Caught in a '70s Crime Warp

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Sunday, October 5, 2008

"Life on Mars": Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC

Basic story: Detective Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara) is hit by a car while chasing a bad guy in New York. When he regains consciousness, he's more than baffled to find himself as a member of the NYPD -- in 1973. His new reality includes a tough boss (Harvey Keitel), a rough co-worker (Michael Imperioli), a rookie detective (Jonathan Murphy) and a woman (Gretchen Mol) striving to overcome sexism and become a full-fledged cop. Tyler wants to get back to 2008 and his girlfriend (Lisa Bonet), but he has to deal with the world he's in -- regardless of how he got there.

What it faces: ABC's only new scripted show this fall airs opposite CBS's new "Eleventh Hour" and NBC's "ER."

What you'll love: The hour-long drama, a remake of a hit British series, is an interesting take on how things were done in the 1970s -- complete with period costumes, music and culture. The time layer adds an intriguing element to what otherwise would be just a snapshot of low-tech (or no-tech) police work.

What you won't: It may be hard to get past the confusion of how Tyler is in 1973 (which he guesses is because he's insane, in a coma or really has traveled in time). And the unvarnished look at no-holds-barred police procedures won't make viewers yearn for 1973.

Bottom line: A stellar cast will be challenged to keep this series down to Earth.

-- Judith S. Gillies