In case you were wondering, Mars is on the East coast

By Barry Garron

TCA--Granted, Oct. 9 is still more than three months away. That's when, according to ABC, we'll see the premiere of "Life on Mars," a period cop show adapted from the hit British drama. Between now and then, though, there's much to be done.

Like hiring a cast, for example. And shooting the first episode.

Actually, ABC used to have a cast and a first episode. That was when David E. Kelley was running the show. Now "Life on Mars" is being exec produced by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec and they believed nearly everything about Kelley's pilot was wrong, wrong, wrong. Starting with the decision to put the show in L.A.

For those who missed this intriguing show when it played on BBC America, it's about a cop, Sam Tyler, in pursuit of a vicious criminal. All of a sudden, though, he finds himself back in the year 1973. He's still a cop but his training and procedures are different than the others on the force.

Tyler is sure he has either gone insane, fallen into a coma or traveled through time. Part of what made the British series so good was that he--and we--never knew which it was.

Brit actor Jason O'Mara played Tyler in the original pilot and is the only actor to keep his job as the showrunners moved production from L.A. to New York. Michael Imperioli has been hired for a key role. Other parts are still being cast.

Why New York? "We're trying to recapture the spirit of the British hit," Appelbaum said. "The decision to go to New York was purely a creative decision," he continued. The generous New York tax credits were gravy, he added.

After two seasons, the British series had a total of 12 episodes. With any luck, the American version will top that within the next eight months.

"We asked the creators for their permission to change the mythology," Appelbaum explained. "Each week, we'll be deepening the mystery of what's happening with him." Instead of just three possibilities for Tyler, there will be at least a dozen.

At least, there will be once production begins.