Because I'm Me

One of the first things I thought when I heard about the US version of Life on Mars was, "I gotta watch the English version." So the other day I finished up the first series, and it was amazing. John Simm <33 . But it also got me thinking: Will this work in the US? Well, there are a few factors that play a part in the success in these translations.

One is how relateable is it? Well, a show about a man transported back to the 70's? That could work in the US. It would actually be interesting to see the US thirty years ago and how someone would react to that. One of the things about The Office is that it can be adapted to any culture because it relies so heavily on the office dynamic. The US verion of The Office worked because it developed its own style and voice and stopped trying to be a carbon copy. If Life On Mars defines itself using a US culture and maybe a different plot, it has a shot. If they carbon copy the UK's plot, that could be tiring and open itself up to criticism and comparisons. If I'm constantly comparing the US and UK versions of The Office without any identical plots, imagine how critical I'll be with identical plots.

The next factor is casting, the cast needs to stand out and be different. I know the translation will keep all the characters from the UK one, but if the writers can add their own editorial touches on them, it'll have a shot. I keep bringing up the US Office because it's a rare instance where a UK show has successfully morphed into a wonderful US program. The Office developed background characters that were never really touched upon in the UK. If Life on Mars devotes time to the personal lives of the background players, it will not only fill up some of the 20 hours in the season, but it will also add something new.

This leads me into the most important factor: longevity. Well, Life on Mars doesn't quite have that. The UK show only had two series, and one of the most powerful parts of the first series was the frustration. Watching it, I just wanted him to wake up, like on the verge of yelling at the TV. But the brilliant thing was Sam felt it, too. He was just losing it, being so close to consciousness, then having it slip away. The viewers were right there with him. I'm downloading the second series right now, but I'm guessing this'll happen through the second series and it'll maybe end with him waking up. *ps, don't tell me how it ends, I'm just speculating* Now, the major problem with UK to US mutations is the length. For some reason US viewers love 20-24 episodes of a show, at least on the major networks. The UK has a powerful belief in less in more. Some shows run for two series, 16 episodes total, and end on a high note, not overstaying its welcome. I loved that about The Office and I'm loving that about the UK Life On Mars. Imagine five seasons, 22 episodes a piece, of Sam Tyler wanting to wake up. That'll get old, annoying and won't work. So the show pretty much has an expiration date, which is never good. Personally, this is my biggest concern, because the first season of the US one will contain more episodes than the entire run of the UK show. If the writers don't head in a different direction, the show will have some serious problems in the long run.

OK, on a side note, I'm kind of excited for Secret Diary of a Call Girl to air on Showtime. I know I watched it and was completely weirded out by nekked, whore Billie Piper, but I saw a huge billboard in NYC advertising it and I was just, "ZOMG BILLIE PIPER." I wonder if she'll do any press for the premiere? I'd kind of love it if Billie were on some late night show, I'd kind of die. Before I didn't think about press for the UK import, but a big billboard with that show and Weeds is a pricey investment. Showtime must have a lot of faith in the show.