I need more than one Life on Mars Icon

So, on the whims of my terrible internet connection (no clue what's wrong with it tonight), I'm attempting to watch Life on Mars. Only not the proper one... the American remake. So far, the only good scene has been the scene he gets hit by the car in. That scene is one of my favourites in all of television, but since it was done almost exactly the same way as the British version, it was pretty hard to screw up. (The shot of the twin towers afterwards was a bit of a punch in the gut). I'll concede, maybe, that portraying life in the 70s in New York City kind of justifies remaking a show like this (since we're not going to get the 70s British references)... but given that everything else, including (it's been a while, but I'm pretty sure) large chunks of the script, is lifted from the original, it makes for a pretty weird combination. Also, perhaps this is just preference, and I've only watched about half an hour of the show... but Sam Tyler and DCI Hunt in this? Nowhere near to being the sort of interesting, sympatheic characters they are in the original. Also I have no faith in American television in comparison to British television (with the exception of the third season of Doctor Who. Even we could've done that better). Also, why Sam Tyler is still from "Hyde" is a mystery to me, because there is no Hyde in New York. And Annie is a freaking blonde. Come on. Brunettes look so much less tacky in 70s police uniforms procedural dramas.

However, the greatest loss in this remake is the loss of the Rastafarian bartender. And the "What part of my subconscious do you hail from?" line to him falls completely, completely flat. Sigh.

Now I'm off to un-spoil myself for the second season of the British version, which I have yet to watch. Oops.