‘Life on Mars’ Exemplifies Good, Bad of Hollywood
by S.T. KarnickIt’s all too easy for those who dismiss U.S. television and the culture as a whole as leftist, immoral, and fattening to pick and choose (and misinterpret) episodes and scenes that seem to confirm their assumption that the culture is overwhelmingly awful. The ABC TV police/fantasy drama series Life on Mars, for example, provides some tempting apples for pop culture-haters to pluck.
For instance, episode three, “My Maharishi Is Bigger Than Your Maharishi,” was an agonizingly earnest appeal for tolerance toward homosexuals (which is of course laudable) which included some dubious propositions about the causes and consequences of homosexuality and social attitudes toward it. The episode sent out a big invitation for undiscerning opponents of pop culture to point to Life on Mars as evidence of an ongoing leftist conspiracy to destroy the nation through cultural promulgation of radical, transformative ideas and values.
Fortunately, it seems few were watching that one.
The real problem is that Life on Mars, like the culture itself, is much more varied and well-intended than the haters are willing to see, much less acknowledge. Several recent episodes of the show provide ample evidence.
For example, in episode five, “Things to Do in New York When You Think You’re Dead,” protagonist Sam Tyler, a modern-day New York City policeman who has mysteriously been transported back in time to the 1970s, pursues a Puerto Rican manual laborer named Angel who is accused of killing a nine-year-old black girl, an incident that threatens to spark a race riot whipped up by a radio personality known as Brother Lovebutter (yikes!).
Also among the antagonists are a sinister group of black gangsters calling themselves the Black Liberation Army. The lack of illusions about black radicals of the time is laudable.
In their pursuit of Angel, Sam and Capt. Gene Hunt meet Father Tim, a Catholic priest who displays courage, integrity, trustworthiness, and sound judgment. Spurred on by Brother Lovebutter’s rantings and Angel’s escape from custody, the riots break out as feared. Amid the confusion, Sam encounters a wino who tells him he might already be dead but just not realize it (a reference to the show’s central mystery, Sam’s time-transfer from today to the ’70s).
Sam then talks with Father Tim, who provides some useful information after a serious effort to help Sam understand why the detective has lost his faith in God, and to suggest to Sam that he is in fact on a quest to find a truth he knows is there but of which he has lost sight.
The story is resolved by the planned, public, redemptive sacrifice of Angel’s life (a clear Christ reference, although given that the real story already happened, this one is actually a scheme devised by Gene Hunt to stop the riot, and Angel is not killed).
After the redemptive rescue, Angel tells Sam that God miraculously sent Sam to save him in answer to Angel’s prayers. The wino turns out to be an angel who takes Keisha’s soul to the next life. The wino tells Sam that he heard his prayers and came to give Sam a chance to say goodbye to his mentor, a police captain who has died in the present day and with whom Sam has been working during the Angel case.
Sam is shown praying that night, asking God to help him find his way home. Certainly this episode constitutes a positive and rather sophisticated treatment of religion and the foundations of personal faith.
Similarly salutary is the treatment of sensuality and the rock-and-roll lifestyle in episode 10, “Let All the Children Boogie,” in which an androgynous, hedonistic rock star based on glam rockers such as David Bowie and Marc Bolan turns out to be quite sensible and smart and a clever practitioner of capitalism.
And in episode 13, “Revenge of Broken Jaw,” a case involving bomb threats against the police has a group of student radicals as the villains, led by a smug female college professor who is drawn from ample examples of the time. The professor has led her followers to commit the murders, by bombing, of four police officers whom she was all too eager to believe murdered a student radical a year earlier. The officers were innocent, however, and the professor turns out to be even worse than her nitwit radical students.
Here again the show tells a story in which smug political radicals create terrible harm which is ended only by the hardworking and unappreciated police.
Unfortunately, and perhaps attributable to less salubrious and sensible episodes such as the “My Maharishi” clunker (as well as the general lameness of ABC, which tries so hard to be hip that its programming is largely ridiculous), Life on Mars never really developed a strong audience following and has been canceled. The good news is that ABC is allowing the show to finish its run, which will conclude with an episode resolving the story, explaining how and presumably why Sam was transported back in time, with a possible return home for him.
For all its faults, Life on Mars has done some very good things. A fair evaluation of the show and popular culture as a whole must acknowledge such positive developments.
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130 Comments
I haven't watched the show — didn't like the original British version, but thanks for the interesting article.
Unfortunately, I think that many times, conservatives get bent out of shape about tv shows without first understanding what the show is really about. That's counter productive. As I've said before, if you want your complaints to be taken seriously, you need to make them sparingly and target them carefully. Changing a culture is a long term, small step by small step process. Like Walter Williams always says, boiling a frog.
As a representative of the planet Earth, I welcome you. Did you bring beer?
At this point, I think Hollywood has pretty much forever tarnished their image with conservatives/libertarians. We are so used to the 'wait for it' moments, the sucker punches the low blows, the completely unnecessary insults, etc, that we don't really watch many shows unless we are sure they are either too good to miss or someone else we trust vouches for them.
This does sort of lead to a situation where shows that might be trying to appeal to the conservative audience, if such shows even exist, might have a hard time being taken seriously. I think there could also be another factor going on. A lot of times, Hollywood will try to appeal to a minority group and in the process, manage to thoroughly insult their target. I'm sure you can think of quite a few cases with blacks, latinos, gays, etc. I wonder if some of the insulting things towards conservatives are a result of Hollywood actually trying to reach out to us, but just having no idea who we are other than inbred redneck neo nazi bible thumping devil monsters.
Analyzing this article, it seems like you are saying since there was a priest who wasn't a complete scumbag, and they accurately portrayed some of the problems with black radicals, and that apparently god sends cops back to the 70's as a hobby, that conservatives should watch the show?
Well said.
Life on Mars is one of my must watch programs, because, I am not that deep, And second, its to see how many of the Tony Suprano Crew will show up! I was hoping for Pauly Walnuts to show up, but its going to get canceled. It was fun while it lasted.
Plus, Gene Hunt has a Gadsden flag in his office, which is kinda cool.
I was an instant fan of 'Life on Mars." Like all commercial products, it definitely had its ups and down. But I found it to be a far better show than its Brit predecessor (note that, Andrew). Now that it's been canceled, there goes another of those rare shows that don't spend half their time bashing conservatives and Christians. And episode 13 was indeed excellent. When it started, I had one of those "here we go again" moments, certain that the Bernadine Dorn and Willam Ayers lookalikes would end up the heroes. Instead, we got a "road to hell is paved with good intention" episode. I'll miss the show.
Haven't watched the show, but along those same lines, I was fooled by "Bones" the other night. (a great show by the way, funny, wry, interesting and current — a lesbian affair done with class and sophistication in the story line — unlike with "House").
Having been indoctrinated by Lefty TV over the past few years, including commercials (Brinks's white burglars in the hoodies coming immediately to mind), the minute the Christian kid was introduced (a pregnant teenage girl having been murdered) Spouse and I said in unison "He's the killer!"
Well, we were fooled. The Christian kid didn't do it.
KUDOS to "Bones"! KUDOS to TV! This is the SECOND time this has happened recently — the usual suspect didn't do it — and IMHO makes good TV now so much more intelligent, adult and interesting than the bilge being presented to us on the big screen ("Taken", "Knowing", "Gran Torino" being the exceptions that prove the rule).
Apparently not. He drank it all.
I haven't seen the American version either, mainly because in my experience most British TV shows are better served by being watched as the original British show, at least before attempting to watch the "translation" so as to be able to get the original intent and vibe of the show. When "Life of Mars" was being shown during its first BBC run I was completely out of the loop and otherwise occupied, so watching the US version is right out for me.
I will say though that I've watched the first few episodes of "Ashes to Ashes" which is the BBC sequel to "Life on Mars" and I've enjoyed it quite a lot so far. Although I'll admit a lot of that could be the fact that it's set in the 80s and I have a healthy dose of nostalgia for those days since that was my middle and high school time so I remember the music, remember the fashion, and remember when a eye searingly red Audi Quattro was the epicenter of cool. Which of course it wasn't, but it's still fun to laugh at ties that look like Duran Duran album covers and all that.
I agree with you on the way that sometimes conservatives get bent out of shape without giving a show enough of a chance to really be able to dissect it. A good recent example of this was "Generation Kill", where some of my friends whose conservative credentials are impeccable trashed it sight unseen based on what they'd heard about it. Just because a show has something come out of a character's mouth that you find ridiculous doesn't mean it's not worth taking all in, you have to look at the bigger picture and the context.
Liberals do the same thing too, but we don't see as many shows that put forth ideas that liberals immediately find something to latch on to in either, since not many of the TV shows are written in a way that would raise too many, or too loud, of a bell to their senses. If that makes any sense. I'd guess "The Unit" may be tops on their indignation list, along with "NCIS" and "24" at times. I haven't personally heard anyone really lay into "Kings" thus far, but I think that's mainly because many of them haven't figured out what the story is based on yet completely.
I preferred the English version, but I liked this show. Sorry to see ABC cancel it so quickly. Did they have to make room for more dopey reality shows?
I am glad I wasn't drinking one when I read your reply! LOL
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You're right, Growltiger. The show is fun, clever, and it's hard to guess what's coming next. As you know, they already did one multi-part occult thing, which ended up putting one of the team in prison for murder. But I'm still waiting for the hoped-for mystery vampire killing. Can't wait to see Angel (oops, I mean Booth) react to that.
The show is a bit schizophrenic when it comes to world view but had it's moment. The exchange where Annie is baffled about why Sam would call a stewardess a "flight attendant" and asks if the word "princess" is also unacceptable in his future was also good. I'm sorry to see it cancelled.
I'm crushed by the cancellation of Life on Mars! FINALLY a show worth watching on ABC and they cancel it without giving it a chance. Wonderful cast, great storylines, acting was top notch. I can't say enough about how much I love this program. I refuse to watch anything on ABC anymore because I know its only a matter of time until it ends up in their graveyard of shows that could have been!
ABC has nothing on Fox from a few years ago, first they completely screwed up "Firefly" and then more recently "Drive" both of which starred Nathan Fillion, and both of which I thought were absolutely brilliant. Fillion must have felt they had a personal grudge against him or something.
I was happy to see he got a new show with "Castle" which I like a lot as well. But until it started up a couple weeks back there hasn't been a series on ABC that I made sure to watch every week, as well as possible, for years really. I can't even remember the last one I'd followed weekly.
I haven't watched an ABC show in years. It just seems mostly shallow and ridiculous.
As someone familiar with the UK version of Life On Mars, I was interested to watch this version to do a comparison and contrast. And actually, the first couple of episodes were almost word for word the same stories (right down to the dialogue) at the start of the UK version.
But then, about four or five episodes in, I think the writers and the actors found their groove. The differences and nuances between the two versions grew larger, with the US version tackling more topical issues for an American audience. In fact, in the episode S.T. mentions, "Revenge of the Broken Jaw," the student radical group is specifically named in the show: The Weather Underground. I thought that was quite brave, considering that the Bernadette Dohrn analogue is shown to be the true villain of the story.
I'll be watching the conclusion, to see if the show resolves itself the way the UK version did. (Too bad we can't post spoilers here, I'd summarize the final episode of the UK version and let anyone who wants to know what happened read it.)
By the way, there's a sequel series to Life on Mars currently airing on the BBC. "Ashes to Ashes" features a single mother policewoman who appears to get suspended in time in just the instant before a bullet shot at her by a suspect hits, and when she 'wakes up,' she's in 1981. Someone's worked very hard on that show to make sure the period details look exactly right.
Lawhawk–you and Andrew make a great tag team! I find myself searching for posts from the both of you.
My hubby is a fan of Bones, but some of the supporting characters bug me; but since both you and Growltiger (another fav) like it, and you also appreciated Angel, I will have to give it a try—-but who will put the kids to bed?
I've been guilty of this. Of course, I could fall back on the "once bitten, twice shy" defence, but I'm sure I've missed out on some thoughtful, morally complex dramas in my desire not to be burned. And after all, what I want from Hollywood is a little fairness, not a conservative "Law & Order." No one wants another "Law & Order."
A suggestion for "Big Hollywood:" At the Onion's "AV Club," there are regular columns devoted to several television shows, critiquing the episodes. Something similar here might draw larger audiences to worthwhile television.
I watched "Life on Mars" a few times, and thought it had an intriguing premise and fine actors. I chose not to watch it most of the time not out of political concerns, but because "Lost" had just ended and I had to immediately get on the message boards and dissect the episode.
Yep, I like that show a lot.
I especially loved the line,"To the Quattro boys!" when they were getting ready to go out chasing the baddies in the first episode. It made me laugh and also filled me with profound joy, to the point where I'm considering asking my girlfriend if maybe I should get an Audi just so I could say that.
Magic 8-Ball however is warning me that it is "Extremely unlikely and could perhaps get you smacked."
Greg Gutfeld will do it for you.
ABC certainly gave it a chance–they left it on even though the ratings were never good, and tried pairing it with both Grey's Anatomy and Lost, two highly rated shows. I think American audiences just never found the concept compelling (and I confess I didn't either). Low ratings plus a pretty high production cost (all that period stuff) equals a short shelf life. At least they let it play out its storyline.
Personally, I was highly amused to Gene Hunt wearing a pair of snake skin cowboy boots. I mean, on the BBC?
As for driving an Audi, have you heard Jeremy Clarkson's recent thoughts about Audi drivers? LOL, they can't be printed here.
How did you know that Andrew and I are professional wrestlers in real life? I'm Rock. He's Paper. We're still trying to find Scissors.
My husband and I love that show. Its story lines are mature,intelligent, and well acted. That's probably the only show I watch on ABC. I looked forward to that show every week. They probably canceled it because it cost to much money to make, reality shows are cheaper, and it dumbs down our society.
Just don't let him convince you that Angry Fudge is a good treat.
Although it would be a great name for a punk band!
You'd be amazed at where you can find people wearing snakeskin cowboy boots though, I mean in the most flat out ridiculous settings possibly, by the most unlikely people possible.
I haven't heard the comments, I'll Google them up. As for actually getting an Audi, well as much as I'm into getting useless things for the sheer schtick value I have to keep a paranoid eye on the financials right now so it's very highly unlikely. But it would be downright hilarious.
You'd be amazed at where you can find people wearing snakeskin cowboy boots though, I mean in the most flat out ridiculous settings possibly, by the most unlikely people possible.
I haven't heard the comments, I'll Google them up. As for actually getting an Audi, well as much as I'm into getting useless things for the sheer schtick value I have to keep a paranoid eye on the financials right now so it's very highly unlikely. But it would be downright hilarious.
LOL
hey, heaven only knows what he does to those houseboys—and I am a loving and protective parent. Learning about houseboys is not in this years curriculum. But thanks for the thought—I will let them watch old Buffy & Angel episodes instead; a little fear is good for the soul.
Oh lord! Don't get me started on Firefly! Lol. Don't forget "John Doe", I'm not sure how long it could have gone on with the mystery but it would have been great if it had just been allowed to explain itself. So many great shows have died in the cradle.
I'm totally guilty of contempt prior to investigation on this one. I assumed that the show would be all about benevolent future cop shows 70's cops the errors of their ways by instructing them that SDS, SLA, The Weathermen, and the Black Panthers, were really the misunderstood heroes of the time and it was the cops who had it all wrong. I happened to sit through an episode about an art dealer/serial killer and liked it. I started watching it and two weeks later they canceled it. Even the Weathermen one let the terrorist not "really be a cop with a grudge out for revenge." I should've given it a chance earlier. But at least now I'll be able to get to bed right after LOST.
So far, I've liked "KIngs," despite a few stretches in the storyline. It will be interesting to see what unaware viewers think once they have figured out the original book it was taken from To avoid being a spoiler for those who have not figured it out, the original was a "great man, great flaws, final punishment" story. Let's see if they can keep that going. I gather you caught Ron Silver's brief appearance. Must have been one of his last parts, sad to say.
I gave it a try because I love fish out of water stories and the settings/clothes seemed so authentic. I enjoyed the creepy cryptic messages to Det. Sam Tyler from unexpected sources and thought the acting was superb. On the other hand, I found it to be so cliched and just trying too hard to get a point across. The episode where we meet Det. Ray Carling's wife was painful. The story just tried too hard to show sexism through a loutish husband. There have always been louts, not just in the 70s, and there also have been loving, supportive husbands, not just in modern times.
And Lt. Gene Hunt's daughter having to beg her father to say he loved her. Yes, I get that the 70s were different, and men were different, but the vast majority of fathers thru time adore their daughters. Trying so hard to make a point about sexism was just overwrought and spoiled the show for me. I haven't seen anything so preachy in a long time, and I go to church!
I guess I should have added it's a "don't forget who's really in charge here" story.
Indeed, when I first heard about "Kings" I'll admit I was skeptical to the point that my first thought was,"Well I'm sure they'll completely mess this up, either intentionally, by misinterpretation, or by gross revisionism." But after watching the first 20 minutes or so and seeing how that famous "blow" was struck, I was hooked. I even re-watched it immediately afterward again to try to catch all of the "inside baseball" references like place names and the like. I'm impressed so far, I'll admit it.
And yes, Ron Silver was an amazing actor, and an amazing human being; his passing is a loss to us all not only for his art, but for his genuine humanity.
Indeed, when I first heard about "Kings" I'll admit I was skeptical to the point that my first thought was,"Well I'm sure they'll completely mess this up, either intentionally, by misinterpretation, or by gross revisionism." But after watching the first 20 minutes or so and seeing how that famous "blow" was struck, I was hooked. I even re-watched it immediately afterward again to try to catch all of the "inside baseball" references like place names and the like. I'm impressed so far, I'll admit it.
And yes, Ron Silver was an amazing actor, and an amazing human being; his passing was a loss to us all not only for his art, but for his genuine humanity.
"I guess I should have added it's a "don't forget who's really in charge here" story."
Most definitely.
Indeed, when I first heard about "Kings" I'll admit I was skeptical to the point that my first thought was,"Well I'm sure they'll completely mess this up, either intentionally, by misinterpretation, or by gross revisionism." But after watching the first 20 minutes or so and seeing how that famous "blow" was struck, I was hooked. I even re-watched it immediately afterward again to try to catch all of the "inside baseball" references like place names and the like. I'm impressed so far, I'll admit it.
And yes, Ron Silver was an amazing actor, and an amazing human being; his passing is a loss to us all not only for his art, but for his genuine humanity.
"I guess I should have added it's a "don't forget who's really in charge here" story."
Most definitely.
Fox is by far the worst offender in terms of screwing up shows. Their history pre-dates their mishandling of Firefly – they tanked Space Above and Beyond and nearly killed the X-Files. I'm really enjoying Castle on ABC. I hope Castle doesn't get the Pushing Daisies treatment (which was the last show I watched on ABC).
"A suggestion for "Big Hollywood:" At the Onion's "AV Club," there are regular columns devoted to several television shows, critiquing the episodes. Something similar here might draw larger audiences to worthwhile television. "
Great idea, Kriskey! Hope TPTB are considering your suggestion. We'd be well-served by a conservative version of Television Without Pity, and this could be the start of it.
I showed little interest in the American version of Life On Mars, since I have seen the original British version (and love it). What little I saw of it struck me as an attempt to copy the original, as I suspected. The original had its left-leaning moments, but they didn't come at the expense of the story. The stories seemed to unfold naturally. I hope Ashes To Ashes is as good as Life On Mars.
What I think would be useful would be a straight-forward review of a television show written by a conservative. I wouldn't be interested in a "conservative review" that simply pointed out conservative elements.
The problem with most television shows written by liberals—that is, most television shows—is not that it embraces a liberal worldview, but that it embraces a false worldview. There is no depth, no complexity, and no realism. I wouldn't want to watch a cop show where the culprit is always an environmentalist or an anti-war protestor any more than I'd want to watch "Law & Order." So, I wouldn't be happy with a show that did nothing more than reinforce conservative ideals either, and I wouldn't trust a reviewer who heaped praise on such a show merely because of its politics.
(Continued)
But if a reviewer who shares my conservative ideals were to praise a television show on its merits—setting aside its politics—-then at least I would be able to assume that it wasn't full of sucker punches and ridiculous straw-man arguments. Sadly, with most mainstream reviewers you cannot tell if a television show is actually thoughtful, or if it simply echoes the reviewer's own thoughts.
[Honestly, was that comment excessively long? It was shorter than Golani's comment, but I had to break it up! What gives?]
Yeah I've been watching it. Enjoyed it. I too wondered how long it would take for people to recognize what it was about. Interesting trend here. Kings and now Nick Cages new movie Knowing which is a thickly veiled reference to the same book which gave birth to Kings. I'm a kind a wondering if the production company behind Knowing, which also produced Twilight isn't a Mormon company.
As a frequent TV viewer, I would LOVE something along those lines! What can I say, I likes me some free weekly entertainment. I can enjoy TWoP at times, but it seems almost every thread about any TV show includes at least one irritating, irrelevent liberal snide remark, and then a second person replying with "Bwah!"
In fact, I was secretly hoping this blog would be a little bit like that. Instead, sadly, what little discussion that pops up here tends to fall into what Misters. Karnick and Price just mentioned. So glad to see this article, even though I don't watch "Life on Mars."
Well, I guess I should confess I'm one of the guys who turned off after that episode. Up until then I was enjoying it. It was right up our family's alley, sci fi, and mystery all rolled into one. But after that episode, which was way over the top and aired a week or two before election day, i.e., before us Californians went to the polls to vote on Prop. 8, I turned it off, assuming that the rest of the episodes would be as bad. I guess I'm sorry I did now, but the producers shouldn't have played politics with their employees jobs.
You are extremely self righteous. I can't te;; you how mayn of my "liberal" associates" declare they want Rush Limbaugh to esentially die a horrible death. Not a one has ever listened to his program. Don't point at conservatives as if they have a corner on shitheadedness. I find many "liberals" to be insufferable agists, anti-clerics and gross education elitists.
I thought Space Above and Beyond screwed itself up by having all of the ship's crew look like pretty people but sad sacks. I wanted more of the Marines in "Aliens" and felt gyped by the way the characters were physically portrayed.
Amen! Catch Boothe's speech to the multi-baby daddy at the end? Watch enough Bones, and knowing that he is an executive producer, do you think that David Boreanaz is a closet conservative?
Man, I loved Space: Above and Beyond. My big worry is that FOX will sabotage Fringe, Terminator, and Doll House.
After "Invasion" was cancelled with all the storylines left dangling, I vowed not to get hooked on another series, but "Life on Mars" got me from the first frame. I first moved to New York in 1973, and it never felt so dated as "Mars," but I guess it was. It wasn't so yellow tinted, at least. It was a great run while it lasted, and if there was any chance of persuading ABC to keep it, I'd make the effort. To see Harvey Keitel in all his tortured glory was wonderful, but I will miss the whole cast. Oh well, we still have LOST.
Yeah I loved "Space: Above and Beyond" when it was on, but I also agree with your point, having grown up around Marines the ones in S:AAB were very 90210-ified in my opinion too.
That's what DVRs are for. I couldn''t watch TV without the ability to time shift. LoM and Lost, The Unit, 24, NCIS are all on my series record list. ALl excellent shows. Sort of expected LoM to get shuffled away. Very sad.
I for one am frankly amazed that even with heavy veils, things with themes drawn from that source are even being made.
I haven't seen "Knowing" yet, but have been seriously pondering checking it out. I wouldn't have made an immediate Mormon leap with it though since based on my intentionally hazy understanding of where they went with it, they're not the only ones that use similar material.
And yeah I'm trying to really tapdance around saying anything that would give up any "Oh now I know what they meant!" spoilers if someone checks "Kings" out after seeing this and doesn't already know the premise. The last I'd checked the pilot was still up on NBC's site to stream so they may be a few who haven't seen it yet, that still may.
[Honestly, was that comment excessively long? It was shorter than Golani's comment, but I had to break it up! What gives?]
Posting comments can be sort of squidgy sometimes, I just had one eaten for no apparent reason myself. Sometimes it'll let me blather on, sometimes I get to the comment too long messages too.
And I agree with you on the reviews by conservative reviewers idea too, and for the same reasoning basically. It's not that I need a show to be completely down the line conservative to watch and enjoy it, it but having someone that comes from a conservative perspective being able to do recon for gut punches would be nice too.
At least FOX even plays these shows, but yeah they do some weird stuff. They should get Futurama back on there. FOX does a lousy job advertising their shows. I watch Terminator and Fringe, but the ads for Doll House don't tell you anything. What is that show even about? I know its Joss Whedon and Eliza Dushku is hot, but they ought to at least hint at the plot in the ad spots.
Same here, I just finally got done watching the finale of "Battlestar Galactica" because of having time issues all the time. "The Unit" and "NCIS" are on my weekly DVR list as well. Along with "The Mentalist", "Castle", "Life", "Red Eye", "Kings", "Ashes to Ashes" and "Reaper." Yes I like "Reaper" there is definitely something wrong with me…
The reason for so many shows on a weekly record list is simple, I love TV but I never have time to watch it when it's actually on. I'm either busy or nowhere near a TV. If not for the DVR I'd never be able to watch anything.
I didn't mean to suggest that there was anything particularly mormon about the movie. As far as I know there is not. But I don't know that much about mormonism. What I meant was that mormons don't seemed to be as moved by the disapproval of the at large culture and they seem to be very into the arts, whether it is dancing, singing, writing or maybe even movie making. Good on them.
The Doll House is a secret organization that takes attractive young people (like Eliza Dushku's character) wipes their memories and personalities clean, and then imprints them with false memories/identities for rich clients. Helio from Battlestar Galactica plays an FBI agent trying to find out about the Dollhouse. The show is very different from other Joss Whedon projects in tone and style, but the show has real potential and is by episode 6 kicking things up. It's a lot better than I probably make it sound.
Just to be clear, I wasn't singling your post out. I was just trying to figure out "the rules" for post lengths. Looks like there aren't any?
And The adventures of Brisco County Jr. with the almighty Bruce Campbell…don't forget that!
Yes, I must be a liberal. I'm eeeevil. And there's nothing you can do about it Jack. Whooooo haaaaa haaaaa. By the way, you're clearly an idiot.
I've unfortunately started steering away from new shows. It seems every time I get hooked on one, it gets canceled. I only started watching "Lost" this year—caught up with the past seasons on DVD. So, while I could have recorded "Life on Mars," the fact that I didn't means I'm not upset now.
Does that sound like a lost lyric from Simon & Garfunkel's "I Am a Rock?"
I loved that show!! What a great take on the western! Plus, it was just fun.
Thanks Kit. We do our best!
I had no idea this show even existed. I do not watch TV. If any, I watch CSI MIAMI, or 24. THAT"S IT! And even those, I still actually watch them on the computer. So here I am minding my own business…and along comes this blog about this show Life on Mars. So I read the article and it raised my interest, so I go and watch the dammed show…and WOW!!!! I LOVED IT!!!! I saw the episode of the weathermen terrorists. What a storyline, and the acting….and BEST yet…THE PREMISE!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!! A CONSERVATIVE PREMISE. POW!!! right between the eyes. I couldn't believe it. Anyway, so here is this fucking awesome show…..and what???? CANCELED!!!! FUCK!!! Oh well. I wrote and e-mail to feedback on ABC.COM. See if they respond and tell me …OK…we'll keep the show. haaaaahaaa
If they cancel Chuck, I'm pretty much done watching new network shows for the same reason. Journeyman, Pushing Daisies, and now Life on Mars. After John Doe and Firefly, I'd pretty much given up on network television until Lost and the NBC Monday night shows drew me back on (Chuck, Heroes, Journeyman). Why do I like Chuck? Because it does a great job of capturing the 80s action show. It's like Greatest American Hero without the suit and really goofy stuff. At least the syndicated Legend of the Seeker seems to be doing well enough to keep going.
I started watching Life On Mars and found it somewhat interesting. I stopped watching after an episode in which a Vietnam vet is killed. During the episode the main character goes into a rant about the Vietnam war is based on a lie and future wars will be based on even flimsier lies, gee I wonder whatever he could be talking about. At that point I switched it off and never watched again. Oh and this came after the opening in which the main character gives gushing praise to the filthy hippies of the era as standing up to the Man. Frankly I've had enough of this. I gave the show a chance but it spit on me so good bye and good riddance you won't be missed by me.
Love Chuck as well, likewise Legend of the Seeker. I loved the first two seasons of Heroes, but stopped watching this third season because the timetravel/stop the dystopian future shctick got old, real quick.
I've got the same problem. Tv shows, restaurants, deoderants, political parties. If I like them, they're doomed.
This show is awesome!! ABC should think twice. I think everyone should write to ABC and tell them not to cancel. This can get a huge Conservative backing if only the proper advertising is used. I just saw it for the first time…and I'm hooked. Of course, it won't be around much longer.
Ah okay I see your point now, and you could definitely be right too as to their willingness to put more spiritual views out in the media than some other groups are sometimes.
A goodnatured mwuhahaha and "I'll tell you later" never seems to fail to make liberals nervous either. I try to do it at least twice a day myself, it's very empowering, to steal one of their words.
Ack! How could I have forgotten "Chuck"? That's also on my weekly rotation. I get a warm and fuzzy feeling every time Casey salutes his framed Reagan picture too.
Ack! How could I have forgotten "Chuck"? That's also on my weekly rotation. I get a warm and fuzzy feeling every time Casey salutes his framed Reagan picture too.
Golani, I'm still on the fence about Generation Kill. On the one hand, I thought they did a great job portraying the average soldiers. They were funny, they were principled, they were decent, they were loyal, they were brave, and they were great soldiers. Very good banter as well. Cpl. Person had me rolling on the floor! They also did a great job showing the ignorance of the press.
On the other hand, the portrayal of the officers was kind of nasty. I understand it was written by Lt. Flick. Who, if I remember correctly, he got tossed out of the service afterwards. So he may have an axe to grind. I actually read a point by point counter to the book, written by one of the officers, which disputes many of the details in the story, though it really doesn't attack the story overall. Still, they explained many of the officers actions.
Yeah that show was great too. It's on my Netflix rotation now too. Like I said I really like TV, yet never have a chance to watch it. Thankfully modern technology is on my side.
I saw "My Name is Bruce" not too long ago and there were many fun references to Brisco in it at well.
Darn, "mwuhahaha" was what I was trying to achieve with my "Whooo ha ha" — which now sounds kind of wierd. I'll have to remember that one. Thanks!
Can't talk now. I'm watching my "Arrested Development" DVDs.
I know you weren't, it's all good.
And no there don't seem to be any rules, the post that I had eaten, showed back up, and was never in moderation. Just one of the quirks of the system I reckon.
I've got that one sitting next to me right now — haven't watched it yet, but I'm told it's great.
I think our thread is disappearing.
Yeah there are a lot of misconceptions about "Generation Kill" on the conservative side, the one that I had to fight most with some of my friends here was on how vulgar and how disrespectful they seemed of everything they were fighting for. Which is valid if you just listen to the words without the context, but when bullets start flying, you've been living in the same fatigues for a week, you get ordered to take one village and then as soon as you get there yanked out to go grab another one, I can guarantee that it makes you beyond moderately annoyed and words will fly. There's an old adage about a griping soldier being a happy soldier and "Generation Kill" captured that to a T, even though they seemed annoyed at the world there wasn't a one of them that wasn't doing exactly what they wanted to be doing.
As for being written by Fick, he had nothing to do with writing the screenplay although they did use his book as one of the sources. He wrote "One Bullet Away" about his experiences in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and that book was one of the two that they used to write the screenplay, the other, and primary, being "Generation Kill" by Evan Wright (the reporter in the back of the Humvee) both of which I'd read before seeing the miniseries. Fick's book was used mainly to fill in some blanks on officer thinking and the like that Wright didn't get to see, and in general was actually more positive on the leadership than Wright's book was, at least the spirit of the leadership if not all of their decisions at least.
Fick wasn't tossed out, he was actually promoted to Captain when they got back to Pendleton, he just chose not to reenlist even though he was asked to by many of the officers in 1st Recon, including "Encino Man" so it's not a cut a dried affair as to his feelings about OIF or the Marine leadership's feelings towards him in return. In fact the most annoying thing to him about the situation was when he applied to grad school and was asked in the interview (by someone who'd read Wright's book) "Did you really say,'The bad news is that we're not going to get any sleep tonight, the good news is we're going to get to kill some people?"
That's just what I know from what I've read, but I think many military professionals would be able to write up a counter-counterpoint list in reply to the one that you've seen, in fact I know it since "GK" discussion has come up more than once in my own office.
And yes, Person had me rolling on the floor as well, especially with his wildly changing theories on why they were fighting the war. LOL
Thanks for clearing up the Flick backstory. I haven't read anything about this in some time, so I was operating from relatively poor memory on that.
I think two changes would have helped with the show's PR among conservatives. First, calling it something other than Generation Kill. I think that made it sound like it was going to be slanderous.
Secondly, at the end of the series, they do this interview over the credits with some of the real Marines. They point out that they're all Type A people and they're always probing each other for weakness. So all the racial comments, the BK Jr. comment, the swearing, etc. are not intended as genuine insults, but are only meant to make each other tougher. I think putting that at the beginning would have put the tougher language in perspective.
My favorite Person's quote had to be (about Ray) "He may be a psycho, but he's our psycho." I also thought his gay bar idea was a scream! And, as you point out, his theories on the war. LOL!!
The teasers for Life on Mars got me interested enough to check it out at the beginning. I was unaware of a Brit predecessor. Guess I'm sheltered. Anyway, I've watched about three episodes, all without a jaded eye to it's actual or perceived politics … one of which was the "earnest appeal for tolerance toward homosexuals" episode. The main problem I had with the show is that the stories seemed obligatory. Like the writers had a sort of unintended check list for the season: "OK, we need a story revolving around a gay guy and the fact their all not bad and are often misunderstood"; next we need a women's rights story about how women on the force have to endure the macho slobs on the job", etc. Not that they actually thought that, but it's just a part of their template.
I actually enjoyed the show, just not enough to keep coming back. I'm sorry it's being cancelled. There've been a few shows I just didn't get into when they were new, but I "discovered" them in syndication after they were off the air. Rockford files and Simon and Simon to name a couple. (There go any illusions of my age in my USArt "boy" name). "Mars" is probably one of them.
For me, "Life on Mars" has been like one of those albums where, while you're listening to it you like it, but a soon as the album is over, you've forgotten what you just heard.
I think he's saying that conservatives should watch the show first because it's well done, and second because it doesn't go out of its way to slam our values.
"Pushing Daisies!" A few months ago, I was flipping the channels and tuned in to the middle of an episode. I had no idea what I was watching—I didn't know if it was a television show, a movie, or a hallucination. I didn't know if I loved it or hated it, but I knew it was different. I watched the whole thing, and still didn't know what it was called, so I went online and searched for about a half an hour to find out what the heck I'd been watching. I've never done anything like that before. Normally, I'd just see if I came across it again, but I had to find out what this thing was.
So, I eventually found out what it was called—can't recall on which site—-and simultaneously found out that it had just been canceled. Typical.
Yeah "Generation Kill" may have been bad PR, but that was what Wright called the articles that he made the book out of so it was pretty much a lock. Also I never thought the title was hinting at slanderous content myself, I can see how some people may though, but if you read military studies done on the combat effectiveness of a 21st century American combat soldier, they really are Generation Kill. National Guard units are rated at higher combat effectiveness than the 101st Airborne or 1st Infantry were in WWII, and it's not just a matter of firepower it's also the mental capacity to do violence.
I'm getting way off topic here but if you ever want some more insight on that whole aspect of it check out the book "On Killing" by Dave Grossman, it's pretty illuminating and required reading for many Western military organizations.
As far as the Alfa behavior and swearing, racial comments, etc. I think that yeah they would have made it easier on conservatives in the general population to understand that it wasn't meant to tear each other down, but build each other up by bringing it up sooner like that; at the same time I liked the authenticity and minimal exposition. Then again I'm in the "biz" so I grokked what they were doing right off the bat, so yeah it definitely could have been made more accessible to a layperson earlier on too, valid point.
The one thing I definitely loved, stylistically that is, was the complete lack of a soundtrack. That was daring and brilliant, in my opinion.
I thought that the lack of a soundtrack was very daring and very effective (except of course, when they started singing (always hilarious)). I even watched the credits to listen to the military chatter they ran over the credits.
I'm not in the biz, though I've been heavily exposed to it, so I understood as well. But I think a lot of people didn't get it, and that's the main reason they viewed it as negative to the US military, because (to them) it seemed to show a group of guys who were constantly fighting. Unfortunately, many people don't understand that most of life is not like an office place, and the same rules of conduct do not apply. How could they? Seriously, do you know anyone who works in an office who would draw fire to save the lives of their co-workers?
As somebody already said, reading a review that is focused almost exclusively on the program's conservative credentials is about informative and entertaining as sticking my head in a bucket. if I want reviews like that, I'll go to one of those Focus on the family type organizations. I understand the point of this site as providing a conservative voice to the entertainment field but what are there like 7 people that care about how correct the political position was in a particular episode?
I'm just glad to have something that isn't lockstep with anything. I'd be bored if it was pushing a strict conservative or liberal point of view.
Sorry it is going away but hope they get to wrap it up. It is a great show.
Rumor has it that Adam Baldwin actually is a Reagan fan.
Hopefully I haven't just killed that guy's career… residuals from "My Bodyguard" can't pay the rent these days.
He is, on a Firefly board I used to frequent he posted often in the period right before "Serenity" came out, and he was definitely on the conservative side of the aisle, he did a very good job at political debates as well, he knows his stuff. That was one of the things he was very up front about, that and the fact that he always made sure everyone knew he wasn't related to those "Other guys named Baldwin."
So I'm sure you didn't unintentionally "out" him as a conservative, he's been pretty up front about it for a while now.
I couldn't last through a full hour of the American version but saw all of the UK version's Season One. By the second episode all I kept thinking was "This is a great idea for a two hour movie not TV series." By the third episode I was getting bored.
When I heard there was going to be an American version, I knew there was no way anybody was going to get 22 episodes per season (the length of a *REAL* series not "oh, just do however many of your programmes you feel up to writing when you get a chance" run of most BBC so-called "seasons") out of this idea–don't care how good the writers are.
And it looks like I was right again.
It's laugh out loud good, especially if you've followed his career, there are a ton of inside jokes in it.
Yeah I watched all the credits to listen to all the chatter too, and to be honest I still can't decide if it was chatter specifically taped for the series or if it was actual traffic that had been recorded in the field. They did that good of a job on that that I'm still clueless, some days I think it's actors, some days I think it's the real thing.
When they sang I always wound up busting out laughing, not just because most of them couldn't sing at all (but were very earnest) but at the songs they picked to sing. I read one review where the reviewer found the "soundtrack" unrealistic since he couldn't imagine US Marines in 2003 singing those songs, but the reality is the singing all really happened as shown, Wright worked for Rolling Stone afterall so he made a point of recording the titles of every song he heard during the trip.
One of the nice things in the DVD set is there's a little glossary booklet that has most of the military slang and acronyms in it too. That could help more people easily work into the series as well now, again I appreciated the limited exposition on the terminology, but when we watched the series with my mother a while back, my girlfriend and I had to act as translators for the first couple of episodes before she got the hang of it.
You're dead on about most people not understanding the sort of things that go on in combat situations too. Which they can be thankful for honestly, but when it's actually happening the accepted rules of what seems logical can get you killed, and something that sounds crazy to a civilian is accepted as not only correct but not worth batting an eyelash over.
I began watching Life on Mars on the recommendation of my favorite conservative blogger. He had loved the British version which, according to him was conservative. After the 4th or 5th episode, the one where we get told that our lack of love for others (read American racists) is the reason for 9/11 (it's done with subtext, but quite clear) I've never watched another episode. There is just enough PC crap in each episode to make it annoying. My conservative blogger that recommended the show believes they've ruined it and should just run the British version. I think I'll just watch that one when it comes out in the USA.
i liked both versions of the show, and Ashes to Ashes seems good as well. i really liked the ep broken jaw. i was plesantly sur rised when the bad guys turned out to be the bad guys…the pic for this story is wrong. it is from the abc pilot where Gene Hunt was played by irish actor Colm Meany from Atar Trek, tng, and Star Trek Deep space nine..
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