Tuesday, March 3, 2009
By MICKEY O’CONNOR
TV GUIDE
ABC has canceled Life on Mars, but will allow the cop drama to complete its full one-season run. The network has opted not to extend the series beyond 17 episodes, according to Variety.
It’s not all bad news, though. Rather than wait until May when on-the-bubble shows are typically told whether or not they’ll be renewed or canceled, ABC told the producers now, so that they can plan for a proper series finale — a courtesy not extended to the recently unplugged ABC shows Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone. “We felt it was the right thing to do for the producers and the fans and creatively,” ABC Entertainment Group President Steve McPherson told TelevisionWeek. Calls to ABC were not yet returned.
This is particularly important for Mars, as its mysterious premise — an NYPD cop is hit by a car and spontaneously time-travels back to 1973 — requires some explaining. Is Sam Tyler (Jason O’Mara) in a coma, at the mercy of supernatural forces or something else entirely?
For now, it seems, the fans will get that answer.
Did Life on Mars deserve the ax? Is ABC getting an itchy trigger finger on the cancellation front? And how would you like to see the series end?
The New York Herald Sun 
Are you f’n kidding me?? The best show on TV!!!!
Harvey Kietel is fantastic as are the rest of the characters. I admit, I never watch on Wed night. On too late. I watch online Thursday mornings.
I’m disappointed in the decision of cancelling a very impacted era in modern day television. This show inspired me and hit my heart deeply with all meaning. I’m not a big fan of television, but I have to admit I’ve never been hooked as I have by this brilliant television show “Life on Mars”.
I say continue to a series, and if ABC doesn’t comply. Move on to a different network, just as other television shows have due to fans. It’s sad to say, Desperate Housewives lasted longer than Life on Mars. Very paralleled television shows, and Life on Mars being the brilliant one. What are these sleeping men thinking when they make decisions to abolish a masterpiece. Seems like Natl. Socialism if you know what I mean.
I agree with Michael. I have not set time aside for a single show in many years, like I did for Mars. This is absolutely nonsense. The writers of Life On Mars did a brilliant job with the show. I would definitely consider presenting the show to a competing network. As for the cast, you cannot find actors like that very often.
best show on television
I have to agree with all the people who have commented here. One of the best tv shows that I have seen in many years, writers’ve made a brilliant job the show is very intelligent, cachy, moving and more. Why they have to cancell it? It’s ’cause money or there ‘re non-intelligence series worth supporting because they sell more like Dirty Sexy Money just for sex??
If you want to know how it ends watch the ORIGINAL UK series! It was 100 times better than this US version. Why can’t you Yanks leave things alone? Why do you think you can make a better version of everything when you always stuff it up. This is one of the best TV shows ever, brilliantly written & acted in the UK. Just leave things you don’t understand alone. there is more to the world than the USofA! When are you going to figure it out?????
well said JD!