on the series' mini-epilogue.
TVGuide.com: The show is based on a British series. How would you describe it to American viewers?
Jonathan Murphy: I would describe it as ...
See Murphy's answer and full interview after the jump.
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Jonathan Murphy by John Shearer/ WireImage.com
The tinkering over at ABC's port of the Brit hit Life on Mars continues.Recently, it was announced that The Sopranos' Michael Imperioli was coming on board as a trustworthy colleague of Jason O'Mara's transplanted-in-time lawman. Now, I have learned exclusively, the trio of exec producers (Josh Applebaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg) who claimed the Life on Mars reins from David E. Kelley — and each of whom hail from October Road — have tapped a cast member of that ABC serial to join their new venture. Jonathan Murphy, aka OR's Ronnie, will play Detective Chris Skelton, a jittery young arrival to the department. (The role was filled by Marshall Lancaster on the BBC original.)Thus far, the female lead for ABC's Life on Mars has yet to be cast. — Matt MitovichRelated:• October Road Bosses to Wrap Up "Epic Love" Story
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October Road's Warren Christie and Laura Prepon by Bob D'Amico/ABC
When October Road reached its end last spring, fans weren't the only ones who had a hard time letting go. Co-creator Scott Rosenberg was determined to conclude the series the right way. "We had a small audience, but they genuinely fell in love with these characters, and I feel we owe it not only to them, but also to the cast [to tie up loose ends]," Rosenberg tells TV Guide. So he and co-creators Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec wrote a 15-minute finale called "Don't Look Back: An Epilogue for an Epic Love." The story will start at the wedding of Hannah (Laura Prepon) and Big Cat (Warren Christie), and then flash forward seven years, where fans will receive answers to most of their remaining questions. The plan is to include the epilogue on the second-season DVD and possibly online. After two seasons on the Road, even the cast wants closure. "I don't know who Sam's father is, so I am just as excited to find out as the fans are," says Bryan Greenberg (Nick). And although the shoot...
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Jonny Lee Miller of "Eli Stone" by Craig Sjodin/ABC
Renewals and cancellations are flying fast and furious on this, the first official day of "upfront" week. Here's the latest:• Eli Stone has been renewed for a second season. (Woo-hoo!)• October Road has been canceled. (Boo-hoo!) Ditto Women's Murder Club. • CBS is expected to bring The Unit back, and may slot it on Fridays at 9 pm. What does that mean for Moonlight? Good question.• Also at CBS, How I Met Your Mother is a shoo-in to return for a fourth season, although Old Christine remains a question mark. ABC, however, is almost certain to scoop it up should Les Moonves pass. More updates to come. Keep checking back. And be sure to bookmark our Fall TV Grid, which clearly displays what is on when, and against what. More Fall TV news:• Reaper Inching Closer to Renewal• CW's Game for The Game, Tyra Banks' Stylista• More Boston Legal Suits ABC• CW Officially Picks Up 90210 • 'Til Death Lives On, Back to You Won't Be Back• Fox's New Ams...
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Question: What's the scoop on October Road? Will it be back next season?
Answer: Nothing official from ABC, but all indications are the show is toast. And I would like to think I was at least partially responsible. Oh, who am I kidding — it was all me.
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Cloverfield courtesy Paramount Pictures
OK, I loved Cloverfield. Lovedlovedloved it. Granted, the shaky-cam monster-takes-Manhattan movie gave me a bit of vertigo and yes, there were moments in the theater where I wasn’t sure if the popcorn was gonna stay down. But aside from that, good times. Even better on DVD, truth be told. The perspective is easier on the equilibrium, the extras explain some murky parts and you can freeze-frame to see if the final scene really does show the beast crashing into the water off Coney Island. It’s also one of those flicks so filled with actors you think you’ve seen before that I have decided to dedicate this column to my favorite movie game ever: “Where Do I Know Them From?” And we’ll start with…Executive-producer J.J. Abrams – Shame on you for now knowing this one. Alias. Lost. Felicity. All available on DVD.Michael Stahl-David — Rob, the lead dude whose surprise bon-voyage party is kiboshed by the rampaging goliath, who refuses to leave the ...
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Slade Pearce by Michael Bezjian/WireImage.com
The fiercely loyal fans of October Road are probably dying to find out if Nick really is Sam's dad, or if Janet and Eddie will get back together. And can that wedding be stopped?! "We just don't know anything," Rebecca Field told TV Guide with a shrug, at a Wednesday event for the Young Storytellers Foundation. In fact, the cast and crew are still anticipating word on whether or not the show will receive a third season pickup. "We find out in May," said Laura Prepon. The March 10 season finale left the audience with a lot of questions, but should they remain unanswered, Slade Pearce (aka Sam) has a plan. "If we don't get another season, we're going to go barrage the writers and make them tell us everything. I know they know [who my father is], but they won't tell me. It's evil and cruel." (Prepon's take on the paternity puzzler: "I would think it's Nick, because ultimately I think people want it to be Nick.") TV Guide caught up with the cast at The Big Show, an event where the actor...
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Anne Heche and James Tupper by Jeff Petry/ABC
Lifetime has dared to burst ABC's bubble. The Alphabet net, sources tell the Reporter, courted the cabler to air either or both Men in Trees and October Road. Lifetime execs, however, reportedly declined to pick up either. October Road pretty much sealed its fate with a low-rated season finale, while Men in Trees — despite having like a zillion episodes in the can — is still considered to be "on the fence" as it averages fewer than six million weekly viewers.
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