OK, just to be clear, you don't have to nominate the same shows again. Once they are nominated, they're eligible for voting. It's like you're invited for a party and can go whether one person or five people invite you.You could use your nominations to think of different shows. Or not...
Again... Blake's 7 is already nominated. Stop nominating Blake's 7, guys!
It's already in!
Yeah sorry. I'm new to this process. Didn't see your reply until after I'd already hit post.Again... Blake's 7 is already nominated. Stop nominating Blake's 7, guys!
All right... My initial nominations are the following:
Welcome to Paradox - A very, very weird science fiction anthology. The stories are extremely creative, I can assure you. It's a unique show in many ways. Just 13 episodes. Don't bother looking for it because you won't find it. It's not on Netflix and no DVD was released in the US or in the UK. There was, however, a DVD release in Australia only. Long story short, I'll make the show available for whoever wants to join.
Alien Nation - A very clever science fiction series about a human cop whose partner is an alien. I thought about this show because I recently saw "Bright" on Netflix and the premise is the same, except that now instead of an alien we have an Orc, alien technology is replaced by magic and the human cop is Black instead of White. 21 episodes. Available on Youtube.
Life On Mars - From the show's description: "After being involved in a car accident in 2006, DCI Sam Tyler wakes up to find himself in 1973, the era of 'Sweeney' type policing, Mark III Cortinas, and flared trousers." I certainly could use some help with all the cultural references here. It's a clever show with a touch of "twisted." I found a few episodes on Youtube and I think if we look we can find all of them.
Black Mirror - A very dark and, you know, twisted anthology about the dangers of technology in our near future. A superb show fans and critics are raving about. I love this show so much I'll watch as many episodes as you guys decide to. The best news is that we can watch the entire show (all four seasons) and it's only 19 episodes altogether. This show will be hard to find for free because there's too much visibility, but it may be on Netflix and, of course, there's the torrent alternative.
3% - Well, I had to nominate at least one Brazilian show. It's on Netflix for sure, and it's just 8 episodes..
Earth: Final Conflict (Season 1) - A very, very nice science fiction show created by Gene Roddenberry. Excellent show... in the first season. Then, quality went down the drain. Only the first season is worth it and I can prove it! 22 eps. I found it on Youtube, but it's messy. We have to do a good research to find out where all episodes are.
Wayward Pines (Season 1) - It's a mystery show with a great final twist and it reminds us of The Prisoner. It's based on a book trilogy... which the writers exhausted in the first season. In fact it was meant to be to be a miniseries, but they decided to milk it for another season, a very irrelevant one actually. Stick with the first season only and you'll get a better experience. 10 episodes. I think it's all on Youtube, but we have to find all episodes.
Space: 1999 - It's a lot of episodes, but the nostalgia factor makes me want to watch the whole thing. 48 episodes at least! It's on Youtube.
Land of the Giants - Same here. I just loved this show when I was a kid in the 1960s, and I had a big crush on Betty. 51 episodes. On Youtube.
Welcome to Paradox - A very, very weird science fiction anthology. The stories are extremely creative, I can assure you. It's a unique show in many ways. Just 13 episodes. Don't bother looking for it because you won't find it. It's not on Netflix and no DVD was released in the US or in the UK. There was, however, a DVD release in Australia only. Long story short, I'll make the show available for whoever wants to join.
Alien Nation - A very clever science fiction series about a human cop whose partner is an alien. I thought about this show because I recently saw "Bright" on Netflix and the premise is the same, except that now instead of an alien we have an Orc, alien technology is replaced by magic and the human cop is Black instead of White. 21 episodes. Available on Youtube.
Life On Mars - From the show's description: "After being involved in a car accident in 2006, DCI Sam Tyler wakes up to find himself in 1973, the era of 'Sweeney' type policing, Mark III Cortinas, and flared trousers." I certainly could use some help with all the cultural references here. It's a clever show with a touch of "twisted." I found a few episodes on Youtube and I think if we look we can find all of them.
Black Mirror - A very dark and, you know, twisted anthology about the dangers of technology in our near future. A superb show fans and critics are raving about. I love this show so much I'll watch as many episodes as you guys decide to. The best news is that we can watch the entire show (all four seasons) and it's only 19 episodes altogether. This show will be hard to find for free because there's too much visibility, but it may be on Netflix and, of course, there's the torrent alternative.
3% - Well, I had to nominate at least one Brazilian show. It's on Netflix for sure, and it's just 8 episodes..
Earth: Final Conflict (Season 1) - A very, very nice science fiction show created by Gene Roddenberry. Excellent show... in the first season. Then, quality went down the drain. Only the first season is worth it and I can prove it! 22 eps. I found it on Youtube, but it's messy. We have to do a good research to find out where all episodes are.
Wayward Pines (Season 1) - It's a mystery show with a great final twist and it reminds us of The Prisoner. It's based on a book trilogy... which the writers exhausted in the first season. In fact it was meant to be to be a miniseries, but they decided to milk it for another season, a very irrelevant one actually. Stick with the first season only and you'll get a better experience. 10 episodes. I think it's all on Youtube, but we have to find all episodes.
Space: 1999 - It's a lot of episodes, but the nostalgia factor makes me want to watch the whole thing. 48 episodes at least! It's on Youtube.
Land of the Giants - Same here. I just loved this show when I was a kid in the 1960s, and I had a big crush on Betty. 51 episodes. On Youtube.
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ant-mac
Member: Rank 9
Just to be clear, I take it you're referring to the UK version of LIFE ON MARS?
And is there any other?
My friend, I don't even acknowledge the existence of that bizarre Yankee imitation of such a precious show! Besides, I thought the words "Sweeney", "Mark III Cortinas" and "flared trousers" would be good enough hints already! 
ant-mac
Member: Rank 9
I just wanted to make absolutely sure.And is there any other?
By the way, I didn't really care for the British version, or its follow-up. I liked the American version much more.
Nice list of choices. I don't think I've seen any of these other than a few random episodes of Land of the Giants and possibly a couple of the initial episodes of Earth: Final Conflict.
Really? Just out of curiosity, where are you from? And why do you like the American adaptation better? Now you really got me curious.
ant-mac
Member: Rank 9
It's generally quite a rare occurrence, but sometimes I just prefer the American version of a TV series to the British one. Normally, it's the other way around.
I found the backstory to the American version - that it was all an illusion created by the on-board computer of a spacecraft carrying a Human crew on the first ever manned mission to Mars, in 2035 - far more convincing and far more satisfying than it all being some sort of limbo or Purgatory for dead police officers before they moved on to their final destination. I'll take science - or science fiction - over fantasy and the supernatural every single time.
Also, the cultural and pop-cultural references made in the American version, to the likes of Richard Nixon, Watergate, the September 11 attacks, Luke Skywalker, Tom Cruise, Sam Bono, George Bush and so on and so forth, simply had more of an emotional resonance for me than the British counterparts. In fact, I can't even remember the British version that well anymore, let alone the cultural and pop-cultural references that might have been made.
And whilst I like the actors Philip Glenister, John Simm and Liz White, I really like Jason O'Mara - he also did good work on TERRA NOVA - and Gretchen Mol - and I've been a fan of Harvey Keitel since I was a teenager.
And for the record, I'm an Aussie - an Australian father and a Dutch mother. And you?
Well I've not seen either version, but the general concept of the show sounds quite intriguing.
Oh, I'm Brazilian, and my parents are... Brazilian. So are my grandparents. But my great grand father came from northern Italy. We have a lawyer in Milan handling our citizenship case, so I'll probably add Italian to the nationalities list this year.
BY THE WAY, I'LL MENTION SOME SPOILERS OF LIFE ON MARS, SO IF YOU INTEND TO EVER WATCH THE SHOW, GO AWAY!
As for the show, I found your observations quite interesting. You're the first I've heard about who liked the American "twist," as usually people consider it ludicrous. I found it weird, but that's not where I had problems with the American version.
But first, the cultural references. Indeed, the American references are more media friendly. In fact, this show how much I don't know about Britain and, in fact, I know even less about England in the 1970s. The American references, on the other hand, are much more accessible. Just watch Forrest Gump, for instance. On the other hand, I was glad to learn something knew, while the American historical background is something I'm kind of tired of.
Objectively, here are my issues:
1) The UK version was darker. Sam is living a nightmare. He feels oppressed and losing his mind. I love this kind of situation in fiction. The American Sam Tyler was actually enjoying the ride. After all it was all part of a video game experience. That may be OK, sometimes, but this was not supposed to be a feel-good show. It's a fish-out-of-water show with psychological overtones, and the American show stayed in an uncomfortable in-between position.
2) The casting was a problem. Harvey Keitel is great, but Philip Glenister owns the role of Gene Hunt. Jason O'Mara is a fantastic actor... to play a hero. He's the typical alpha male hero. In fact, a character even says Sam the cop looks more like an astronaut. He does! One of those tall, blond, heroic astronauts from the 1960s and 1970s. John Simm, on the other hand, is more of a regular guy. He conveyed both his resolute attitude as a police officer, but also his emotional fragility due to the situation he was in. Also, I can't think of many better actresses to play the role of "dream woman" than Liz White: she was just perfectly sweet, a ray of sunshine in that nightmare. Gretchen Moll is beautiful and sexy, a movie star who looks like a movie star, but not necessarily sweet, and by no means a girl next door.
3) In the UK version people smoked a lot, all the time. That was sanitized in the American version, which was horrible in comparison. Also, they toned down the sexism in the American show, because, you know, even back in 2008 you wouldn't want to antagonize those social justice people. The writers of the UK version simply didn't seem to care. If the scene required the characters to smoke, be sexist or racist, so be it. It felt more authentic.
4) The theme song made much more sense in an English context than in an American one. David Bowie is synonymous to that time period in England. In America he's just another famous mass-produced pop star.
5) Setting the American show in New York was an improvement to the failed pilot taking place in Los Angeles. But NY is just too big. Manchester is grittier and more suffocating. I think those industrial English cities like Manchester or Liverpool would give me nightmares, so I can relate to Sam Tyler. New York, on the other hand, is way too cool and trendy. They should've set the American version is a terrible place like Detroit, for instance, the perfect dystopian place of origin of cop characters like Robocop or Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop).
By the way, you can always nominate the American Life On Mars as well. I won't do it, but you can.
ant-mac
Member: Rank 9
Obviously, I can't speak for others, but personally, I've always enjoyed spoilers.
Either way, it's probably a good idea to mention it.
Each to their own.
Personally, I found the whole back story to the UK version ludicrous. It ended up being quite distracting and took me completely out of the zone.
I personally found the US version more logical and sensible. I was able to maintain my suspension of disbelief whilst watching it.
I'm not against cultural or pop-cultural references from either nation.
However, on this occasion, I simply found the American ones more memorable.
I found both versions to be a mix of both lighter and darker themes. I never encountered any aspect in either that made me feel like I was watching a video game.
However, I found the constant undercurrent of uncertainty as to the reality of Sam's world far more distracting in the UK version. To a large degree it kept taking me out of the moment and ended up destroying my enjoyment of it. I found no such problems with the US version. I felt that they got the balance just right.
I found both Harvey Keitel and Philip Glenister to be effective in the role of Gene Hunt. I like both actors - but I'll always give the edge to Harvey Keitel.
Jason O'Mara is a fantastic actor - at a wide range of roles. He's played both good guys and bad guys, ranging from superheroes to serial killers, on both UK and US TV programs.
And as for Liz White and Gretchen Mol...
They both look like beautiful and sexy movie stars to me...
Not an issue for me.
Up to a certain extent, they both felt like reasonable representations of fictional worlds to me - which is precisely what they were.
For me, the theme song made much more sense to me in the US version, because ultimately, they were the crew of the first manned mission to Mars.
And you'll find people in the UK who regard David Bowie as just another famous mass-produced pop star too.
A person's opinion about a musician is not dependant upon their nationality.
TheSowIsMine is a huge David Bowie fan - and she's not a UK citizen.
I thought NY was perfect for the setting of the US version. It's perfectly capable of being as gritty or as suffocating as the story demands. As for nightmares, I'd get far more from a concrete jungle like NY than from either Liverpool or Manchester.
New York City is the most populous city in the US, with an estimated 2016 population of 8 537 673. It’s the most densely populated city in the United States. Meanwhile, Liverpool is a city in North West England, with an estimated 2016 population of 484 578, while Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England, with a 2015 population of 530 300. So for me, it's no contest - NY wins hands down for being the stuff that nightmares are made of.
By the way, the views we've both expressed concerning the UK and US versions of LIFE ON MARS are mostly subjective, not objective.
As I said earlier, each to their own.
ant-mac
Member: Rank 9
No thanks.
Although I prefer the US version to the UK version, I have no desire to watch either again.
Cloister56
Member: Rank 3
So some nominations:
The recent one I haven't seen:
Awake (2012)
1 off series about a detective who after an accident finds his wife is dead and his son is alive. But a few days later everything changes. Interesting one concept about Parallel worlds. 7.9 IMDB rating.
Does not appear to be on youtube.
The recent one I have seen:
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008)
2 seasons 31 episodes. Follows on from Terminator 2 following Sarah and John Connor as they flee from killer cyborgs. 7.7 IMDB rating. Not on youtube
The classic one I've seen:
The Omega Factor (1979)
A show about a secret division of the government investigating the strange and supernatural. Features Louise Jameson (Leela from Doctor Who). 7.4 IMDB rating.
Entire season on youtube.
The classic one I haven't seen:
I, Claudius (1976)
The history of the roman empire as experienced by one of it's rulers. Considered one of the best tv shows ever made. 8.9 IMDB rating.
Not on Youtube, well content blocked in the UK.
And for the alternative format of a long show doing one season and perhaps stopping.
Mission: Impossible (1966)
Not a Tom Cruise in sight. It ran for 7 seasons. I've only watched season 1.
The show, should you choose to watch it, is about an elite covert operation unit carrying out highly sensitive missions. Their government will deny all knowledge in the event of failure, capture or death.
8.0 IMDB rating. Not on youtube.
The recent one I haven't seen:
Awake (2012)
1 off series about a detective who after an accident finds his wife is dead and his son is alive. But a few days later everything changes. Interesting one concept about Parallel worlds. 7.9 IMDB rating.
Does not appear to be on youtube.
The recent one I have seen:
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008)
2 seasons 31 episodes. Follows on from Terminator 2 following Sarah and John Connor as they flee from killer cyborgs. 7.7 IMDB rating. Not on youtube
The classic one I've seen:
The Omega Factor (1979)
A show about a secret division of the government investigating the strange and supernatural. Features Louise Jameson (Leela from Doctor Who). 7.4 IMDB rating.
Entire season on youtube.
The classic one I haven't seen:
I, Claudius (1976)
The history of the roman empire as experienced by one of it's rulers. Considered one of the best tv shows ever made. 8.9 IMDB rating.
Not on Youtube, well content blocked in the UK.
And for the alternative format of a long show doing one season and perhaps stopping.
Mission: Impossible (1966)
Not a Tom Cruise in sight. It ran for 7 seasons. I've only watched season 1.
The show, should you choose to watch it, is about an elite covert operation unit carrying out highly sensitive missions. Their government will deny all knowledge in the event of failure, capture or death.
8.0 IMDB rating. Not on youtube.
Cloister56
Member: Rank 3
I enjoyed Life on Mars (UK) but also wouldn't be keen to go through it again. Did you watch Ashes to Ashes it is set in the same universe, lots of characters including Gene are back.
I tried to do a range in my selections. Some good nominations so far in this thread, quite a few I would be keen to watch.
I tried to do a range in my selections. Some good nominations so far in this thread, quite a few I would be keen to watch.
ant-mac
Member: Rank 9
I watched a few episodes of ASHES TO ASHES in the beginning, as I like Keeley Hawes, but I pretty soon lost interest.
For me, it suffered from too many of the same problems as LIFE ON MARS did.
Yes, in fact you only get some important answers to both shows in Ashes to Ashes.
Excellent suggestions. Particularly Awake, now that Jason Isaacs is doing so well as Captain Gabriel Lorca (despite the sad way the writers treated his character).
I for one liked Life On Mars but not Ashes to Ashes. The show justified the strangeness the character felt in the 1970s, however the 1980s felt too contemporary for me, because I was already an adult at that time. Switching the protagonist from male to female also didn't work well; eventually it became the dynamics of a strong woman with a more traditional male partner, something we see all the time on TV. On Life On Mars, Sam and Gene having completely opposite views of things provided a better contrast, as both characters were white men and tough cops, so what really told them apart were their values due to the eras in which they lived, and many things seemed completely obvious to Sam, and a total novelty to Gene. In "Ashes," the fact the "fish out of water" was a woman gave the story feminist overtones, and it felt that she had strong opinions not because she was from the 21st century, but because she was a crusader for women's rights.