Life on Mars

ABC on Monday closed a deal to pick up the time-traveling drama pilot "Life on Mars" as a series.

"Mars" stars Jason O'Mara as a 21st century cop transported to the 1970s.

The "Mars" pickup became possible after a thumbs-up from David E. Kelley, who had acquired the rights to the BBC series and penned the pilot.

- okay, press release over -

I watched Life on Mars - the BBC show. There is NO WAY they're going to be able to recreate the quality and also the non-PC aspects of this program. If they're all not racist smokers beating their suspects within an inch of their life (and by the way, what city it takes place in will also matter quite a bit... 1973 Detroit or Chicago would have a completely different feel than say, 1973 Miami, or even LA...)

Here's the low down - Cop, today, gets smacked in the head. Might be in a coma, might be dead.
Goes back in time/or is in a mental state that makes him THINK he's back in time. Goofy stuff - but he's a cop in 1973 trying to apply 2008 police procedures to a 1973 police force.

Its procedural science vs gut feelings and beating the crap out of suspects, witnesses, passers by... that kind of thing. It was awesome on the BBC - it could be absolute shite on ABC.

I hope they do their best to make it as gritty and controversial as possible - otherwise the show has no bite and is just another dumb cop show.