10 Most Insane TV Show Storylines Ever
7. Life On Mars Is About A Trip To Mars
This adaptation of the hit UK drama sees the US version of protagonist Sam Tyler also hit by a car in the 21st century to wake up, inexplicably, in 1973. Where it sharply deviates from the UK version is at the ending, where producers attempt to explain the seemingly inexplicable.
While the UK version of Life On Mars went for two seasons and was given the ending that they intended, season one of the US adaptation would prove to be the only one they got, the show being cancelled part way through. Fortunately for the cast and crew, they had notice of the cancellation in sufficient time to put together an ending for the show. Unfortunately, the ending was uniformly panned by viewers and critics alike as being utterly bobbins. We won't spoil the ending of the original series for you, as it's not the point of this entry and it's also really rather good.
The US version, however, has a completely different and tragically literal spin on thingsĀ both the 1973 version of Sam's life and the 2008 version were fakes, virtual reality stories programmed by a computer designed to keep him stimulated while in hibernation on the first manned trip to Mars. Yes, they decided that the title should actually explain the mystery.
Sometimes it's a wonder how some people in television keep their jobs. Still, the US version starred Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt. That's some heavyweight casting.