TV: 'Mars' Gets Axed, TiVo Boosts 'Dollhouse,' 'Sarah Connor'

ABC has put the cuffs on its struggling new cop series, Life on Mars, canceling it once this 17-episode season is complete. It's hard to blame the network for this one, even if you are a letter writer. In addition to one of the most seasoned casts on TV - Harvey Keitel, Michael Imperioli, Gretchen Mol, Lisa Bonet, and Jason O'Mara - ABC promoted the show heavily and put it in prime real estate, following up the network's two biggest dramas, Grey's Anatomy and Lost. Even if the show had been more successful, the life span of location dramas with sprawling storylines and big paychecks are hard to predict, especially with the recent downturn in ad revenue. And if you're ABC and you have Desperate Housewives, Lost, and Grey's siphoning money out of Mickey Mouse's wallet, there's just not much left. It was an ambitious project, adapted from a BBC series about a cop from the present day who suddenly finds himself on the beat 35 years earlier. Ratings were initially strong, and reviews were quite good, but after the curiosity wore off, the ratings eroded. In other TV news, we mentioned the dismal Friday night performance of Fox's wet dream programming, the combo of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Dollhouse. One of the things we pointed to was the possibility that live viewing would be bolstered by DVR numbers, and that is indeed the case for both shows. Live +7 DVR data indicates that the premiere episode for Dollhouse jumped 30% with post-premiere-date viewing, pushing its Nielsen rating up from a 2.0 to a 2.6. The news was even better for the shuffled Terminator, picking up 36% more viewers when DVRs are added to the equation. Those numbers are by far the most dramatic spikes on Friday night, and Terminator held that week's higest increase overall. Will that be enough to make Fox stick with either show or both?

Comments

[Joey-Elijah]

Awesome new! Dollhouse isn't incredible but it's very enjoyable nonetless.

T:TSCC on the other hand is easily one of the best sci-fi shows around (excluding BSG). If Salvation is a success there will be no doubt that T:SCC might come back for a (albeit shortened) third season as FOX will want to capitalize on the success.

[Orinn]

Life on Mars is interesting, but I fail to see how they where going to run with the idea for more then a couple of seasons.
Sarah Conner struggled before the move to Friday night. Doll House is complicated, and will take time to grow an audience if it can even find one. Still it is not Mr. Whedons best work, but it is still very early in the show.

[faulty logic]

the british version of life on mars completed the series in one season. i don't see how abc thought they could drag out much more from the show, hopefully they'll let the show wrap everything up.

[MRPigg]

I enjoy Life on Mars and am sad to see it go, but I will be satisfied as long as they explain everything, unlike ending on cliffhangers like so many low rated serials do these days.

[Will B Missed]

Above are a couple of great posts.

I will hate to see Life on Mars go, but I can understand the cost of production given the top shelf cast they assembled for this.

And, though I am beginning to enjoy Dollhouse, I only gave it this much time because I've long been a fan of Elisa's. It's so complicated I seriously doubt most folks will stick with it long enough to be "grown".

[lara petersen]

i LOVE "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" they have to keep it going : )

[Jared]

Dollhouse has not been great. It has been okay, but Fox is to blame for any problems. They are fighting Joss Whedon's vision and forcing him to add action, instead of more psychology. The show has so much potential and given the opportunity, I am sure would be fantastic. The show seems to be slowly starting to delve into the psychology more than the action, so hopefully it keeps getting better.

[ebmale]

Please go here and sign the petition to save Life On Mars. and pass it along to all your friends. Lets show them that we want our show to go on!!!!

http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/life-on-mars-petition-to-continue-the-abc-tv-show/