» Life On Mars (UK): Oh God, My Eyes! My Eyes! Options

[D.C.]

Kind of like Munch and Lenny on the crossovers between Homicide: Life on the Streets and Law and Order. Only it was ex-wives/girlfriends they bonded over.

[Alexandria Bay]

Gene's language toned down. That URL will probably wrap. The article's from Digital Spy's Cult page.

This is the part that makes me nervous:

Pharoah also said that the Life On Mars team felt uncomfortable about some of the racist language that was originally written for the character, saying of that moment in the script meetings, "there was a intake of breath from around the room." Though he added that the team had laughed at the homophobic and sexist language that eventually appeared in the show.

So...homphobia and misogyny are HIlarious but we draw the line at racism? Greeeeeeaaaaat.

[mara]

This is the part that makes me nervous

But they're talking about stuff that was toned down for Life On Mars UK season 1, right? Not sure what there is to be nervous about at this point.

[JeanPoole]

The article is explicitly about LOM Series 1:

We self censored, and so it certainly isn't a true depiction of policing in 1973, but we did it so people would like Gene Hunt as a character," Pharoah said, "We needed him to be the centre of the show."

Pharoah needles the Daily Mail for whom Gene became a pin-up. "They lost the irony." It is odd that they seemed fine with misogyny and homophobia but drew the line at racism, because the former are just so cuddly? People responded to Gene as a "plain talker", no political correctness for him: it was a calculated non p.c. character who skirted the edge and sometimes crossed the line into assholedom but caught the bad guy so we forgave him. I'm sure that will continue with "Ashes to Ashes" though the misogyny will be a source of combat/banter for Alex.

[D.C.]

The thing with Gene was, his seemed to be talking out both sides of his mouth when it came to the sexism--I wouldn't go so far as to characterize it as "misogyny"--and homophobia, but in the opposite way we're used to. When people are hypocritical, we're used to them talking nice but acting badly. With Gene, it was the opposite, though it took the length of the series to make that point. He called women "tits in a jumper" behind their back, and yes he never would have thought of adding Annie to the squad. But once she was there he didn't fight it, he gave her real responsibility and had real but reasonable expectations from her, and he was quick to praise her in front of the others when she exceeded those expectations. He flung homophobic jibes around left and right, but when he told Sam that...oh, the club owner who had all the cops on the take; his name slips my mind....was gay, he did it discretely, specifically because the guy had chosen to be closeted, not because being gay was that awful a thing to be. In fact, he doesn't sneer about the gayness there, he was exasperated at how the guy's mother fixation and Catholic guilt kept him in the closet.

Ray? Didn't reveal that other side. He needed his chops busted, frequently. And Gene was the one to do it surprisingly often.

[vagabondher]

I've watched the first series through just recently, and I actually quite enjoy the show. I agree with some that the mysteries are a bit lacking - but usually when that happens on a show I just focus on specific characters and maybe a 'ship I enjoy. Sam/Annie, for example, heh.

I guess, in the end, I tend to enjoy Brit shows a lot more just for the sake of pacing, in comparison to American shows, which is probably why I'll end up despising the remake. I mean, I adore the US Office but I consider it a vastly different show than the UK Office and not just in literal terms. The way they paced Tim/Dawn and approached it, to me, is very different then how they're approaching Jim/Pam. But it works in both instances, I suppose, and it's a half-hour comedy, and I see how that can be adaptable. But remaking it over here is just...meh, I don't like the idea of it. It seems a) lazy, why can't people come up with new ideas for shows, huh? and b) ill-fated and c) if it actually manages to get good ratings, the idea that it'll go on for more than two seasons scares me, because then they've gotta drag shit out and that's never fun.

This post has been edited by vagabondher: Sep 7, 2007 @ 9:29 pm.

[D.C.]

I do like the thought of Colm Meaney in the Gene Hunt role. If I watch--and that's a big "if"--it'll be because of that.

[TheLabRat]

Me too D.C. I find it amusing though that so far for the U.S. version they've cast two Irishmen (Sam and Gene) and a Canadian (Annie) as their leads. I'm completely unfamiliar with the other two actors but I like the look of the U.S. versions Sam. There were rumors at one point that Ben Browder would be filling the role, and I'm beyond sad that's not the case (he and Meany would rock this premise together) but this guy looks like a good fit for the part.

[ducky one]

I just got back from Manchester yesterday where a group of like minded Life on Mars nuts such as myself, got together last weekend for a meet-up to revel in all things 1973.

We got to meet a few friends:

Anything Happens to This Motor...

This Is a Box, A Magical Box...

We even made the paper:

Trip to Life on Mars

I got to fondle and sit in the Cortina and play with Puppet!Sam, now that is what I called fandom geekery at it's finest.

I think that it is safe to say that I won't be watching the American version.

This post has been edited by ducky one: Sep 8, 2007 @ 11:53 pm.

[D.C.]

I meant to nominate the Cortina to for a "Best Inanimate Object" Tubey, but didn't get around to it in time. But researching pictures for the nom I didn't make, and for the Motivator I did make, made me realize something. Your personal pic of the car there drove it home:

That is one butt-ugly car.

[Mr. Excitement]

Alexandria Bay writes:

This is the part that makes me nervous:
Pharoah also said that the Life On Mars team felt uncomfortable about some of the racist language that was originally written for the character, saying of that moment in the script meetings, "there was a intake of breath from around the room." Though he added that the team had laughed at the homophobic and sexist language that eventually appeared in the show.


So...homphobia and misogyny are HIlarious but we draw the line at racism? Greeeeeeaaaaat.

I'm not surprised. Matthew Graham gave an interview to Creative Screenwriting lat year (it's now behind their membership wall) in which he stated that he originally intended the series to be about Sam trying to deal with a Gene who was a virulent racist, but then got cold feet about potential audience appeal and decided to tweak the relationship into its eventual form, which is essentially that of a comedy team. It will be interesting to see if David E. Kelley will be as craven.

[EolivetB]

It will be interesting to see if David E. Kelley will be as craven.

I don't see any reason why he wouldn't be. Look at Denny Crane on "Boston Legal" -- David E. Kelley loves his less serious characters to spout racist/homophobic/sexist comments to prove their absurdity (Fish did the same thing in "Ally McBeal," although more sexist, and less racist/homophobic). Sam will probably bluster about it more than Alan Shore does, but I wouldn't be surprised if U.S.!Gene Hunt ends up as more of a '70s version of Denny Crane than the Genuine Original Gene Hunt was.

When I heard there were two other EPs in addition to Kelley, I assumed it might be Matthew Graham or someone else from the UK version. Apparently, it's Jane Featherstone and Garrett Featherstone -- and the former also was an EP on the Genuine Original (in addition to "Spooks" and "Touching Evil" -- as well as "Ashes to Ashes"). No idea who Garrett Featherstone is, but I do feel slightly better having some of the original crew there. Hopefully, she can reign in Kelley's...weirder impulses. If the show ever gets picked up, of course.

[Alexandria Bay]

The red flag I see with Kelley is Annie--DEK show's are filled with preternaturally thin child-women and I fear for Annie.

[JeanPoole]

No idea who Garrett Featherstone is

I think there may be a typo? It's probably Garreth Neame who's an executive producer and works on many Kudos productions. I could be wrong, but it's probably Neame.

[EolivetB]

Oh, sorry -- just quoting from IMdB. I probably should've known to take things on there with a grain of salt...