February 1st, 2007
Life on Mars and playing TV catch-up
Above is the Camberwick Green-style new teaser trailer for BBC’s Life on Mars which a good place to start in terms of talking about catch-up TV. You know, when everyone you know is talking about a brilliant new series that you’ve managed to miss. This is usually hampered by the fact that I refuse to jump in somewhere in the middle of series two and hope to pick up the thread of what the hell is going on.
This, is the story of my televisual life.
First up, The Sopranos. Last year, after everyone (both brothers, himself’s bandmate, various friends) told me I had to watch it. As someone who counts Goodfellas among their favourite films, I knew I’d love it. Cue lots of begging, borrowing but thankfully no stealing, of the first five series. It was addictive. Some nights we’d OD on five episodes in a row. Other nights, watching all that violence back to back was a bit much, but still characters that have long gone - Richie Aprille, Ralphie - linger on in your thoughts.
Next up 24. This is ridiculously far ahead to jump in and figure it all out, but when Channel 6 decided to repeat it from the start, I tuned in… for the first three episodes and then kept forgetting what night it was on.
And so to Life on Mars, the story of a modern-day Manchester cop Sam Tyler transported back to the 1970s. I’m more than halfway through Season 1 and it’s brilliant. John Simm is excellent and in the title role (I have a weak-kneed crush on him, but I blame my hormones, which are all over the place at the moment) but Phillip Glenaster as the hard-drinking, handy-with-his-fists Guvnor Gene Hunt is just as great.
Series 2, which is supposedly the last series, starts on BBC 1 in a couple of weeks. Happy days.
February 1st, 2007 at 11:54 am
I watched Life on Mars when it was on TV, and after picking up the DVD box set for cheap last week, I’m making my way through it again. Weird thing: I was never a big fan of The Sweeney, but watching Life on Mars made me just *crave* shows like this. Got my hands on a few episodes of the Sweeney and… I still don’t like it. There’s something a whole lot more charming about the 70s cop show aspect of Life on Mars.
Although, I could do without the whole “is he in a coma/is he back in time” parts. Apart from one or two nice touches (which mostly happen in the first couple of episodes), these are clunkers.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I actually shrieked with excitement when this trailer aired last night. It’s a work of genius (as is the programme). I can’t wait for the series to start on Tuesday week. I’m sure you’ll manage to finish the rest of the series by then!
As for your next TV catch up, I recommend the truly amazing Battlestar Galactica.
February 1st, 2007 at 12:27 pm
John, I love the Sweeney aspect of it, but it doesn’t feature all the same elements. Sean Hughes used to do a gag in his set about the “obligatory tit flash” every week, where some guy would get nicked, while in bed with some buxom lass and there would be a three second boob shot. He reckoned it was the main reason him and brothers watched it.
I quite like the way the coma stuff is being slowly revealed but it’s not the main hook for me.
Stellanova, don’t get me started. I also have missed about half of the new Dr. Who with David Tennant, but loved what I have seen. And my bro is a HUGE Battlestar Galactica fan and burned me a CD I can’t find.
February 1st, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Life on mars is fantastic! Great to hear that season 2 will be along soon.
And I’d second the recommendation for BSG, great telly.
February 1st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
I loved the football hooligan episode where Simms ranted at the main hooligan about how it was him and his type that ruin the game for kids and families. And of course, the wholo has no idea what he on about. Brill!
And Gaius Baltar has all the makings of the first traditional Irish TD in a sci-fi setting. Bertie Baltar how are ya!
February 2nd, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Great, I thought I was rare in liking Life on Mars! I know what you mean on the horrors of catchup Sinead - I was just lucky that I accidently saw the first episode (thinking it was maybe a Bowie tribute!) and then got a bit hooked.
It appeals to my retro 1970s interest plus a splash of sci-fi. I enjoy the contrasting past/present way of thinking.
I loved the first episode….”Where’s my PC?” “What? You’re looking for a Police Constable?” or “Where’s my mobile?” “Your mobile what?”
And yes the rebirth of Dr. Who is brilliant - so better that the versions I had to endure growing up.
February 2nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Battlestar Galactica - best thing on TV right now. Baltar is fast becoming one of the best villans ever. And he had a threesome with 2 Cylon babes. Legend!
February 2nd, 2007 at 3:57 pm
too right about Catch-up TV! that’s exactly how it works nowadays.
I can third? fourth? the recommendation for Battlestar Galactica. absolutely incredible — I got sucked into the third series (just starting on Sky), got hooked, and borrowed some ripped divx DVDs from a mate of the first two series — I’ll be watching those back-to-back for the next few weeks. amazing stuff.
I’ll have to record Life on Mars until I get the BSG out of the way
February 2nd, 2007 at 5:36 pm
And Gaius Baltar has all the makings of the first traditional Irish TD in a sci-fi setting.
Ha! How true, unfortunately for us.
He really is the best villain on TV, mostly because he’s more of a selfish coward than an evil mastermind. The episode that aired on American telly on Sunday and which I, ahem, mysteriously managed to watch over here is a Baltar-centric one and it’s absolutely brilliant.
Justin, I was just talking about BSG the other day and we were wondering if it would actually be possible for new viewers to figure out what the hell was going on if they just started watching the third season - apparently it is!
February 2nd, 2007 at 8:44 pm
for Life on Mars fans, a blog…
wordface
scratchings from a UK screenwriter’s hutch
http://wordface.blogspot.com/index.html
About mark g
I’ve written for several TV shows, radio, and had a single Exciting Excursion Into The Supposedly Glamorous World Of Feature Film. Most recent work has been on the excellent afterlife and Life on Mars. I like coffee, procrastination, and stationery.
February 5th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Dan, the United/City one is probably my favourite of Series 1 (apart from the ol’ scene-setting first episode).
John, I love that too, the way he keeps mentioning stuff from the present and everyone looks baffled. I think the current Dr. Who is one of the best yet. David Tennant is another of my TV crushes. Dear God, I’m making a show of myself now.
Martin, where’s my BSG DVD? I’m relying on you!
Justin, that sounds like a bona fide addiction to me…
Cybez, thank you, I know several people who’ll be interested in that blog. I know a lot of TV/Sci-fi geeks.