Spoiler Spillway... . . . . So, how about that Weekend Update? . . . . The Office was pretty funny tonight, huh? . . . . When did the writers at Smallville just stop trying? . . OK, that's enough space.
I just got through watching the (2nd) pilot of the US "Life on Mars", and while it's always somewhat painful to watch an American cast reenact the episode of the Brit progenitor nearly line for line, I came away thinking good about it. It looks like next week is another rehash script (same swimming pool chase, same hospital ward throwdown, substitute 'jewelry stores' for 'check cashing stores'), but I think once this version finds its own voice, it'll be quite good on its own merits. I do think this episode actually did two things better than it's Brit counterpart: 1) The explanation for why Colin Raymes had an alibi, yet still ended up being the copycat killer - the footage of his degenerate twin in AC worked much better than "he was at our drop-in centre". 2) In the UK opener, Sam (in 1973) wanders away from the Bobbie and his car to discover a 'coming soon' sign for an unbuilt motorway; in the US version, Sam stops arguing with the NYPD uniform long enough to notice the shiny new Twin Towers just a few blocks southwest. The segment crashes into the main title after a long look at the towers, and makes a strong emotional connection both for Sam and for the audience - it's a real "we're not in Kansas anymore" moment. BTW - unlike that motorway in Manchester, the WTC was actually completed by the show's 1973 time period. M-D FWIW, how many times is Harvey Keitel going to play a bad lieutenant? --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Like TV only smarter. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
